Paul In Miletus
The apostle Paul stopped in Miletus during the return voyage of his third missionary journey where he made his emotional
farewell address the elders of Ephesus:
"But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for so he had arranged,
intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. And sailing from
there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we came to Miletus.
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at
Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost."
"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to
them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord
with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from
declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews
and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
"And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; except that the
Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any
value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,
to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
"And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore
I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole
counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for
the church of God which he obtained with the blood of His own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come
in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away
the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every
one with tears."
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance
among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no ones silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered
to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak,
remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
"And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him,
sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him to the
ship." (Acts 20:13-38 RSV)
|