Peter Barnes | Acts 20:25-27
SERMON NOTES
PREACHING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD (Acts 20:25-27)
Ezekiel 33:1-9; Acts 20:17-38
– spoken to elders from Ephesus
1. Christians are bound together by deep affection.
– 20:25, see v.38; announcing the kingdom (cf. Matt.4:17)
– ‘again’ is not in the Greek so Paul may only be saying that they would see him no longer on this trip (he was planning to head west in Rom.15:22-25). Or it may be that later he passed near Ephesus but did not stay there (1 Tim.1:3; 2 Tim.15-18).
– whatever the case, note the relationship between Paul and the elders
2. We will be judged according to our faithfulness.
– 20:26; a good conscience Acts 24:16; see Ezek.33:1-7
– Martin Luther at Worms in 1521: ‘my conscience is captive to the Word of God.’
3. Our commission is to proclaim the whole counsel of God.
– 20:27; we work out from the gospel (1 Cor.15:1-4)
– the Bible speaks on all issues directly or by deduction