Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 20:38
Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
38. sorrowing the words which he spake ] More literally “the word which he had spoken” ( Rev. Ver.).
that they should see, &c.] The word in the original is not that which the Apostle uses in Act 20:25, when he says he shall not come again. So the Rev. Ver. has well given “ behold.” The Greek expresses the earnest reverent gaze, with which we can fancy those who knew the Apostle and his work would look upon him. His presence filled not only the eye, but the mind, they contemplated all which the sight of him would recall.
And they accompanied him unto the ship ] Rev. Ver. “And they brought him on his way, &c.” thus making the rendering of the verb here agree with the language of Act 15:3 and Act 21:5. They would not lose one look or one word before they were forced to do so. We can see from these words that the harbour was at some distance from the town of Miletus. See on Act 20:15; Act 20:17.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Sorrowing most of all … – This was a most tender and affectionate parting scene. It can be more easily imagined than described. We may learn from it:
(1) That the parting of ministers and people is a most solemn event, and should be one of much tenderness and affection.
(2) The effect of true religion is to make the heart more tender; to make friendship more affectionate and sacred; and to unite more closely the bonds of love.
(3) Ministers of the gospel should be prepared to leave their people with the same consciousness of fidelity and the same kindness and love which Paul evinced. They should live such lives as to be able to look back upon their whole ministry as pure and disinterested, and as having been employed in guarding the flock, and in making known to them the whole counsel of God. So parting, they may separate in peace; and so living and acting, they will be prepared to give up their account with joy, and not with grief. May God grant to every minister the spirit which Paul evinced at Ephesus, and enable each one, when called to leave his people by death or otherwise, to do it with the same consciousness of fidelity which Paul evinced when he left his people to see their face no more.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 38. That they should see his face no more] This was a most solemn meeting, and a most affecting parting. The man who had first pointed out to them the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom they had been brought into so glorious a state of salvation, is now going away, in all likelihood, to be seen no more till the day in which the quick and dead shall stand before the throne of judgment. Such a scene, and its correspondent feelings, are more easily imagined than described.
1. As the disciples are stated to have come together on the first day of the week, we may learn from this that, ever since the apostolic times, the Lord’s day, now the Christian Sabbath, was set apart for religious exercises; such as the preaching of God’s holy word, and celebrating the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Besides its being the day on which our blessed Lord rose from the dead, the practice of the apostles and the primitive Church is an additional reason why we should religiously celebrate this first day of the week. They who, professing the Christian religion, still prefer the Jewish Sabbath, have little to support them in the New Testament. How prone is man to affect to be wise above what is written, while he is, in almost every respect, below the teaching so plainly laid down in the Divine word.
2. The charge of St. Paul to the pastors of the Church of Christ at Ephesus and Miletus contains much that is interesting to every Christian minister:
(1) If he be sent of God at all, he is sent to feed the flock.
(2) But, in order to feed them, he must have the bread of life.
(3) This bread he must distribute in its due season, that each may have that portion that is suitable to time, place, and state.
(4) While he is feeding others, he should take care to have his own soul fed: it is possible for a minister to be the instrument of feeding others, and yet starve himself.
(5) If Jesus Christ intrust to his care the souls he has bought by his own blood, what an awful account will he have to give in the day of judgment, if any of them perish through his neglect! Though the sinner, dying in his sins, has his own blood upon his head, yet, if the watchman has not faithfully warned him, his blood will be required at the watchman’s hand. Let him who is concerned read Ezekiel, Eze 33:3-5, and think of the account which he is shortly to give unto God.
3. Tenderness and sympathy are not inconsistent with the highest state of grace. Paul warns his hearers day and night with tears. His hearers now weep sore at the departure of their beloved pastor. They who can give up a Christian minister with indifference, have either profited little under that ministry, or they have backslidden from the grace of God. The pastors should love as fathers, the converts as children; and all feel themselves one family, under that great head, Christ Jesus.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The loss of a faithful and painful minister is a public loss, and many are concerned in it; besides, they had found great benefit by his ministry, and could not but be sensible of their missing of it. Add to this, Pauls gracious and humble conversation, and the sense of many good offices done by him, could not but have endeared him unto them.
They accompanied him unto the ship; enjoying him as long and as far as they could, and expressing their last and utmost kindness unto him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake,…. In
Ac 20:25 it filled them with sorrow to part with him; but this was increased, and made almost intolerable by what he said,
that they should see his face no more: could they have hoped to have seen him again, it would have made their parting with him more easy; but to be told they should never see him more in this world, it cut them to the heart; which shows what a share the apostle had in their hearts and affections, and not without good reason: however, that they might have a sight of him as long as they could, they went along with him to see him take shipping, and to see the last of him.
And they accompanied him unto the ship: which lay at Miletus waiting for him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Sorrowing (). Present middle participle of , old verb to cause intense pain, to torment (Lu 16:24), middle to distress oneself (Luke 2:48; Acts 20:38). Nowhere else in N.T.
Which he had spoken ( ). Relative attracted to the case of the antecedent (word). Past perfect indicative of .
They brought him on his way ( ). Imperfect active of , old verb to send forward, to accompany as in Acts 15:3; Acts 20:38; Acts 21:5; 1Cor 16:6; 1Cor 16:11; 2Cor 1:16; Titus 3:13; 3John 1:6. Graphic picture of Paul’s departure from this group of ministers.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
See [] . See on Luk 10:18. The word for steadfast, earnest contemplation suggests the interest and affection with which they looked upon his countenance for the last time.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Sorrowing most of all,” (odunomenoi malista) “Suffering or grieving most of all,” not so much that they would see him no more, but that hope for his future help and council would not come from him any more, at all, 2Co 6:10; 1Th 4:13; Rev 21:4; Joh 16:20.
