Paul's Journey to Jerusalem - Pt. 9: You Yourselves Know
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 32 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Rev. Osei Kwabena Nkrahene | November 27 2025 | Acts 20:17-21
KEY VERSE: “And when they came to him, he said to them: ‘You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia.’” (Acts 20:18, ESV)
MESSAGE:
Paul’s farewell message to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17–38) stands as the only recorded pastoral address to a Christian leadership group in the Book of Acts. Here, Luke uses three leadership titles—elders (v17), overseers (v28), and shepherds/pastors (v28)—to describe the same group, showing that biblical leadership is diverse in function yet united in responsibility.
Paul begins with the phrase “You yourselves know”—a reminder that his ministry was not theoretical. His life had been lived openly, consistently, and transparently before them from the first day he arrived in Asia. His character had been proven, not proclaimed. In these verses, Paul highlights four foundational principles that shaped his ministry in Ephesus—principles that still shape faithful ministry today:
Humility: Paul’s work rested on a deep posture of humility—before God and before people. He relied on God’s grace for every assignment (James 4:6) and listened to the counsel of his fellow believers (Acts 19:30). He also invited the churches to pray for him. Humility was not weakness for Paul but a posture of dependence that strengthened his ministry.
Tears: Paul served with a tender heart. Like Jesus, who wept over Jerusalem, Paul carried a spiritual burden for the people he led, and that burden sometimes expressed itself in tears. His compassion was genuine, and his love for God’s people deep.
Trials: His ministry was marked by hardship—especially from the plots of his own people, the Jews. Being opposed by those he loved came with emotional cost, yet he continued to serve faithfully. His trials did not silence him; they refined him.
A Clear and Consistent Message: Paul never shifted from the message entrusted to him—repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. He proclaimed it publicly and privately, to Jews and Gentiles, and he taught whatever would benefit the believers. Even when the message brought difficulty, he remained faithful to it.
Paul’s life embodied his message, and his message was consistent with his life. This is what made him trustworthy in the eyes of those who knew him best.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
These four principles—humility, compassion, endurance, and faithfulness to God’s message—remain essential for every Christian today. Reflect on them personally and collectively. Where do adjustments need to be made? Where is God inviting you to grow so your life and service honour Him more deeply?.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, shape my life with the same humility, compassion, endurance, and faithfulness that marked Paul’s ministry. Form in me a heart that honours You and strengthens others. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
Day 331 John 12-16 – The Hour Has Come
DAILY word study: YOU YOURSELF KNOW In Greek, Paul uses the emphatic phrase αὐτοὶ γινώσκετε (autoi ginōskete). This doesn’t merely mean “you know.” It means:
You personally know
You have seen for yourselves
You are witnesses of my life and conduct.
It is the language of transparent leadership, where one’s life is open for examination.
Paul wasn’t appealing to rumours or reports. He pointed to what the Ephesian elders had observed with their own eyes — his humility, endurance, tears, trials, and unwavering message. His life had become its own evidence.
Reflection
Does your daily life confirm the faith you profess? What would those closest to you “themselves know” about your walk with God?
