Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 20]
(purpose, not result). Aleph and B read \telei•s•\ here (first
aorist active subjunctive) rather than \telei•sai\ (first aorist
active infinitive). It is the lone instance in the N.T. of \h•s\
as a final particle (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 987). Paul in Ac
13:25 in his sermon at Antioch in Pisidia described John as
fulfilling his course and in 2Ti 4:7 he will say: "I have
finished my course" (\ton dromon teteleka\). He will run the race
to the end. {Which I received from the Lord Jesus} (\h•n elabon
para tou kuriou I•sou\). Of that fact he never had a doubt and it
was a proud boast (Gal 1:1; Ro 11:13). {The gospel of the grace
of God} (\to euaggelion t•s charitos tou theou\). To Paul the
gospel consisted in the grace of God. See this word "grace"
(\charis\) in Romans and his other Epistles.
20:25 {And now, behold} (\kai nun, idou\). Second time and solemn
reminder as in verse 22. {I know} (\eg• oida\). Emphasis on
\eg•\ which is expressed. {Ye all} (\humeis pantes\). In very
emphatic position after the verb \opsesthe\ (shall see) and the
object (my face). Twice Paul will write from Rome (Php 2:24; Phm
1:22) the hope of coming east again; but that is in the future,
and here Paul is expressing his personal conviction and his
fears. The Pastoral Epistles show Paul did come to Ephesus again
(1Ti 1:3; 3:14; 4:13) and Troas (2Ti 4:13) and Miletus (2Ti
4:20). There need be no surprise that Paul's fears turned out
otherwise. He had reason enough for them. {Among whom I went
about} (\en hois di•lthon\). Apparently Paul here has in mind
others beside the ministers. They represented the church in
Ephesus and the whole region where Paul laboured.
20:26 {I testify} (\marturomai\). Elsewhere in the N.T. only in
Paul's Epistles (Ga 5:3; Eph 4:17; 1Th 2:12). It means "I call
to witness" while \marture•\ means "I bear witness." {This day}
(\en t•i s•meron h•mer•i\). The today day, the last day with you,
our parting day. {I am pure from the blood of all men} (\katharos
eimi apo tou haimatos pant•n\). Paul was sensitive on this point
as in Corinth (Ac 18:6). It is much for any preacher to claim
and it ought to be true of all. The papyri also give this use of
\apo\ with the ablative rather than the mere ablative after
\katharos\.
20:27 Paul here repeats the very words and idioms used in verse
20, adding "the whole counsel of God" (\p•san t•n boul•n tou
theou\). All the counsel of God that concerned Paul's work and
nothing inconsistent with the purpose of God of redemption
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