2) “For the words which he spake,” (epi to logo ho eirekei) “Over the statement he had made,” the words he had spoken, Act 20:26.
3) “That they should see his face no more.” (hoti ouketi mellousin to prosopon autou theorein) “That they were to behold (or look upon, look into) his face no more hereafter on earth, – much as he later wrote to Timothy from Rome, 2Ti 4:5-8; Rev 14:13-14; 2Co 5:1.
4) “And they accompanied him unto the ship.” (proepempon de auton eis to ploion) “And then escorted, went with him to the ship,” as he left them for a few more earthly labors, death in Rome, and then for heaven’s glory, where he would await their arrival. Would you ask yourself, “Am I sailing for glory? Am I aboard the old ship of Zion? Is glory my destination?” If it is not, receive the Lord Jesus Christ by repentance and faith, be baptized into the flock of God, the church of Jesus Christ, and get on board the old ship of Zion. Sail on! Sail on! and on! and on! till the glory call to heaven’s shore, Eph 3:21; 2Ti 4:7-8.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
38. Face no more Probably in a few moments the ship started, and, by the powerful northwest wind usually at that season prevailing, arrived in the afternoon of the same day, by a six hours’ sail, at Cos, “the garden of the AEgean,” the birthplace of the great physician Hippocrates, crowned with the temple of AEsculaplus, the god of medicine.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
READER! let you and I behold with delight, what is here said, of the Apostle and his companions, celebrating the Lord’s supper on the Lord’s day. Let it encourage our hearts to delight in that sweet service, that we may be often found, in breaking of bread, and of prayer. And do thou, Lord Jesus, always preside over those assemblies of thy people. Oh! the blessedness, when by faith we receive the gracious emblems at thine own hand! Then will it always be a feast upon a sacrifice. Christ our New Testament Altar, our High Priest, and Passover sacrificed for us. A sweet commemorating, communicating, refreshing, strengthening Ordinance. Yea, we shall say the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Who that reads of the Eutychus in this Chapter, and beholds the Eutychus in the many instances of the present day, but must be ready to cry out; what meanest thou, 0 sleeper: arise, call upon thy God that thou perish not? What, if such sleepers in the house of God were to open their eyes no more, until awakening in eternity? – Is the sanctuary of the Lord, and the place where his honor dwelleth, a fit place to sleep in? Can it be possible, for men to snuff at Gob’s ordinances, and say: Oh what a weariness is it! When will the Sabbath be gone’?
Let my soul be relieved, from such a contemplation as the weary and the sleepy in the house of God, to look once more at Paul, and the Elders of Miletus at this most refreshing meeting, described in this Chapter. Ye servants of the Lord, who are sent by Him to minister in his Name; and ye faithful among the congregation, who are ministered unto: let this interesting service between Paul and his beloved people, which God the Holy Ghost hath so graciously recorded the account of for his Church’s edification, be your pattern, and the object of your imitation. Such indeed, should be every assembly of the faithful. lie that preached’, should preach, as though it was his last. And they who hear, as though they should hear no more. Every separation, and the breaking up of assemblies, as it the final farewell. Lord Jesus! do thou be present at all, that in the close on earth, instantly thy redeemed may meet thee in heaven.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Ver. 38. Sorrowing most ] They are out, then, qui ferream et immanem constantiam exigunt a fidelibus, who exact of Christians a stoic apathy or insensibleness to crosses and sorrowful occurrences. (Calvin.) Religion doth not root out natural passions, but regulate them. The parting with dear friends (which are as a man’s own soul, Deu 13:6 ) is so grievous that death itself is called a “departure.”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 20:38 . : common in Luke and Acts, only three times elsewhere in N.T., Luk 2:48 ; Luk 16:24-25 . , Lucan, cf. Act 17:16 ; Act 17:22 , “to behold,” R.V., to gaze with reverence upon his face. , see above p. 157. : “and they brought him on his way,” R.V., cf. Act 15:3 (see note), Act 21:5 ; the harbour was some little distance from the town.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Sorrowing. Greek. odunomai. Only here, Luk 2:48; Luk 16:24, Luk 16:25.
for = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
the words = the word. Greek. logos. App-121.
should = were about to.
see = behold. Greek. theoreo. App-133.
accompanied. Greek. propempo. See note on Act 15:3. Compare App-174.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
that: Act 20:25
and: Act 15:3, Act 21:5, Act 21:16, 1Co 16:11
Reciprocal: Gen 18:16 – to bring Gen 43:3 – see my face 1Co 16:6 – that ye Eph 1:1 – faithful Phi 2:28 – ye see Col 2:1 – not 2Ti 1:4 – being
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Act 20:38. That they should see his face no more. In this both Paul and his companions in workthe elders of Ephesuswere no doubt wrong. St. Paul most probably did revisit these shores, and no doubt Ephesus and its church, after his liberation from the Roman imprisonment. See the note on Act 20:25, where this is discussed at some length.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 36
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
38. Especially grieving over the word which he had spoken, that they are about to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. Some of the holiness people emphasize the holy kiss, not without ample divine warrant, as we see in case of this memorable valedictory.