Last week we ended on Chapter 20 verse 17 where Paul sent for the elders at Ephesus for a final meeting. We pick up today in verse 18 where Paul bids farewell to the elders of Ephesus.

Acts Lesson 31 Study Questions

1.    And when they had come to him, he said to them: Most of the time in Acts, we see Paul the ___________; but here in Acts 20, we get a unique picture of Paul the _______ – what was important to him as a leader and shepherd of God’s people.

2.    I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there: Paul didn’t know what was _______ of him; he even had reason to believe it was bad. But that didn’t trouble him. He could _____ it all over to God even when he didn’t know what would happen. 

3.    You all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God: Paul did a lot in Ephesus. In that city God used him to work some amazing ________. Paul was always focused on the life-transforming power of the _____ of God.

4.    Will see my face no more: In all of this, Paul’s great love and concern for the leaders and the congregation in Ephesus was simply a _________ of Jesus’ great love and ________ for them. Paul followed Jesus in every way he could; since Jesus loved these believers so much, so did Paul.

5.    I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men: We should have a greater appreciation of the value of a _______ conscience. God helping us, we can have one – at least as clear as possible from this point _________.

6.    Take heed to yourselves: “Pay attention to your own _____. You have a high standard to fulfill. The standard isn’t _________, but it is nevertheless high. You won’t fulfill that high standard without paying attention to it, if you don’t take heed to yourselves.”

7.    For I know this: Paul presses the urgency here, warning these leaders that savage wolves will come in among them all. He knew that a pastor, a leader among God’s people has to do _____ than only feed and lead – he also has to _________.

8.    Also from among yourselves men will rise up: It is often easier for pastors to deal with the wolves that come from the _________ – obviously false teachings and goofy winds of doctrine. But it is often very difficult to deal with those who rise up from ________ yourselves.

9.    I commend you to God and to the word of His grace: Though Paul gave his all for the Christians in Ephesus for some three years, at the bottom line, he could only _________ [them] to God and to the word of His _______. Paul knew there was trouble ahead for him, and some trouble ahead for the Ephesian Christians. Yet God and the word of His grace would see them through.

10.    He knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely: This reminds us that Paul was not a cold dispenser of ________, but a warm, _________ man who loved his people greatly and won great love from them.