Acts 20:32. “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
THE LORD’S PEOPLE. Paul called the disciples in Ephesus unto him and embraced them before he left them. He loved and cared for the Lord’s people in Ephesus. He went back over all the places he had been in Macedonia and exhorted them to continue in the ways of the Lord. He went over and over the things that they needed to know. He loved and cared for the Lord’s people in Macedonia.
In Greece he remained for three months because of the interest he had in the saints. A group of men accompanied him as he went on to other parts. There was no question in the minds of those men or in the minds of those in Greece that he loved the Lord’s people. After leaving those in Europe he came back to Asia Minor to meet with the Lord’s people at Troas. The composition of that meeting was disciples. The occupation of the meeting was His Word. In that meeting there was the manifestation of God’s power. The result of that meeting was comforted saints. He loved and cared for the Lord’s people in Troas.
At the meeting with the elders of Ephesus at Miletus for a final farewell, Paul reminded them of:
1. The character of his ministry [18-27]: Characterized by humility of mind, by tears, by many temptations. Consistently he went about his work publicly and from house to house. The
Contents were repentance and faith; the kingdom of God; the whole counsel of God.
2. The charge to the elders [28-31]: Take heed to yourselves; take care of the flock He purchased with the blood of His own (Son).
3. The commendation to God [32-38]: To the word of His grace that builds and sanctifies; gave a quote known word-wide, the substance of which is given in Lu.6:38; 11:9.
The nature of that the meeting was a leader giving a final, personal, affectionate, direct charge to those taking the oversight of an assembly. He reminded them of the fact of the church being purchased with blood [v.28]. The provision of the church is God and the word of His grace [v.32]. The true administration of the church is the Holy Spirit and the overseers (bishops) [v.28]. The perils of the church are wolves without and men from within [v.24, 30]. There was no question in their minds: Paul loved and cared for the Lord’s people.
May it always be so with me: The Lord’s people are precious to God and I do love and want to care for them to the best of my ability and as long as I can.
“Father; Thy people are honorable and important to the work of Thy kingdom. Many are willing and do not know what to do or how to do it. Give me please, a sense of how best to meet the needs that arise among us. Today there will be opportunity to speak in a variety of meetings of the saints. Give understanding, power and grace to Thy servant – that all the people of the Lord will be blessed. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”