Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 20]
not see them again and so the outlook and attitude is similar to
the farewell discourse of Jesus to the disciples in the upper
room (Joh 13-17). He warns them about future perils as Jesus
had done. Paul's words here will repay any preacher's study
today. There is the same high conception of the ministry here
that Paul had already elaborated in 2Co 2:12-6:10 (see my
_Glory of the Ministry_). It is a fitting time and occasion for
Paul to take stock of his ministry at the close of the third
mission tour. What wonders had God wrought already.
20:18 {Ye yourselves know} (\humeis epistasthe\). Pronoun
expressed and emphatic. He appeals to their personal knowledge of
his life in Ephesus. {From the first day that} (\apo pr•t•s
h•meras aph' h•s\). "From first day from which." He had first
"set foot" (\epeb•n\, second aorist active indicative of old verb
\epibain•\, to step upon or step into) in Ephesus four years ago
in the spring of 51 or 52, but had returned from Antioch that
autumn. It is now spring of 54 or 55 so that his actual ministry
in Ephesus was about two and a half years, roughly three years
(verse 31).
{After what manner I was with you} (\p•s meth' h–m•n egenom•n\).
Literally, "How I came (from Asia and so was) with you." Cf. 1Th
1:5; 2Th 2:1-10 where Paul likewise dares to refer boldly to his
life while with them "all the time" (\ton panta chronon\).
Accusative of duration of time. So far as we know, Paul stuck to
Ephesus the whole period. He had devoted himself consecratedly to
the task in Ephesus. Each pastor is bishop of his field and has a
golden opportunity to work it for Christ. One of the saddest
things about the present situation is the restlessness of
preachers to go elsewhere instead of devoting themselves wholly
to the task where they are. 19. {Serving the Lord} (\douleu•n
t•i kuri•i\). It was Paul's glory to be the \doulos\ (bond-slave)
as in Ro 1:1; Php 1:1. Paul alone, save Jesus in Mt 6:24; Lu
16:13, uses \douleu•\ six times for serving God (Page). {With
all lowliness of mind} (\meta pas•s tapeinophrosun•s\). Lightfoot
notes that heathen writers use this word for a grovelling, abject
state of mind, but Paul follows Christ in using it for humility,
humble-mindedness that should mark every Christian and in
particular the preacher. {With tears} (\dakru•n\). Construed with
\meta\. Paul was a man of the deepest emotion along with his high
intellectuality. He mentions his tears again in verse 31, tears
of sorrow and of anxiety. He refers to his tears in writing the
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