Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, August 4, 2013 Read – Acts 20:17-38 We have noticed that Luke is now describing Paul’s “farewell tour” of the churches he has established and ministered to. It is fitting, therefore, that Luke should provide us with a “sample” of Paul’s farewell speeches among these churches. We have been noticing the speeches in the book of Acts. Rather than see them as “verbatim” accounts of what Paul, or anyone else for that matter, said at a particular time, it is better to understand them as Luke’s compilation of what was likely said in many different venues and in many different ways. Luke gives us examples of what his character might have said. That is likely true from a practical point of view as well, since no one was recording any one speech – we simply don’t know exactly what Paul, or anyone else, actually said on any one occasion. As we think back over the story that Luke has told us so far, we notice that there have been three major speeches of Paul recorded by Luke – once again we should not think of these as “verbatim” speeches but examples. When Paul’s missionary venture had begun and Luke tells of his first encounter in the Jewish synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, Paul is asked to speak. Luke tells us the only lengthy speech of Paul to a Jewish audience in a Jewish synagogue (Acts 13:16-47). When Paul encounters the Gentile world of Athens, Luke records another speech (Acts 17:22-31). Now, Paul is not proclaiming to either Jews or Gentiles in need of hearing the word of God and becoming believers in Jesus, he is proclaiming to those who are already followers – this is Luke’s version of a typical speech of Paul to the church. Paul’s farewell speech has connections with the farewell speeches of others in the Bible, including Jesus. The parallels between the farewell speech of Jesus to his disciples in Luke 22:14-38 are striking. As Jesus before him, Paul sums up his ministry, warns his followers of difficulties to come, and tells of his departure from them – “they will see his face no more” (Acts 20:38). In his speech Paul exhorts all leaders in the church and in fact every follower of Jesus to let their life be an example for others to follow. One is reminded of the maxim – “Actions speak louder than words!” It is interesting that Paul seems as concerned about the perils of wealth and its effects upon leaders and church members as he does about false teaching. In his speech Paul proclaims a word of Jesus that is found nowhere else in the Bible – “It is better to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Jesus had also warned against the “cares of this world” and their ability to choke off faith. We have noticed earlier that Luke is now paralleling the journey of Paul to Jerusalem with that made by Jesus in the gospel story. Both are on a journey to Jerusalem that will lead to hardship – Jesus to the cross and Paul to arrest and, if tradition is correct, eventually to his own martyrdom in Rome. Luke is indeed a careful and skillful writer. As his readers we should not miss his masterful genius.