the acts of the apostles-第66部分

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passing　on　to　Troas　to　await　him　there。　The　Philippians　were　the　most　loving
and　truehearted　of　the　apostle's　converts；　and　during　the　eight　days　of　the
feast　he　enjoyed　peaceful　and　happy　communion　with　them。

Sailing　from　Philippi；　Paul　and　Luke　reached　their　companions　at　Troas　five
days　later；　and　remained　for　seven　days　with　the　believers　in　that　place。

Upon　the　last　evening　of　his　stay　the　brethren　〃came　together　to　break
bread。〃　The　fact　that　their　beloved　teacher　was　about　to　depart；　had　called
together　a　larger　company　than　usual。　They　assembled　in　an　〃upper　chamber〃
on　the　third　story。　There；　in　the　fervency　of　his　love　and　solicitude　for
them；　the　apostle　preached　until　midnight。

In　one　of　the　open　windows　sat　a　youth　named　Eutychus。　In　this　perilous
position　he　went　to　sleep　and　fell　to　the　court　below。　At　once　all　was　alarm
and　confusion。　The　youth　was　taken　up　dead；　and　many　gathered　about　him　with
cries　and　mourning。　But　Paul；　passing　through　the　frightened　company；
embraced　him　and　offered　up　an　earnest　prayer　that　God　would　restore　the
dead　to　life。　His　petition　was　granted。　Above　the　sound　of　mourning　and
lamentation　the　apostle's　voice　was　heard；　saying；　〃Trouble　not　yourselves；
for　his　life　is　in　him。〃　With　rejoicing　the　believers　again　assembled　in　the
upper　chamber。　They　partook　of　the　Communion；　and　then　Paul　〃talked　a　long
while；　even　till　break　of　day。〃

The　ship　on　which　Paul　and　his　companions　were　to　continue　their　journey；
was　about　to　sail；　and　the　brethren　hastened　on　board。　The　apostle　himself；
however；　chose　to　take　the　nearer　route　by　land　between　Troas　and　Assos；
meeting

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his　companions　at　the　latter　city。　This　gave　him　a　short　season　for
meditation　and　prayer。　The　difficulties　and　dangers　connected　with　his
coming　visit　to　Jerusalem；　the　attitude　of　the　church　there　toward　him　and
his　work；　as　well　as　the　condition　of　the　churches　and　the　interests　of　the
gospel　work　in　other　fields；　were　subjects　of　earnest；　anxious　thought；　and
he　took　advantage　of　this　special　opportunity　to　seek　God　for　strength　and
guidance。

As　the　travelers　sailed　southward　from　Assos；　they　passed　the　city　of
Ephesus；　so　long　the　scene　of　the　apostle's　labors。　Paul　had　greatly　desired
to　visit　the　church　there；　for　he　had　important　instruction　and　counsel　to
give　them。　But　upon　consideration　he　determined　to　hasten　on；　for　he
desired；　〃if　it　were　possible　for　him；　to　be　at　Jerusalem　the　Day　of
Pentecost。〃　On　arriving　at　Miletus；　however；　about　thirty　miles　from
Ephesus；　he　learned　that　it　might　be　possible　to　communicate　with　the　church
before　the　ship　should　sail。　He　therefore　immediately　sent　a　message　to　the
elders；　urging　them　to　hasten　to　Miletus；　that　he　might　see　them　before
continuing　his　journey。

In　answer　to　his　call　they　came；　and　he　spoke　to　them　strong；　touching　words
of　admonition　and　farewell。　〃Ye　know；〃　he　said；　〃from　the　first　day　that　I
came　into　Asia；　after　what　manner　I　have　been　with　you　at　all　seasons；
serving　the　Lord　with　all　humility　of　mind；　and　with　many　tears；　and
temptations；　which　befell　me　by　the　lying　in　wait　of　the　Jews：　and　how　I
kept　back　nothing　that　was　profitable　unto　you；　but　have　showed　you；　and
have　taught　you　publicly；　and　from　house　to　house；　testifying　both　to

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the　Jews；　and　also　to　the　Greeks；　repentance　toward　God；　and　faith　toward
our　Lord　Jesus　Christ。〃

Paul　had　ever　exalted　the　divine　law。　He　had　shown　that　in　the　law　there　is
no　power　to　save　men　from　the　penalty　of　disobedience。　Wrongdoers　must
repent　of　their　sins　and　humble　themselves　before　God；　whose　just　wrath　they
have　incurred　by　breaking　His　law；　and　they　must　also　exercise　faith　in　the
blood　of　Christ　as　their　only　means　of　pardon。　The　Son　of　God　had　died　as
their　sacrifice　and　had　ascended　to　heaven　to　stand　before　the　Father　as
their　advocate。　By　repentance　and　faith　they　might　be　freed　from　the
condemnation　of　sin　and　through　the　grace　of　Christ　be　enabled　henceforth　to
render　obedience　to　the　low　of　God。

〃And　now；　behold；〃　Paul　continued；　〃I　go　bound　in　the　spirit　unto　Jerusalem；
not　knowing　the　things　that　shall　befall　me　there：　save　that　the　Holy　Ghost
witnesseth　in　every　city；　saying　that　bonds　and　afflictions　abide　me。　But
none　of　these　things　move　me；　neither　count　I　my　life　dear　unto　myself；　so
that　I　might　finish　my　course　with　joy；　and　the　ministry；　which　I　have
received　of　the　Lord　Jesus；　to　testify　the　gospel　of　the　grace　of　God。　And
now；　behold；　I　know　that　ye　all；　among　whom　I　have　gone　preaching　the
kingdom　of　God；　shall　see　my　face　no　more。〃

