Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of their sacred duty to protect and guide the believers in Ephesus, even as he entrusts them to God’s Word and departs.
“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church” (Acts 20:17). In the spring of around AD 57, the Apostle Paul found himself in Miletus, a coastal city located about thirty miles south of Ephesus in what is now western Turkey. Paul had previously spent over two years in Ephesus, fervently sharing the gospel and establishing a strong community of believers (Acts 19:1-10). Rather than travel into the city himself, he summoned the leaders—described here as “elders”—to come meet him. This demonstrates the depth of Paul’s pastoral concern: he wanted to encourage and exhort these shepherds of the fledgling church without being delayed on his journey toward Jerusalem. Miletus served as a strategic gathering place, where Paul could deliver final instructions and share his heartfelt love for the Ephesian church. During this meeting, Paul also took the opportunity to warn them that after his departure, “savage wolves will come in among you” to lead believers astray (Acts 20:29-30), showing his fervent desire to strengthen them against false teaching.
This gathering of church elders from Ephesus carried deep significance. These men represented a congregation at the heart of an influential port city, a place known for its commerce and devotion to pagan deities like Artemis (Acts 19:24-27). Yet in the midst of those cultural pressures, the gospel had flourished, and Paul now entrusted final leadership responsibilities to these faithful men. By calling them to Miletus rather than venturing into Ephesus himself, Paul demonstrated both urgency and wisdom, relying on their willingness to journey, learn, and then return to nurture the believers under their care. This moment inaugurates Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian church leaders, highlighting his sacrificial labor among them, his confidence in God’s grace to sustain them, and his earnest charge for them to guard the flock.
They received a warm and sobering exhortation from their beloved apostle, who reminded them of the blessings and responsibilities of their calling.
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Acts 20:17 meaning
“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church” (Acts 20:17). In the spring of around AD 57, the Apostle Paul found himself in Miletus, a coastal city located about thirty miles south of Ephesus in what is now western Turkey. Paul had previously spent over two years in Ephesus, fervently sharing the gospel and establishing a strong community of believers (Acts 19:1-10). Rather than travel into the city himself, he summoned the leaders—described here as “elders”—to come meet him. This demonstrates the depth of Paul’s pastoral concern: he wanted to encourage and exhort these shepherds of the fledgling church without being delayed on his journey toward Jerusalem. Miletus served as a strategic gathering place, where Paul could deliver final instructions and share his heartfelt love for the Ephesian church. During this meeting, Paul also took the opportunity to warn them that after his departure, “savage wolves will come in among you” to lead believers astray (Acts 20:29-30), showing his fervent desire to strengthen them against false teaching.
This gathering of church elders from Ephesus carried deep significance. These men represented a congregation at the heart of an influential port city, a place known for its commerce and devotion to pagan deities like Artemis (Acts 19:24-27). Yet in the midst of those cultural pressures, the gospel had flourished, and Paul now entrusted final leadership responsibilities to these faithful men. By calling them to Miletus rather than venturing into Ephesus himself, Paul demonstrated both urgency and wisdom, relying on their willingness to journey, learn, and then return to nurture the believers under their care. This moment inaugurates Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian church leaders, highlighting his sacrificial labor among them, his confidence in God’s grace to sustain them, and his earnest charge for them to guard the flock.
They received a warm and sobering exhortation from their beloved apostle, who reminded them of the blessings and responsibilities of their calling.