He reminds the church leaders that faith is both taught and lived.
“And when they had come to him, he said to them, ‘You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,’” (v.18). These words are spoken by the Apostle Paul, who was born around AD 5 in Tarsus and was active as a follower of Jesus and missionary during the mid-first century until his martyrdom around AD 64-67. He addresses the elders of the church in Ephesus, reminding them of how he conducted himself from the moment he arrived in Asia. In the context of the Roman Empire, “Asia” refers to the western coastal region of modern-day Turkey, which then formed the Roman province of Asia. By calling attention to how he had been “with them the whole time,” Paul emphasizes his longstanding commitment to the believers he served, reflecting a heart of humility and steadfastness (cf. Philippians 2:5-8).
In this brief opening statement, Paul sets the stage for his farewell exhortation. He points out that his example was open and transparent, signifying that he had nothing to hide and had always lived in a manner consistent with the message he preached. By inviting the elders to recall how he lived among them “from the first day,” Paul underscores that his missionary work and day-to-day life were marked by integrity, perseverance through trials, and faithfulness to God’s calling (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2). Such faithfulness commonly ties back to the teachings of Jesus, who walked with His disciples and demonstrated servant-leadership in every moment of His ministry (cf. John 13:12-15).
This simple introduction points to the deep relationship Paul had with the Ephesians and highlights how the Christian life is more than just spoken words—it is a testimony of living out the gospel daily. Just as Jesus lived among His followers and showed them the way through personal example, Paul strove for that same level of consistency in both message and conduct. This relational foundation sets the tone for the rest of Paul’s address, in which he shares guidance, warnings, and encouragement for these leaders to shepherd faithfully.
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Acts 20:18 meaning
“And when they had come to him, he said to them, ‘You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,’” (v.18). These words are spoken by the Apostle Paul, who was born around AD 5 in Tarsus and was active as a follower of Jesus and missionary during the mid-first century until his martyrdom around AD 64-67. He addresses the elders of the church in Ephesus, reminding them of how he conducted himself from the moment he arrived in Asia. In the context of the Roman Empire, “Asia” refers to the western coastal region of modern-day Turkey, which then formed the Roman province of Asia. By calling attention to how he had been “with them the whole time,” Paul emphasizes his longstanding commitment to the believers he served, reflecting a heart of humility and steadfastness (cf. Philippians 2:5-8).
In this brief opening statement, Paul sets the stage for his farewell exhortation. He points out that his example was open and transparent, signifying that he had nothing to hide and had always lived in a manner consistent with the message he preached. By inviting the elders to recall how he lived among them “from the first day,” Paul underscores that his missionary work and day-to-day life were marked by integrity, perseverance through trials, and faithfulness to God’s calling (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2). Such faithfulness commonly ties back to the teachings of Jesus, who walked with His disciples and demonstrated servant-leadership in every moment of His ministry (cf. John 13:12-15).
This simple introduction points to the deep relationship Paul had with the Ephesians and highlights how the Christian life is more than just spoken words—it is a testimony of living out the gospel daily. Just as Jesus lived among His followers and showed them the way through personal example, Paul strove for that same level of consistency in both message and conduct. This relational foundation sets the tone for the rest of Paul’s address, in which he shares guidance, warnings, and encouragement for these leaders to shepherd faithfully.