Paul　had　no　designed　to　bear　this　testimony；　but；　while　he　was　speaking；　the
Spirit　of　Inspiration　came　upon　him；　confirming　his　fears　that　this　would　be
his　last　meeting　with　his　Ephesian　brethren。

〃Wherefore　I　take　you　to　record　this　day；　that　I　am　pure　from　the　blood　of
all　men。　For　I　have　not　shunned　to　declare

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unto　you　all　the　counsel　of　God。〃　No　fear　of　giving　offense；　no　desire　for
friendship　or　applause；　could　lead　Paul　to　withhold　the　words　that　God　had
given　him　for　their　instruction；　warning；　or　correction。　From　His　servants
today　God　requires　fearlessness　in　preaching　the　word　and　in　carrying　out
its　precepts。　The　minister　of　Christ　is　not　to　present　to　the　people　only
those　truths　that　are　the　most　pleasing；　while　he　withholds　others　that
might　cause　them　pain。　He　should　watch　with　deep　solicitude　the　development
of　character。　If　he　sees　that　any　of　his　flock　are　cherishing　sin　he　must　as
a　faithful　shepherd　give　them　from　God's　word　the　instruction　that　is
applicable　to　their　case。　Should　he　permit　them　in　their　self…confidence　to
go　on　unwarned；　he　would　be　held　responsible　for　their　souls。　The　pastor　who
fulfills　his　high　commission　must　give　his　people　faithful　instruction　on
every　point　of　the　Christian　faith；　showing　them　what　they　must　be　and　do　in
order　to　stand　perfect　in　the　day　of　God。　He　only　who　is　a　faithful　teacher
of　the　truth　will　at　the　close　of　his　work　be　able　to　say　with　Paul；　〃I　am
pure　from　the　blood　of　all　men。〃

〃Take　heed　therefore　unto　yourselves；〃　the　apostle　admonished　his　brethren；
〃and　to　all　the　flock；　over　the　which　the　Holy　Ghost　hath　made　you
overseers；　to　feed　the　church　of　God；　which　He　hath　purchased　with　His　own
blood。〃　If　ministers　of　the　gospel　were　to　bear　constantly　in　mind　the　fact
that　they　are　dealing　with　the　purchase　of　the　blood　of　Christ；　they　would
have　a　deeper　sense　of　the　importance　of　their　work。　They　are　to　take　heed
to　themselves　and　to　their　flock。　Their　own　example　is　to　illustrate

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and　enforce　their　instructions。　As　teachers　of　the　way　of　life　they　should
give　no　occasion　for　the　truth　to　be　evil　spoken　of。　As　representatives　of
Christ　they　are　to　maintain　the　honor　of　His　name。　By　their　devotion；　their
purity　of　life；　their　godly　conversation；　they　are　to　prove　themselves
worthy　of　their　high　calling。

The　dangers　that　would　assail　the　church　at　Ephesus　were　revealed　to　the
apostle。　〃I　know　this；〃　he　said；　〃that　after　my　departing　shall　grievous
wolves　enter　in　among　you；　not　sparing　the　flock。　Also　of　your　own　selves
shall　men　arise；　speaking　perverse　things；　to　draw　away　disciples　after
them。〃　Paul　trembled　for　the　church　as；　looking　into　the　future；　he　saw　the
attacks　which　she　must　suffer　from　both　external　and　internal　foes。　With
solemn　earnestness　he　bade　his　brethren　guard　vigilantly　their　sacred
trusts。　For　an　example　he　pointed　them　to　his　own　unwearied　labors　among
them：　〃Therefore　watch；　and　remember；　that　by　the　space　of　three　years　I
ceased　not　to　warn　everyone　night　and　day　with　tears。

〃And　now；　brethren；〃　he　continued；　〃I　commend　you　to　God；　and　to　the　word　of
His　grace；　which　is　able　to　build　you　up；　and　to　give　you　an　inheritance
among　all　them　which　are　sanctified。　I　have　coveted　no　man's　silver；　or
gold；　or　apparel。〃　Some　of　the　Ephesian　brethren　were　wealthy；　but　Paul　had
never　sought　personal　benefit　from　them。　It　was　no　part　of　his　message　to
call　attention　to　his　own　wants。　〃These　hands；〃　he　declared；　〃have
ministered　unto　my　necessities；　and　to　them　that　were　with　me。〃　Amidst　his
arduous　labors　and　extensive　journeys　for　the　cause　of　Christ；　he　was

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able；　not　only　to　supply　his　own　wants；　but　to　spare　something　for　the
support　of　his　fellow　laborers　and　the　relief　of　the　worthy　poor。　This　he
accomplished　only　by　unremitting　diligence　and　the　closest　economy。　Well
might　he　point　to　his　own　example　as　he　said；　〃I　have　showed　you　all　things；
how　that　so　laboring　ye　ought　to　support　the　weak；　and　to　remember　the　words
of　the　Lord　Jesus；　how　He　said；　It　is　more　blessed　to　give　than　to　receive。

〃And　when　he　had　thus　spoken；　he　kneeled　down；　and　prayed　with　them　all。　And
they　all　wept　sore；　and　fell　on　Paul's　neck；　and　kissed　him；　sorrowing　most
of　all　for　the　words　which　he　spake；　that　they　should　see　his　face　no　more。
And　they　accompanied　him　unto　the　ship。〃

From　Miletu