By J.G. Bellet
Acts 20
We have, in the progress of Scripture, several instances of dying saints and servants of God taking leave of the scene here, and of their ministry in it. Jacob does so--and so Moses and Joshua and David. And among them Samuel also, in a very affecting scene recorded in 1 Samuel 12.
In this chapter, the Apostle Paul is in the like condition. He is taking leave of his ministry on the shore at Miletus, in the presence of the Ephesian Elders.
Paul's story in the Book of the Acts consists of two parts--his service and his sufferings--or, in the one, we see Paul the servant of Jesus; in the other, Paul the prisoner.
The first part ends with this twentieth chapter, having begun, I may say, with the thirteenth. The second ends with the book itself, having begun with the twenty-first.
That, however, which attracts me at this time is Paul in this chapter in contrast with the Lord Jesus in like conditions, in John 13-17. For there the Lord is taking leave of His ministry in the presence of the Twelve, as here the Apostle is doing the same in the presence of the Elders of the Church at Ephesus.
There are points of contrast very vividly presented to us, and the human in its best conditions stands beside that which was Divine as well as human; and the distinctions are finely maintained and expressed.
But this is only what we would have reckoned upon. We are instinctively conscious that Paul, the--brightest, highest sample of a vessel of God anointed and filled by the Spirit, stands before the affections and recollections of the heart very differently from the Lord. Our love to him is that which we give to a fellow-creature, and that only--the love that we give to the Lord Jesus is a worshipping love. This we feel instinctively. We need not to be taught this. We know it--and thus we carry in the sensibilities of our renewed mind the witness of that which Scripture tells us, that Jesus was God as well as man, and that the most gifted vessel in God's house, though he be also the most self-surrendering saint, is still but a fellow-creature.
The contrast which these Scriptures afford, (the Lord in a parting hour, and Paul in a parting hour,) gives us a sample and illustration of all this, and re-seals the conclusions of our souls already reached and rested in, as I have said, instinctively.
The points of contrast may be thus noticed.
1. The Apostle submits his ministry to the judgment of his Brethren. He tells them of the humility and tears with which he had conducted it; and then of his diligence in it, how he had taught them both publicly and as from house to house, and in his preaching how he had embraced both Jews and Gentiles. And all this is sweet in him, and well becomes him. He treats them as fellows in the service of God, and submits his own peculiar measure and manner of service to them, as they might do with him.
But I ask is this the style of the Lord Jesus? Does He, after this manner, submit His work to the approval of men? In the chapters I have referred to, we do not see Him doing this even with His Father. He is there rather delivering up His ministry as now accomplished. "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do," is His language, while His eyes are toward heaven, and His voice is addressed to the Father there. He delivers up an accomplished work, a work which He know Himself was all perfect. This was His glory, as a minister, His glory in His ministry. In the stead of submitting it to the approval of His Apostles, He rather, as I have said, delivers up His work as that which had been accomplished, and accomplished to perfection.*
