What do you want people to remember about you after you’ve gone? God had greatly blessed Paul’s ministry in Ephesus – in fact, God had worked mighty miracles of healing through him (see Acts 19:11 and following). But in his farewell speech to the leaders of that church, Paul chose to highlight other aspects of his ministry, which thus seem to have been more important to him.

The first thing he mentions is his character. In verse 19, he points to his humility and to his compassion for his people. He points to his steadfastness in the face of persecution. And it is still the case that unless we are living the Christian life, we should not expect anyone to listen to anything we have to say about Jesus.

But that’s not to say that our words are unimportant. Paul reminds the Ephesians that he was careful to preach the whole counsel of God (v. 27), teaching them everything they needed to know about the gospel both in public and in private. He even went from house to house to make sure that everyone understood the importance of repentance from sin and of faith in Jesus Christ. And in verse 24, he says that the core of his message was the grace of God, even to sinners like himself.

But if Paul’s example and teaching were important, his obedience to God was just as central to his ministry. He had intended to go into the province of Asia years earlier, but instead obeyed the Lord and went to Greece first (see 16:6-9). Now, he was going to Jerusalem and he was sure that he would be arrested there (vv. 22-23). But Paul continued to order his steps according to the will of God, only doing what God directed him to do.

We could all do a lot worse than to set an example of Christian character, Christian testimony and Christian obedience to God. Is that the sort of legacy we will leave?

Acts 20:17-38 (ESV)

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
18 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,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,
27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,
38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.