Acts 20:26

Acts 20:26 says, Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men., Paul said he was pure of the blood of all men.  He had faithfully proclaimed the gospel to all that he encountered, so the destination of their soul was in their hands.  If God gives us an opportunity to witness, and we don't, then we cannot claim to be pure of their blood.  Verse twenty-seven adds, For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  Paul said that he had not allowed the things going on in his life to keep him from sharing the gospel, and neither should we.  Verse twenty-eight continues, Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  He then challenges them to take heed of the flock that God had placed them over and to spiritually feed them.  Christ had purchased them with His own blood.  Whether we are a preacher, teacher, or just a follower, we need to be spiritually fed and to spiritually feed others.  It is a lifelong requirement since we are bought by the blood of Christ.  Verse twenty-nine declares, For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Paul warned them of wolves coming that would not spare the flock, and some would come from within the church itself.  We don't have to look far to realize that this is true today.  Verse thirty adds, Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Men speaking perverse things is nothing new.  Paul warned the first Christians that they would see it in their lifetime.  This will continue to happen until Jesus Christ returns.  Verse thirty-one continues, Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  Paul said he reminded them of this day and night for three years, with tears.  We need to be broken-hearted when we see the church attacked, especially from within.  Verse thirty-two says, And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. He commended them to God and to His grace, which would build them up and give them an inheritance among all who were sanctified.  There is no better place for us to be than commended to God.  He will seal us to Himself for eternity.  Verse thirty-three adds, I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.  Paul said he took no man's silver or gold or apparel. Still, this does not mean that we are not to support preachers and evangelists today, but if they are doing these things only for what they can get out of it materially, we should be wary of them. Verse thirty-four continues, Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.  He supported himself by his own hands. Again, he wasn't saying a preacher should never be paid, but that a preacher should never preach just for the money.  If a preacher is called by a church is bigger and the salary is greater, that alone is not a reason to move.  Verse thirty-five states, I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.  He also reminded them that Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Verse thirty-six adds, And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.  After he had spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.  What a great way to leave, in communion with God and each other.  We should always be in prayer for one another, whether in sadness or joy.  Verse thirty-seven continues, And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,  They cried, hugged his neck, and kissed him.  We might hug and shake hands, but still they were letting him go. Verse thirty-eight concludes, 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.  Their tears were more because they would never see him again, but they accompanied him to the ship.  We may be sad to see a preacher go to another field, but we must accompany them to the ship, or however they are traveling.  We must never selfishly stand between a person and God's will for their life.