Reading for August 13th

 Read Acts 20.13-38. In verse 16: Pentecost was a time for Jewish pilgrimage to Jerusalem (see comments on 2.9-11; 20.6-7). in verses 17-18: In Acts, the elders of the church are appointed locally with divine authority comparable to the 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 3.5; Gal 4.14) are spiritual tests 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 did 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 captive to the Spirit who testifies to me in every city is to be bound by God's determined purpose in sufferings 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 overseer (Gk., :episkopos"), and the church of God is both local and a larger spiritual reality (1Cor 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 tot he 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..