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ACTS.--"I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel" (Acts 20: 33).
EPISTLE.--"Neither . . . . . used we . . . . . a cloke of covetousness" (I Thess. 2: 5).
This is a characteristic attitude of the apostle Paul.
ACTS.--"These hands have ministered unto my necessities" (Acts 20: 34).
EPISTLE.--"We labour, working with our own hands" (I Cor. 4: 12).
ACTS.--"These hands have ministered unto my necessities" (Acts 20: 34).
EPISTLE.--"Distributing to the necessity of saints" (Rom. 12: 13).
ACTS.--"These hands"; "These bonds" (Acts 20: 34; 26: 29).
"How that so labouring ye ought to support the weak" (Acts 20: 35).
EPISTLE.--"We both labour and suffer reproach" (I Tim. 4: 10).
Kopiao, "to labour" is a word much used by the Apostle. He employs it fourteen times in his
epistles. None of the other apostles use the word except John (Rev. 2: 3).
Here, within the compass of eighteen verses, we have eighteen instances of the usage
of words peculiarly Pauline. Could there be more convincing proof that Luke is a faithful
eye-witness, and a trustworthy historian?
We now return to the opening of the Apostle's message to the elders of Ephesus.
"Ye know 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" (Acts 20: 18, 19).
While we might have expected that the Apostle would have put foremost the
preaching of Christ or doctrinal purity, we observe that he speaks first of his own
personal integrity. To this aspect of the subject he returns in verses 33-35. His reason for
reminding his hearers of his unselfishness and lowliness may have been that as he was
about to leave them and enter another phase of ministry, he would have them realize that
he was not following this course out of self-seeking. Indeed, he said later, "I count not
my life dear unto myself", and he would inculcate in these believers the self-same spirit,
making them willing, though sorrowful, that the Lord's service should deprive them of
his presence. From beginning to end of his ministry the Apostle was able, with a good
conscience, to bring together his "doctrine" and his "manner of life".
After this reminder, the Apostle passed on to the outer circumstances in which he had
triumphed by grace.
"And with many tears and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the
Jews" (Acts 20: 19).
The western mind regards weeping as a sign of weakness, but Paul was eastern in this
respect, and once more in this address he appeals to his tears saying:
"Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears" (Acts 20: 31).
When the Apostle felt obliged to write the stern letter he did to the Corinthians, he
said: