To complete the task the Lord has given me (Acts 20)

Acts 20:1-38
Key verse 20:24

About two weeks ago my doctor found a benign tumor in my heart. I immediately thought about a possible situation. Then from the last Saturday I have suffered kidney stone pain. Though I am used to this because I have a long history of kidney stone, I thought seriously, “What if I were done now?” Then, I came to study today’s passage and God gave me a word, which I would like to hear from him at the last day of my life. Have you thought about the last word you want to hear from the Lord and put onto your tomb stone? I am talking about your life goal you want to cherish and accomplish. I hope that we all have that and finish our race proudly.  

In today’s passage, Paul moved on and visited Macedonia and Achaia, strengthening the disciples there. This passage showed us how he carried out the task given to him by God. The title of my message is “To complete the task the Lord has given me.”

“1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.”

On his third missionary journey, Paul first stopped by Ephesus and taught and raised up disciples for three years. God’s word was taught in power so that some people who practiced sorcery publicly burned their scrolls worth 50,000 drachmas. (One drachma was a labor’s average daily wage at that time.) An uproar rose against him but that could not stop the mighty work of God. After seeing the great work of God in Ephesus, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome as he envisioned in 19:22.

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”

He first wanted to strengthen the disciples in Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. There are not many accounts on this trip in the book of Acts in terms of what was going on. When he was setting out for Macedonia, he said he had no peace of mind. (2 Cor 2:13) While he stayed in Ephesus, he wrote 1 Corinthians to the Corinthian church. But things did not go well. It seemed that he visited them one time but he had to come back in vain. The Corinthian church was in crisis. If the church of Corinth fell, it would be a great disaster to all the churches in Europe and even in Asia. As a last resort, he sent Titus ahead to Corinth before he visited them again. On the way to Macedonia, he anxiously waited for Titus and finally met him and heard that the Corinthians church had repented of its opposition to Paul’s leadership. (2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:5–16) He then wrote 2 Corinthians with peace and joy in mind. Then he encouraged the disciples in Macedonia with many words. Finally, he arrived in Greece, which was another name for Achaia and actually referred to Corinth. In Corinth, Paul stayed three months. (1 Cor 16:6), likely the winter months when sailing was dangerous. Then he was to about sail to Jerusalem, which was his final destiny of his third missionary journey. But some Jews plotted against him. To avoid this, he changed his plan and went back through Macedonia.

“4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.”

Paul was accompanied by representatives from each church in Macedonia and Achaia and Asia. Why then did he bring them to Jerusalem? Probably, Paul did so for the unification of the Jerusalem church and the Gentile church. Though the apostles recognized Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles (Gal 2:9), many Jewish people still opposed Paul and differentiated the Jerusalem church from the Gentile church. There seemed to be two different churches. Paul tried to reconcile and unite these two churches by showing the work of God among the Gentiles. According to 1 Cor 16, Paul was also collecting money from the Gentiles to support the Jerusalem church, which was in need. So visiting Jerusalem with the Gentile believers and their offering for the Jerusalem church was very important to unite them all. The Gentile representatives joined Paul at Troas after the Festival of Unleavened Bread. There Paul and his company stayed seven days.

“7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.”

The day before he left Troas, which was the first day of the week, they all came together to break bread and Paul spoke to the people. It looked like they worshiped God and shared fellowship on Sunday. Since he was leaving the next day, Paul kept on talking until midnight. He somehow tried to teach the believers as much as he could. However, a young man named Eutychus was sinking into a deep sleep, sitting in a window. Then he happened to fell to the ground from the third story. All the people came down in panic. When they picked him up, he was dead! It was great sorrow and discouragement to the people. They could have blamed Paul who kept on talking until midnight. Paul quickly threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. Then, he said, “Don’t be alarmed. He’s alive!” The resuscitated man greatly comforted the people. In this way, the could-be-unfortunate incident was turned into the display of the power of God. What amazed us is that Paul did not stop teaching even after the incident. He took a break and then continued to talk until daylight, to the last minute he left. He wanted to teach and help them as much as he could since this would be his last time to see them. The believers must have been greatly encouraged by his teaching and by the power of God.

“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.”

It seemed that Paul and his company were separated for a while until they joined again at Assos. It was because Paul wanted to go to Assos on foot. It was about a 30 mile distance from Troas. We don’t know why he walked instead of sailing with his company. Probably, he wanted to meet some disciples on the way. Anyway, after joining again, Paul and his company sailed through Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and arrived at Miletus. What did Paul do at Miletus?

17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church

Paul wanted to see and encourage the believers in Ephesus. But there was no time for him to stop by because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost.  So he sent for the elders of the church. His farewell speech to them consists of three parts.

First, Paul reminded them of how he had served them and carried out the task given to him by God.

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.

While he lived among the Ephesians, Paul diligently preached to the Ephesians and declared repentance and faith in Jesus to all people, Jews and Greeks. He did so with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe opposition. He had no hidden agenda or motives in doing so. He did this as a servant of God. He preached only the word of God and served them with sincere heart. He did not seek anything for himself but he did all for the sake of God and his flock.

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.

