Ephesians Weeping - Acts 20:37

Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul told the elders in Ephesus, “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. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you 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. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all”, and in chapter twenty and verse thirty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul, they all wept sore” where we read:

And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

The verse begins, “And they all wept sore, ...” Luke began with the words, “and they” which means “and they, the elders from the church in Ephesus” “all wept sore” or “each, every, the whole and everyone were weeping and lamenting”. Luke shared how every one of the “elders in the church of Ephesus” were wailing in sorrow.

The verse continues, “... and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,” Luke added the words, “and fell on Paul's neck” which means “and embraced the physical neck of Paul whose name means small or little”, “and kissed him” or “and tenderly kissed Paul again and again”. Luke shared how the “elders in the church of Ephesus” embraced “Paul” and “kissed” him over and over again.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how affectionate the elders of Ephesus were toward “Paul”. They each knew this was the last time they would see one another on earth, and until the Lord Jesus called them both to be in Heaven with them, they would be apart. God knew there would be separation through death for people in the world because of sin, and death would happen to every person. (See Hebrews 9:27) God's plan of eternal salvation is through belief and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Anyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God in Heaven, and those who are separated from one another on earth will be rejoined again when they surrender themselves to Jesus. Let all who read these words take comfort in the passionate embracing of “Paul” and the elders of Ephesus being only a “temporary” separation, and this will be the case for everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares how the Ephesians were, “sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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