25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
20:25
“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
Paul here shares with the Ephesians elders that he would never see them again. From this point, he aims to minister in the western part of the Roman empire. He had faithfully preached “the kingdom of God” among them.
20:26
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Since Paul never shrunk from God’s will while he was in Ephesus, no one could claim that he did not do his part in preaching the gospel in Ephesus and Asia (Ezek 33:1-6).
20:27
For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel [purpose, will] of God.
Paul not only was a faithful preacher, but he declared “the whole counsel of God” to the Ephesians.
Note the various words Paul used for communication in this part of Acts: “preach” (Acts 20:20) and “proclaim” (Acts 20:27); both words mean to announce. Then he used “taught” in Acts 20:20. He also used the “declared” and “testifying” from the Greek word proclaim (Acts 20:21, 24). Finally, “bear witness” means to (declare) in Acts 20:26.
PRINCIPLE:
The standards for Christian leadership are high because their responsibility is great.
APPLICATION:
The pastoral epistles describe the norm or standard for Christian leadership (1 Ti 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9). A leader is to be “above reproach” (1 Ti 3:2; Tit 1:6; Jas 3:1). The standards are high because the responsibility involves eternal issues. That is why Christian leaders are to live their lives “above reproach” (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:6).
