Acts 20:1–26

Paul's Journey (vv. 1–17)

Luke records the remaining stages of Paul's itinerary: traveling through Greece, then back through Philippi and Troas on his way to Jerusalem. Paul reached Corinth and spent the winter months there — the same season in which he wrote his letter to the Romans. His plan was to arrive in Jerusalem with the aid he had gathered from various churches, and from there to set out for Rome.

The Heart of Paul (vv. 18–27)

Here Paul pours out his heart as both pastor and apostle to the elders of the church at Ephesus. God intended Paul to deliver a message of vital importance to these leaders — and through them, to us. This is Paul's own life laid open before us, with a purpose. It is for us as Christians.

v. 20 — "how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house."

v. 24 — "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

A question to sit with: Do I consider my own life valuable in this same way? We sing songs that express this kind of surrender — but do I truly have the holy submission Paul describes, a life fully given over?

A Ministry Received from the Lord

Paul's apostleship was a ministry to the souls of men, and it was received directly from the Lord Jesus. What did this apostolic work involve? It was to testify to the gospel of the grace of God — to proclaim it to the world, to prove it, and to commend it to others.

Paul views his life as a course, a race set before him:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

This tells us three things:

• God has appointed our race. We were not sent into the world to be idle, nor to remain here forever.

• The race is meant to be finished. Paul speaks often of completing his course.

• It must be finished well. Paul carries a driven desire not merely to finish, but to finish with joy.

Keeping Up the Race

Are we prone to stumble? Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us. Like a runner, we must keep moving toward the goal despite opposition and discouragement.

What does God require? Endurance and constant discipline.

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:11–12)