Acts chapter 20

vs 21

I've said this a million times, but I'll say it again - this is one of the most contentious issues that Christianity faced in its early years. Don't ever think that just because you come to a majority decision in, say, a church or other organisation about a contentious issue that, because a decision is made, the problem is over. Those who disagreed will continue to disagree.

Same here. Just because the apostles had come to an agreement regarding the inclusion of gentiles into the church, without the need to follow Jewish religious legalism, does not mean that those who disagree stop disagreeing.

vs 22

But that statement does suggest that he knows something's going to happen there. Where else would the Judaising Christians be based after all?

vs 23

So to Paul, his sufferings are a certainty. He gets warned about them, not so that he can avoid them, but instead so that he knows they are under God's authority. Wow.

vs 24

This sounds so much like something out of one of Paul's letters. Anything up to and including Paul's life is worthless. It is the spread of the gospel to which he has been called that is the driving force.

vs 25

Paul does not see himself returning to Ephesus ever again. He said he doesn't know what's going to happen, but surely that means he thinks he's got an idea.

vs 26

And I'm sure he is, really. But I think Paul means this in a more 'responsibility' focused way, especially when we match it up with the next verse.

vs 27

Paul I think is taking Ezekiel 3:18-20 to heart here. Paul feels that if he did not preach the gospel to people, then their blood would be on his hands: he would hold responsibility for their separation from God. But once he has preched the gospel to them, his hands are clean.

vs 28

Paul envisions a different role, but in a similar responsibility. Paul doesn't think he will pass this way again, and so he wants to make sure that these elders of the church will take their own responsibility seriously. See, Paul doesn't just think you preach to people, and then that's it, your hands are clean of their blood. That was his call, perhaps. But these elders have the responsibility of caring after these Christians after he is gone. There is a continual necessity to disciple and care for Christians in order to see God's will fulfilled.

vs 29

Perhaps Paul knew who they would be already. Perhaps Paul is just assuming that this will be so.

vs 30

Paul here suggests that those who seek to split the church do so for the sake of having a following, rather than because they are seeking to serve Jesus. Or at least, this is what those who come after him will try to do. That doesn't mean that anyone who tries to bring in a divisive teaching does so purely for the sake of garnering followers.