Paul’s Last Journey to Jerusalem
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the believers again assembled in the upper chamber. They partook of
the communion, and then Paul continued his discourse till the dawn of
day. Eutychus was now fully restored, and they brought him into the
congregation and were not a little comforted.
The time had now come when the company must separate. The
brethren who accompanied Paul went on board the ship, which was
about to set sail. The apostle, however, chose to take the nearer
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route by land between Troas and Assos, and rejoin his companions
on shipboard at the latter city. The difficulties and dangers connected
with his proposed visit to Jerusalem, the attitude of that church toward
himself and his work, as well as the condition of the churches and
the interests of the gospel work in other fields, presented subjects for
earnest, anxious thought, and he chose this lonely walk that he might
have opportunity for reflection and communion with God.
As the travelers sailed southward from Assos, they passed the city
of Ephesus, so long the scene of the apostle’s labors. He had greatly
desired to visit the church there; for he had important instruction and
counsel to impart to them. But upon consideration he relinquished
this purpose. Any delay might render it impossible for him to reach
Jerusalem by Pentecost. On arriving at Miletus, however, he learned
that the ship would be detained for a short time, and he immediately
sent a message to the elders of the Ephesian church to come to him.
The distance was but thirty miles, and the apostle hoped to secure at
least a few hours’ intercourse with these men upon whom the prosper-
ity of the church must largely depend.
When they had come, in answer to his call, he thus addressed
them: “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what
manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all
humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell
me by the lying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that
was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you
publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and
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also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
Paul had ever exalted the divine law. He had presented before the
people their great sin in transgressing its precepts, and their duty to
repent of such transgression. He had showed them that there was in law
no power to save them from the penalty of disobedience. While they