Afflictions Await
(Ac 20:23)23except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
Paul is on mission. He is on mission to visit more cities and declare to them the Lord Jesus and the kingdom of God, before he heads back to Jerusalem. He spent three months in Greece and after the Jews formed a plot against him, he begins his return to Jerusalem. Along the way he will make several more stops in places where he had been previously. One place that he stopped was in Phillipi during the days of Unleavened Bread, or Passover, or what we know as Easter. Paul desired to get to Jerusalem by Passover which occurred 50 days after Passover. He left Philippi and came to Troas five days later. Troas was the place where in chapter 16 Paul received the Macedonian vision. He spent a week with the church at Troas so he only had 38 days to get to Jerusalem. Upon leaving Troas Paul went by land and by himself to the next city, Assos, which may have taken 2 more days. When he arrived there the boat was waiting for him along with his companions and they sailed to Mitylene. Then three more stops and 3 days later they came to Miletus, by passing Ephesus. While in port at Miletus Paul had sent for the church elders from Ephesus. These cities were thirty miles apart so there was at least another 2-5 days spent in Miletus waiting for the elders and then bidding them farewell. Paul probably had less than a month to get from Ephesus to Jerusalem.
When Paul addresses the Ephesian elders he reminds them of the ministry he had with them. He has spent considerable time with them, serving them in humility with tears and trials. He faithfully declared to them repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ both in public and in private. Now he tells them of the Spirit led plan to go to Jerusalem not knowing what will take place, but he is sure that they will never again see his face again. Paul knows through the testimony of the Spirit that bonds and afflictions await him. At every city that he has stopped the Spirit has impressed upon him that this will be the last time he will be in these places and that afflictions await in Jerusalem. He knows that this is the ministry that he has been entrusted and he must finish faithful. He then exhorts these elders that they are to guard the flock and be on alert for false shepherds and men that seek to draw disciples away from Jesus to themselves.
In this passage we notice that Paul is walking intimately with the Father knowing the His will and the Holy Spirit directing his steps and stops and notifying him of afflictions that await. What would your response be if the Spirit impressed upon you that afflictions awaited you. Would you faithfully pursue your calling and ministry for the Lord? I am confident that those who are truly walking with the Lord will, as Paul does, finish their course even if affliction awaits.
Prayer: Father I ask that my walk with you will increase in intimacy and I will be led everyday and in every situation by the Spirit of God. I ask that I will not shrink back from declaring the Lord Jesus and the gospel of grace in any situation. May my focus be upon You and the finish line. Lord, order my steps so that when I finish my course I may hear from your lips “Well, done good and faithful servant.” I ask this in the glorious, righteous, holy, and only name whereby men must be saved, Jesus. Amen.