Acts 20:28-31 Exhortation and warning
Verse 28: Paul charges and exhorts the elders from Ephesus to “take heed.” They must beware, be aware, and direct their heed (pay attention and be careful) both toward themselves and toward the flock. This recognizes that they are placed in oversight of the flock by the Holy Ghost. The duty of overseers of a flock is to feed the flock. The food of the flock is the word of God. “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). They must take the responsibility seriously (II Timothy 2:6) and sew the word faithfully (Luke 8:5, 11; I Corinthians 4:2). Cf. also II Corinthians 9:10.
Natural food is vital to sustaining physical life. Spiritual food is vital to sustaining spiritual life and spiritual growth. The word of God is the milk for babes and the solid food for adults (I Peter 2:2; I Corinthians 3:2). It is the essential bread and water (Deuteronomy 8:3: Isaiah 55:1-2). It provides the necessary range of flavors, from bitter to sweet (Psalm 119:103; Revelation 10:9-10). “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” Jeremiah 15:16). Taste and see that the Lord is good.
There are three names for one office. Paul, on his way to Jerusalem, calls the plural elders of the church at Ephesus to meet him in Miletus. In charging the elders, he calls them “overseers” (bishops; ἐπισκόπους) who are to “pastor” (feed; ποιμαίνειν) the church/flock of God. In this case, the noun form of episkopos is used directly. The pastoring is embedded in the verb form of feeding (poimainein) the flock. Acts 20:17, 28.Verses 29-30: Paul forewarns them of “grievous wolves” who will attempt to decimate the flock. These will be of two kinds: (1) “enter in among you” those from the outside who will come to or into the flock; and (2) “Also of your own selves” those from the inside who will who seek to divide the flock.
Verse 31: In
light of this the elders are to “watch,” be on guard against wolves entering to
destroy the flock; and “remember” the time-honored teaching of Paul, wherein
“night and day” and “with tears,” he grounded them in truth and warned them
against error. To fight the good fight, they will need to call to remembrance
the things they have been taught. Compare I Timothy 4:6 and Jude, verse 17.
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