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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_20:18-24
18"You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Act_20:18 "You yourselves know. . .how I was with you the whole time" Paul's walk and talk confirmed his relationship with Christ. The fact that Paul states this so strongly in Act_20:18-19 shows the presence of critics.
Act_20:19 "serving the Lord with all humility" This term begins a list of Christian virtues which produces unity (cf. Eph_4:2-3). "Humility" is a uniquely Christian virtue which was not included in the Greek moralists' (Stoics) list of virtues. Both Moses (cf. Num_12:3) and Jesus (cf. Mat_11:29) are described by this term. Paul uses it several times (cf. Eph_4:2; Php_2:3; Col_2:18; Col_2:23; Col_3:12).
hyperlink
▣ "with tears and with trials" Paul lists the physical and emotional things that he faced as the Apostle to the Gentiles in 2Co_4:7-12; 2Co_6:3-10; 2Co_11:24-28. Ministry costs!
▣ "through the plots of the Jews" There are several examples of these "plots" in Acts (cf. Act_9:24; Act_13:45; Act_13:50; Act_14:2; Act_14:4-5; Act_14:19; Act_17:5; Act_17:13; Act_18:12; Act_20:3; Act_21:27; Act_23:12; Act_23:27; Act_23:30; Act_24:5-9; Act_24:18-19).
Act_20:20 "did not shrink" This is a sailing term (cf. Act_20:27, an aorist middle indicative) for striking the sails when a ship approaches the dock.
▣ "anything that was profitable" Paul taught them everything related to the gospel: how to receive it, how to live it, how to defend it, and how to promote it.
▣ "teaching you publicly and from house to house" This probably means that not only did Paul teach in open public group meetings (not secret meetings), but also within individual houses (or possibly separate house churches). The point is they knew quite well how Paul acted among them and also what Paul said.
Paul must have been attacked by some local group. This was his way of deflecting the criticism
Act_20:21 "testifying to both Jews and Greeks" There is one message for both groups. Often the presentation is varied but the content is the same, as the sermons in Acts (kerygma, see Special Topic at Act_2:14) show. Paul made it a priority to present the gospel to the Jews first (cf. Rom_1:16; 1Co_1:18; 1Co_1:24).
▣ "repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" Repentance is a change of mind (Greek word), followed by a change of action (Hebrew word). It is one of at least two requirements for salvation. The other is faith in our Lord Jesus (cf. Mar_1:15; Act_3:16; Act_3:19; see Special Topic at Act_3:16). One is negative (turning from self and sin). One is positive (turning to embrace Jesus and His atonement of our behalf). Both are required. I have come to believe that there are several NT requirements: certainly initial repentance and faith and continuing repentance and faith, but also obedience and perseverance.
There are some variants in the ancient Greek texts about "our Lord Jesus Christ." The title "Christ" is omitted in manuscript B (Vaticanus), but it is present in P74, à , A, and C. Like the vast majority of these variants, they do not change the sense of the text. The UBS4 Greek text believes the shorter reading is "almost certain" because there is no reason why any scribe would delete it, but there is evidence of them expanding parallel phrasing to the expected full phrasing (see Appendix Two: Textual Criticism).
Act_20:22
NASB "bound in the spirit"
NKJV "bound in the spirit"
NRSV "a captive of the Spirit"
TEV "in obedience to the Holy Spirit"
NJB "in captivity to the Spirit"
This is a perfect passive participle. It shows Paul's sense of divine leadership (cf. Act_18:21; Act_19:21; Act_20:23; 1Co_4:19; 1Co_7:40; 1Co_16:7). See hyperlink at Act_2:2 and the note at Act_19:21. The Holy Spirit is mentioned in Act_20:23.
Act_20:23 "the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying the bonds and afflictions await me" This was probably done through different prophets being used by the Holy Spirit to warn Paul (cf. Act_9:16; Act_21:4; Act_21:10-12). Often God sends and uses what seems negative, in purposeful, positive ways (cf. Isa_55:8-11). Paul was not detoured by personal hardship as long as he believed it served God's purposes.
Act_20:24 "I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself" This type of thinking is the opposite of fallen human self-centered thinking. Christians have a different world view. They have died to self and sin and are alive to God (cf. Romans 6; 2Co_5:14-15; Gal_2:20; 1Jn_3:16). Death to the tyranny of self brings the freedom of selfless service.
▣ "finish my course" This is an athletic term for running a race. Paul loves to use athletic metaphors. He often speaks of his life as an athletic event (cf. 1Co_9:24-27; Gal_2:2; Gal_5:7; Php_2:16; Php_3:14; 2Ti_2:5; 2Ti_4:7). Paul believed God had a specific will, plan, purpose for his life.
▣ "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus" Paul received his call on the Damascus road (cf. Acts 9). All believers are called and gifted ministers (cf. Eph_4:11-12). This realization, this worldview will change the way we live (cf. 2Co_5:18-20). We are men and women on mission! We are saved to serve. We are all stewards of the gospel and the gift!
▣ "the gospel of the grace of God" Fallen mankind's only hope is in the unchanging, gracious mercy of God. The Triune God has provided everything we need for abundant life. Our hope is in who He is and what He has done.
It is surprising how seldom Luke uses the noun "gospel" (not at all in Luke and only twice in Acts, Act_15:7; Act_20:24), but he uses the verb many, many times in both of his books.