Paul's Farewell to The Ephesian Elders

Monday, Feb. 20, 2012: Acts 20:17 – 18a, 26 – 27 (NKJV)            Why was Paul innocent?

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you.

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Why was Paul innocent? Some groups keep secrets for the select few. But Paul declares that he openly preached the entire counsel of God.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012: Acts 20:28 (NKJV)             Who appointed the elders?

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Who appointed the elders? The Holy Spirit (not man, nor degree) made the elders overseers to shepherd the flock.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012: Acts 20:29 –30 (NKJV)            Is the flock endangered?

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Is the flock endangered? Yes, it is, from internal and external threats.

Thursday, February 23, 2012: Acts 20:32 (NKJV)            What is the flock’s defense?

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

What is the flock’s defense? The Word of God builds up.

Friday, February 24, 2012: Acts 20:33 –35 (NKJV)             What was Paul’s example?

I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

What was Paul’s example? Paul worked to provide for himself and his companions.

Jesus Christ in Jerusalem's Temple

Background: In spite of warnings, Jesus Christ goes from Bethany/Bethpage to Jerusalem on a donkey. Jews greet him with palm leaves, saying “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jesus weeps when He sees the city prophesying that no two stones of the Temple will stay together because He will be rejected. Reaching the Temple, He drives away the businessmen and begins to teach.

Monday, February 8, 2010: Luke 20:1–2

Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”
Background: Jesus Christ uses parables and is surrounded by listeners. Suddenly the Chief priests, the Scribes and the Elders make their way through the crowd till they face and question Him.
What was the question that was impossible to answer? “By whose authority…?” They thought they were the final authority among the Jews and the question was unanswerable.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010: Luke 20:3–4, 7-8

But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” So they answered that they did not know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
What was the answer that was impossible to question? The question asked was really an answer because the Jews had left out God as being above them! They came up with a lame “we don’t know.”

Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Luke 20:9–10, 13-14, 16a

Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’
He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.”
Background: after the failure, the big guns could not just leave and listened to Jesus Christ.
What prophetic parable was impossible to misinterpret? A man (God) plants a vineyard (Israel in Canaan) and leases it to vinedressers. (the big guns) He sends his servants (Prophets) for part of the vintage but they are beaten and return empty-handed. He sends his Son (Jesus Christ) but they kill Him. The man returns, destroys the vinedressers and gives the vineyard to others. (Gentiles)

Thursday, February 11, 2010: Luke 20:16b–18

And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”
Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone’?
Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
What objection was impossible to sustain? “Certainly not,” was refuted by Jesus Christ who looked them in the eye and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Daniel that the stone rejected by the builders will become the cornerstone of a new building, the Church.

Friday, February 12, 2010: Luke 20:28 –29, 33-37

saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”
Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Background: Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, asked a question about the subject.
What primed trap was impossible to shut? The Sadducees had incorrectly assumed that a resurrection body would mimic temporal life. They were told what would happen. After these verses, Moses was quoted by Christ as Calling God the Go of Abraham, etc., implying that Abraham was alive with God!