Now Paul was going to Jerusalem, compelled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit who had led Paul to the Ephesus, Macedonia and Achaia was compelling him to go to Jerusalem where prison and hardships awaited Paul. As we can see later, Paul was put into prison and went through hardships in Jerusalem. It was obvious that going to Jerusalem would trouble him so much. We don’t like troubles. But there is a time when the Holy Spirit leads us to a task that entails troubles and even could risk our life. Now Paul had two choices – risking his life or saving his life. What did Paul say about this?

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.

ESV reads, ““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.”

Paul said that he was willing to give his life if he could finish the race and complete the task the Lord gave him. And the task given to him by God was to testify to the good news of God’s grace and save people. That was the race and his life goal. So though he would suffer in Jerusalem, he did not hesitate to go there. Particularly, his trip to Jerusalem was to unite the Jerusalem church and the Gentiles church. And as he said in Rom 9-11, which was written while he stayed in Corinth for three months, he earnestly wanted his people to be saved even if he lost his life. Though they persecuted him and tried to kill him, he wanted to go there to preach the gospel of Jesus to them, which actually happened in 21:37-22:21.   

As such, Paul always carried out his holy task with all his heart, with all his strength, and with a life-giving spirit. He did so in Ephesus and would do the same until he would complete his race and task no matter what. By saying all this, Paul taught the elders what they should do as God’s servants and as the overseers in the church.

Second, Paul commissioned the elders to watch over God’s flock in place of him.

Paul first made clear that he did not shrink from declaring to them the whole will of God. He taught and showed all things to them so he was innocent of any loss to them owing to his unfaithfulness or lack of teaching.

“28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”

Like him, the elders should keep watch over themselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit made them overseers. They should be shepherds of the church of God, which Jesus bought with his own blood. Savage wolves would come to destroy the flock and some church members would distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. If the elders did not keep watch over the flock, the church would be ruined by enemies after Paul left. The church of God is very precious because Jesus bought her with his own blood. Elders and overseers in the church must protect God’s flock and nurture them by teaching and serving. Their positions are not for show. They are dealing with lives. As an overseer in this ministry, I should serve and protect our Bible students as Paul instructed. May God help me keep watch over myself first so that I may not be entangled by worldly things but diligently care for God’s flock.

32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Entrusting God’s flock to the elders, Paul then committed them to God because it was God and his word that could build them up and give them an inheritance among them. By faith, Paul entrusted God’s flock to the elders. 

Lastly, Paul admonished them to live an exemplary life as he did.

“33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Paul reminded them of how he supported himself and helped those in need. He encouraged them to do as Jesus commanded, taking care of those in need.

Paul’s farewell message was to encourage the elders to keep watch over God’s flock as Paul did – with a sense of obligation before God and a sense of responsibility for His flock.

After finishing his speech, Paul knelt down with them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him because they would not see Paul again.

Overall, in this passage, we learned Paul’s life goal and how he carried out the task given by God. He earnestly desired to finish and complete his task. For that, he did not mind suffering and even risking his life. He made three missionary journeys. Here was what he said about his suffering in 2 Cor 11:23-28.

“23…I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

He suffered so much to complete the task, which was to preach the gospel and save people. He lived like Jesus who gave his life to save people. His life was mission-oriented. Today the mission-oriented life is unpopular and strange even among believers. Their fundamental issue with them is that they don’t want to lose anything, not to mention their lives. Then, was Paul crazy? Was he abnormal?

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” God has given all believers the task to testify about Jesus and his kingdom. That is the life of his disciple. Paul followed after Jesus. The mission-oriented life is the same as the life following Jesus.

More than 40 years ago, M RL came here without much money and support. She lived together with other missionaries in a small and sloppy apartment near Washington D.C. Then M LL join her later. They have served people all their life. They have gone through many difficulties. Even though they both have retired, they are still serving people. M LL has a health issue, but he gives a ride to his Bible students and teaches them. Why do they live such a life rather than enjoying the reset of their lives? It is because that is their race and their task given by God. They want to complete their holy task and they are enjoying it.

While I was in suffering from kidney stone last week, what concerned me was my Sunday message this week. I was afraid I could not finish my message this week. So I told M LL to be ready in case. But by God’s grace I am here and delivering this message. Thank God for that. And I came to have desire to somehow complete my task also – preaching, teaching and disciple making. I also pray that God may help you do and complete your tasks as well. But it is not easy to carry it out especially when we face difficulties and suffering. We are always challenged between two ways – to suffer and complete our task or to less suffer and incomplete our task. Which one does God like? Which life will be blessed eventually? Saving our life or saving many people?

Meditating on this passage, I thought about what motivated Paul to live such a life. Why should we believers preach the gospel? How can we do that? Then, one verse came into my mind.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Cor 15:10)

God’s grace compelled Paul to preach the gospel despite prison and hardships. God’s grace gave him strength and joy to carry out the task. So in verse 24, Paul said “the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” We are saved by God’s grace. So, we have compassion on others. We are compelled to carry out the task by his grace. We can complete our task by his grace. So the mission-oriented life is God’s special grace for us. Remember, everything is His grace. Our task is his grace. I just happened to know a song “Well Done” sung by Deitrick Haddon, which moved my heart. The lyrics read,

…
When this life is over
I just wanna have eternal life
Oh wanna hear Him say
Well done, well done, well done
You can come on in.
…

I want to finish the race and complete the task God has given me. And I want to hear my Lord say, “Well done, a good and faithful servant! You have completed the task I gave you. Well done!” What about you?

by David Yun