My Dad was an expositor, and as far as I’m concerned, that is the best way to study, preach, and teach God’s Word.  Today I’m going deep on this verse – Acts 20:24 – because at a critical point in my life, it became my “life-verse”. I’m usually not a fan of cliches or trends, but I don’t know what else to call it.  I read this verse many times, but during a difficult season of life, this hit me square on the nose, and the Lord spoke to me through it.  My hope is He will use it to speak to you as well.

To lay the groundwork for Acts 20:24, we must begin with Paul’s story.  We know from Paul’s own testimony that B.C. (Before Christ) he was full of pride.  He saw himself as:

• A proud Jew from the tribe of Benjamin
• A devout Pharisee
• Righteous by the Law’s standards
• Zealous to defend Jewish tradition
• An enemy of the Church and persecutor of Christians
• A man of status, education, and authority
• Philippians 3:5-6, Acts 8:3; 9:1-2; 22:3; and 23:1.

I truly believe he persecuted the church out of ignorance, believing He was doing God’s will.  But as he witnessed the Christlike character of those he persecuted, and especially the final words of Stephen in Acts 7, he undoubtedly was under heavy conviction.

Then one day Paul met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, and he was INSTANTLY humbled and forever changed (Acts 9:1-22; 22:3-21; 26:9-23).  Jesus transformed him so drastically that he became known as much for his humility as his zeal, which was like a badge of honor until his death.  The evidence of this radical change is seen in his writings throughout the New Testament, which still live on.  See how he referred to himself:

• Least of the apostles – 1 Corinthians 15:9
• Very least of all the saints – Ephesians 3:8
• Foremost of sinners – 1 Timothy 1:15
• Wretched man – Romans 7:24
• Nothing (without love) – 1 Corinthians 13:2
• I am nothing – 2 Corinthians 12:11
• Blasphemer, persecutor, opponent – 1 timothy 1:13
• One untimely born – 1 Corinthians 15:8
• Weak in speech/trembling – 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 10:10

Paul’s self-deprecating humility was not an act, but the reality of a man who encountered the King of Kings face to face. This is evident in Acts 20:24. His words were spoken to the elders of the Ephesian church before he sailed for Jerusalem.  The church at Ephesus was one of the more prominent churches Paul began, and because they had experienced difficult times together, there was a close bond between them.  For more information on the happenings in Ephesus, read Acts 19.  While traveling elsewhere on his missionary journeys, the Holy Spirit testified in every city – likely through prophecies of other Christians – that chains were awaiting Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-23).  So, Paul shaved his head and took a vow to reach Jerusalem by the Day of Pentecost.  While he was waiting to leave in the port city of Miletus, he called for the elders of the Ephesian church to come see him off.  It is then that Paul makes a very stirring speech, recalling his time with them and informing them of his future as foretold by the Holy Spirit.  I can imagine the wagging heads of his beloved brothers who were in denial of his foreboding words. 

Paul says in verse 24, “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself…”.  What?  Is Paul suicidal?  Does he have a death wish?  Does he wish to be a martyr?  The word dear is timios and describes something “of great price, precious; held in honour, esteemed, especially dear”.  While he knew his life was precious to the Lord and others, Paul did not love his own life or hold onto it as precious to himself.  His ministry paints that picture, as not many men would get up and reenter a town that just stoned him and left him for dead (Acts 14:19-20).  Was it that he wanted to die?  Or was he just following Jesus?  Paul knew as long as he was living to fulfill Jesus’ calling on his life, he had nothing to fear, not even death.   

He continues “…so that I may finish my course”.  The reason Paul did not count his life dear to himself is because IF he cared more about his life than his mission, THEN he would not be able to finish his race and the ministry he received from Jesus personally.  If he held his life in higher esteem than his calling, how easy would it have been for Paul NOT to go to Jerusalem, especially when many Christians were telling him NOT to go (Acts 21:4, 10-12)?  Therein lies a mini-lesson: sometimes advice (even scripture-laden advice) taken from well-meaning people can deter us from God’s greater plan. Nonetheless undeterred and apparently undiscerned by other Christians, Paul’s persistence was proof that he was “bound” by the Holy Spirit to go…he was following the Lord.  This was God’s plan for him, not them (Acts 9:16).  Back to the text, notice Paul did not say “…so that I may finish my race well”.  How many sermons or leadership books have exhausted the subject of “Finishing Well”?  Certainly, we all want to finish well, and there’s nothing wrong with it; but Paul is implying that simply finishing HIS race – the path Jesus mapped out specifically for him – would please Jesus, and that was his only goal…bringing a smile to the Master’s face!  Consequently, that would result in him finishing well. 

He says “…so that I may finish…the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus”.  Paul’s course as an apostle included the ministry Jesus gave him personally.  The word ministry is interesting if you follow it to the base root of the word – dioko – which means “to run or flee, to run swiftly” etc.  In Paul’s day the only men who ran were military men or servants.  Free men, especially men of renown, did not run.  But here we have Paul, formerly a prominent man as seen above, now a lowly servant (diakonos), “running” to fulfill the ministry (diakonia) he received from Jesus.  This is to say that everywhere Paul went he was busy serving others the way he thought Jesus would.  Would you say that you are running like a servant to obey Jesus’ commands?  You are a servant.  Can you run faster?  I know I can.

What did Paul’s ministry include?  It was “…to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” The words testify solemnly are one word in the Greek meaning “to deeply or earnestly confirm something by testimony or witness”.  Paul lived his life running and serving and traveling toward martyrdom to earnestly testify of what?  What message did he love more than his own life?  The gospel.  The word gospel is euangelion from which we derive our English word evangelism, and it means simply “good tidings”.  But not just any good tidings – good tidings of the grace of God!  The word grace is charis where we get our English word charisma, and in this context it is described as “the merciful kindness of God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, which turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.”  Now THAT is good news, and the message he lived to preach!    

If Paul’s gospel is true – and it is – it is a game changer!  It means Jesus is worth believing, running, serving, living, and dying for, just like Paul!  As for Paul?  Had he not been taken captive, he would not have been able to preach the gospel in Rome; he would not have planted a church of believers in the capital city of the world; and we would not have the prison letters of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  The Lord finally granted Paul the privilege of dying for Him and the gospel, as he was beheaded by Nero in Rome around A.D. 65.  What a life well-lived!

In closing, think about this: what if no one remembered you?  What if you died and were forgotten by everyone you ever knew, and there was not one sign on earth that you were ever here?  The truth is, very likely in just a couple generations that will be the case.  But on the other hand, what if you jumped out of the boat?  What if you took a risk, and gave every breath as a sacrifice in service to the Lord Jesus Christ?  In that case, you would bring a smile to the face of your Maker.  He would remember you.  He would say to you as he did to Paul, “Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master” (Matthew 25:21).  He would give you rewards that will last for all eternity…rewards, which you will then cast down at His feet.  You see, it’s all…about…Jesus.  Everything.

I can’t say what your path looks like, or where it will take you, but our mission is the same as Paul’s. Jesus gave it to us all in Matthew 18:18-20. I want to encourage you today as I was, to not hold your life in high esteem, so that you too can finish the course and ministry Jesus has given you, to testify solemnly of the grace of God.  Make Jesus known, no matter what the cost.