Acts 20:25-27 And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.… I. AS DEEPLY FELT. Paul always felt it, but never more so than now, in addressing his audience for the last time. Every Sunday there are ministers who preach their last sermons, but they do not know it. If they knew it, how overwhelmed they would be with the sense of their responsibility. They would feel — It is the last time, therefore — 1. We must correct any wrong impressions that we may have made. 2. We must bring forward every vital truth that may have been too much overlooked. 3. We must use every argument in our power to effect the conversion of souls. It must be now or never. Ought we not ever to preach as dying men to dying men? II. AS TERRIBLY SOLEMN (ver 26). Two facts will throw light on this wonderful utterance. 1. That preaching may involve the contraction of enormous guilt, either on the part of the preacher, the hearer, or both. The preacher who makes an unfaithful representation of the gospel contracts guilt in every discourse; and the hearer who rejects the overtures of mercy increases his condemnation. "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel," etc. 2. That the preacher who rightly discharges his mission dears himself of any participation in the guilt that may have been contracted. "I am pure" (clear), says Paul, "from the blood of all." Why (ver. 27)? He kept nothing back that was profitable. In ministering the truth he did not study what was popular, but what was essential to their salvation. If there was blood, therefore, anywhere, it was not on him. He was clean. III. AS CONSCIOUSLY DISCHARGED. The apostle had the sublime consciousness that he had faithfully discharged his duty amongst them. He looks them in the eye, and he appeals to them. "Wherefore I take you to record" — I summon you as witnesses this day — an expression very strong in the original, meaning this very day. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. |
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