Acts 20:24 … To finish our Course (04/21/17)
“I do not count my life of any value to myself; if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received: to testify to the Good News of God’s Grace.” ~ Luke (Acts 20:24)
First & foremost, it is important to consider the context of the passage from which this verse is taken – in this case a context that has Paul speaking to the elders of the church at Ephesus in true Paulinic form: namely, building up his own accomplishments (Acts 20:19-20) while passive-aggressively guilt-tripping his listeners into both giving him homage (Acts 20:22-27) & adhering to his gospel about Jesus (not into actually following Jesus’ teachings or into abiding in Jesus’ given Gospel about The Way) …
Indeed, it is well worth remembering here that Paul had essentially no clue about the teachings of Jesus – that for him, “faith toward our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21) was an act of Jesus-based worship that Jesus himself frequently repudiated & vehemently rejected (see Mark 10:18, John 5:41, John 7:16, John 8:50-54, John 12:44 et al).
In addition, for Paul “the Good News of God’s Grace” was that Jesus rose from the dead and that worshiping him as the only Son of God was enough to grant entrance into Heaven for eternity after one’s death (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 & Romans 10:9 et al) — whereas for Jesus himself, the “Good News” was something else entirely; namely A) that Heaven was already right Here & right Now, viable in every single moment of every single sentient life (see Matthew 10:7, along with Luke 17:20-21) — and B) that entrance into this Bliss-full “Kingdom of God” was attained by persistently & humbly choosing to serve others ahead of one’s self (see Matthew 24:12-14, along with Matthew 18:3-4 & John 13:15-17).
And as if that wasn’t enough, we find a most curious reference just a bit later in Acts 20:35, where Paul openly quotes Jesus Christ, only does so citing a saying (“It is better to give than to receive”) found nowhere else in the entire Bible.
Also, it is fair to note that if Paul had kept his self-lauding silent (see Matthew 6:5-6) or whispered it in private to a confidant, then his first sentence here would have reflected the Truth of Jesus’ Way of willing self-sacrifice. And yet motive is everything when it comes to that selfless Way, and Paul was a man whose actions boomed service to his own reputation over service to others (see Matthew 23:3, also keeping in mind Paul’s regular exhibitions of less than humble “self-worship” & less than forthright manipulation — Acts 20:19-21, Romans 5:3, Romans 11:13-14, Romans 15:17, 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, 1 Corinthians 15:10+9:15, 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5, 2 Corinthians 6:6-10, Galatians 1:24, Philippians 2:17-18, Colossians 1:24, & 1 Thessalonians 2:2+10).
Finally, please note that there is only one way to truly “testify to the Good News”, and that is not with mere words of exhortation & persuasion, but rather by a Life led by and lived with unconditional LOVE.
Amen … Let it be so.
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