Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 20, verses 28-38
28 committeth God's flock to them, 29 warneth them of false teachers, 32 commendeth them to God, 36 prayeth with them, and goeth his way17 In this chapter our Lord prays,
- For himself, Joh 17:1-5.
- For the apostles, Joh 17:6-19.
And again, Joh 17:24-26.
- For all believers, Joh 17:20-23. And
- For the world, Joh 17:21-23.
In his prayer he comprises all he had said from Joh 13:31,
and seals, as it were, all he had hitherto done, beholding things past, present, and to come. This chapter contains the easiest words, and the deepest sense of any in all the Scripture: yet is here no incoherent rhapsody, but the whole is closely and exactly connected.
17:11 Keep them through thy name - Thy power, mercy, wisdom, that they may be one - with us and with each other; one body, separate from the world: as we are - By resemblance to us, though not equality.
17:12 Those whom thou hast given me I have guarded, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition - So one even of them whom God had given him is lost. So far was even that decree from being unchangeable! That the Scripture might be fulfilled - That is, whereby the Scripture was fulfilled. The son of perdition signifies one that deservedly perishes; as a son of death, Joh 12:5;children of hell, Mat 23:15, andchildren of wrath, Eph 2:3,signify persons justly obnoxious to death, hell, wrath. Psa 109:8.
17:13 In the world - That is, before I leave the world.My joy - The joy I feel at going to the Father.
17:15 That thou wouldest take them out of the world - Not yet: but that thou wouldest keep them from the evil one - Who reigns therein.
17:17 Sanctify - Consecrate them by the anointing of thy Spirit to their office, and perfect them in holiness, by means of thy word.
17:19 I sanctify myself - I devote myself as a victim, to be sacrificed.
20
20:28 Take heed therefore - I now devolve my care upon you; first to yourselves; then to the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers - For no man, or number of men upon earth, can constitute an overseer, bishop, or any other Christian minister.To do this is the peculiar work of the Holy Ghost: to feed the Church of God - That is, the believing, loving, holy children of God; which he hath purchased - How precious is it then in his sight! with his own blood - For it is the blood of the only begotten Son of God, Jo1 1:7.
20:29 Grievous wolves - From without, namely, false apostles.They had, not yet broke in on the Church at Ephesus.
20:30 Yea, from among yourselves men will arise - Such were the Nicolaitans, of whom Christ complains, Rev 2:6; to draw away disciples - From the purity of the Gospel and the unity of the body.
20:31 I ceased not to warn every one night and day - This was watching indeed! Who copies after this example?
20:32 The word of his grace - It is the grand channel of it, to believers as well as unbelievers. Who is able to build you up - To confirm and increase your faith, love, holiness. God can thus build us up, without any instrument. But he does build us up by them. O beware of dreaming that you have less need of human teachers after you know Christ than before! And to give you an inheritance - Of eternal glory, among them that are sanctified - And so made meet for it. A large number of these Paul doubtless knew, and remembered before God.
20:33 I have coveted - Here the apostle begins the other branch of his farewell discourse, like old Samuel, Act 12:3, taking his leave of the children of Israel.
20:34 These hands - Callous, as you see, with labour. Who is he that envies such a bishop or archbishop as this?
20:35 I have showed you - Bishops, by my example, all things - And this among the rest; that thus labouring - So far as the labours of your office allow you time; ye ought to help the weak - Those who are disabled by sickness, or any bodily infirmity, from maintaining themselves by their own labour. And to remember - Effectually, so as to follow it; the word which he himselfsaid - Without doubt his disciples remembered many of his words which are not recorded. It is happier to give - To imitate God, and have him, as it were, indebted to us.
20:37 They all wept - Of old, men, yea, the best and bravest of men, were easily melted into tears; a thousand instances of which might be produced from profane as well as sacred writers.But now, notwithstanding the effeminacy which almost universally prevails, we leave those tears to women and children.
20:38 Sorrowing most for that word which he spake, that they should see his face no more - What sorrow will be in the great day, when God shall speak that word to all who are found on the left hand, that they shall see his face no more!