Setting out for Jerusalem, Paul understands that his earthly path is drawing to a close. And that is what will happen: from Jerusalem he will go to Rome no longer as a free man, but as a prisoner sent for trial before the emperor, which Paul will demand as a Roman citizen...
Setting out for Jerusalem, Paul understands that his earthly path is drawing to a close. And that is what will happen: from Jerusalem he will go to Rome no longer as a free man, but as a prisoner sent for trial before the emperor, which Paul will demand as a Roman citizen. And now the apostle sums up his ministry. This summary includes two sides. One is connected with faithfulness to what he has constantly instructed and taught all those whom God sent across his path. Paul says about himself that he has never betrayed the truth revealed to him and has always borne witness to it in all the fullness available to him. The second side is connected with his own life.
The apostle says that those present have nothing for which to reproach him: he has never violated the Torah in anything, no matter which of the people he met was involved. In this sense, according to Paul's own words, he is clean, and judging by the fact that no objections followed, that is how it really was. Of course, the connection between a person's preaching and his life has always been recognized: by definition, a teacher had to correspond to what he teaches.
"They say and do not do" is, in this sense, a completely devastating characterization: it can describe only a false teacher. But when the issue concerns a Christian, this connection becomes a necessary condition for a person's remaining in the Kingdom. Knowledge alone is not enough here, nor is even understanding what one has learned and thought through. For life in the Kingdom, awareness of oneself and of one's understanding is necessary, the awareness that makes it possible not only to understand everything, but also to change one's life in accordance with what one has understood and learned.
As long as knowledge, and even understanding of what one has learned, does not change the quality of a person's spiritual life, it is still too early to speak of awareness, and therefore too early to speak of spiritual wholeness. The Kingdom requires exactly this wholeness; otherwise one cannot live in it. And Paul shows such wholeness. He speaks of himself not only as a witness, but also as an inhabitant of the Kingdom, calling as witnesses those who saw his apostolic ministry. And they agree with the apostle, because they truly heard Paul with their own ears and saw his life with their own eyes.
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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?