Reading for May 28th

Read Acts 20.13-38
In verse 16: Pentecost was a time for Jewish pilgrimage to Jerusalem (see 2.9-11; 20.6-7).
In verses 17-18: In Acts, the elders of the church are appointed locally with divine authority comparable tot he apostles (11.30; 14.23; 15.2, 4,6, 22, 23; 16.4), and Paul's account of his ministry and farewell commendation in vv. 18-35 is addressed to them.
In verse 19: The apostle's trials (Gk, "peirosmos"; see Lk 4.2; 1 Thess 3.4; Gal 4.14) are spiritual test as well as human conflicts.
Humility and tears are signs of a ministry like Jesus (Lk 19.41-44; 22.24-27).
In verse 20: "I do not shrink" is another way of claiming apostolic boldness (4.13; 9.27-28; 13.46; 19.8).
In verse 21: On both Jews and Greeks see 13.44-48; 14.27; 17.4, 11, 17; 18.5-6, 19; 19.8-10, 17).
The content of the repentance toward God or "conversion (Gk., "metanoia") proclaimed in Acts is specifically faith toward our Lord Jesus (2.38; 3.19; 5.31; 11.18; 17.30; 26.20).
In verses 22-23: to be a captive to the Spirit who testifies to me in every city is to be bound by God's determined purpose in suffering rather than power (see 19.21; 21.11).
Paul's directed journey comes to a climax in the Temple in Jerusalem (Lk 9.51; 13.22, 33-34; 19.11, 28, 41-44).
In verse 24: The journey or mission is an  athletic course to finish (13.25; 1 Cor 9.24; Phil 3.14; 2 Tim 4.7).
The ministry ... I received from the Lord Jesus stands in contrast to Paul's earlier self-appointed mission ( (9.1, 15; 22.3-10; 26.9-18).
In verse 26: To be not responsible for the blood of any of you means Paul has fulfilled his calling with regard to them and their lives (18.6).
In verse 28: The elders of the congregation are entrusted with the office of overseers (Gk., "episkopos"), and the church of God is both local and larger spiritual reality ( 1 Cor 1.2, "the church of God that is in Corinth").
In verses 29-31: Paul's warning against wolves (Ezek 22.27; Lk 10.3) sounds an alert (Lk 12.37-39) against false teachers who distort the truth (Lk 9.41; Acts 13.10).
In verse 35: This traditional saying is not otherwise attributed to the Lord Jesus (but see Lk 6.35-36, 38; 1 Clement 2.1).
In verse 36: Paul knelt down and prayed as Jesus did following his farewell to his disciples (Lk 22.41; Acts 21.5-6).
Comments or Questions..