TASK OF TESTIFYING TO THE GOSPEL OF GOD’S GRACE
Acts 20:13-24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (24)
chapter 20
13. We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot.
14. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
15. The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.
16. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17. From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
18. When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.
19. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.
20. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
21. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22. "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. From Miletus, Paul requested the Ephesian elders to come and meet with him there. If Paul went to Ephesus, many days would have been lost, which he did not want to risk. His meeting with them had a sense of solemnity, somewhat like the atmosphere of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples in the Upper Room before his Passion.
2. Some suggested that Paul was going to Jerusalem against the direction of the Spirit because He revealed the capture that awaited him there (21:11-12). The opposite was true (v. 22). Paul was going the way of the cross as his Lord and Savior had done. He considered his life worth nothing if only he could finish the race and complete the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (v. 24).
3. Paul’s life was the best illustration of the principle of a kernel of wheat that fell to the ground to produce many seeds (Jn 12:24). Paul practiced what he taught his Bible students: “Always give yourselves fully to the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1Cor. 15:58).
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me your word today. Please grant me to have the same attitude toward God’s holy mission as Paul. Amen.
One Word: My only aim is to finish the race