Acts 20:31

Watch (γρηγορεῖτε) See on Mark 13:35. To warn (νουθετῶν) From νοῦς, the mind, and τίθημι, to put. Lit., to put in mind; admonish (so Rev., better than warn). "Its fundamental idea is the well-intentioned seriousness with which one would influence the mind and disposition of another by advice, admonition, warning, putting right, according to circumstances" (Cremer).

Acts 20:31 . Therefore watch — With all diligence and care; take heed yourselves, and warn others to take heed; and remember, that by the space of three years, (for so long had he been preaching at Ephesus and the parts adjacent,) I ceased not to warn every one — To whom I had access; night and day with tears — This was watching indeed! Who copies after this example? Let it then, as if he had said, be your care, that a church planted by me with so much labour and solicitude, may not be ravaged and overthrown by the enemy, but that it may long continue to flourish. Observe here, reader, 1st, Paul, like a faithful watchman, had warned them publicly, by preaching, and by the warnings he thus gave them was instrumental in prevailing with them to receive the truth and turn to God. 2d, He warned every one. Besides the public warnings he gave to all in general that attended his ministry, he applied himself to particular persons, according as he saw their case called for it. 3d, He was constant in giving warning; he warned them night and day, his time was filled up with this work. 4th, He was indefatigable in it, he ceased not to warn; though some might be obstinate and persist in sin, disregarding his warnings, yet he persevered, hoping, that at length, by the grace of God, they would be reformed.

And though others might appear to comply with his warnings, yet still he did not desist, fearing lest, although they were now righteous, they should, through the power of temptation, be overcome in some unguarded hour, and turn from their righteousness, Ezekiel 3:18 to Ezekiel 21:5 th, He addressed them, whether in public or private, with a great deal of affection and concern; he warned them with tears, namely, with tears of compassion; thereby showing how much he was himself affected with the danger an misery of those who were in a sinful state and false way; or with tears of love and gratitude to God in behalf of those who were savingly converted to him and adorned his gospel.

Watch; take heed yourselves, and warn others to take heed. By the space of three years; from St. Paul’s first coming to Ephesus it was three years current, and now almost complete, Acts 19:8,10 20:3 . With tears; a great, and no feigned payov; as Christ wept over Jerusalem, Luke 19:41 , so St. Paul over the unbelieving Jews; it went to his heart to think that they could not be saved. See how St. Paul loved souls, and pitied souls.

Verse 31. - Wherefore watch ye for therefore watch , A.V.; remembering for and remember , A.V.; admonish for warn , A.V. By the space of three years ( τριετίαν ). The word is only found here in the New Testament; but it is used in the LXX. of Isaiah 15:5 and 2 Chronicles 31:16 , and in classical Greek. We have here one of the few chronological data in the Acts. Three years includes the whole of his sojourn at Ephesus as his headquarters. There were first the three months during which he preached in the synagogue; then the two years which he spent in preaching in the school of Tyrannus, and which terminated with the incident of burning the books of magic ( Acts 19:8, 10, 19 ). Then there was an indefinite time described in Acts 19:22 as "for a while" ( αὐτὸς ἐπέσχε χρόνον ), during which he was busy making plans, probably writing letters, sending off Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, and perhaps making missionary expeditions in the neighborhood. This may have occupied three or four months longer, and made up a term of two years and six, seven, or eight months, which would quite justify the term τριετία . Every one . Each one separately, not merely the whole flock together. A weighty lesson for every one who has the cure of souls (comp. John 10:3 ). Night and day . The night is mentioned first, in accordance with Hebrew usage ( Genesis 1:5, 8, 13 , etc.; comp. the word νυχθήμερον in 2 Corinthians 11:25 ) St.

Acts 20:31 . Γρηγορεῖτε ] “ verbum pastorale, ” Bengel,—comp. προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ Acts 20:28 ,—and that, encouraged by the recollection of my own example, μνημονεύοντες , ὅτι κ . τ . λ . τριετίαν ] See on Acts 19:10 . μετὰ δακρύων ] extorted both by afflictions ( Acts 20:19 ) and by the sympathetic fervour with which Paul prosecuted his quite special ( ἕνα ἕκαστον ) pastoral care, 2 Corinthians 11:29 ; 2 Corinthians 2:4 . νύκτα κ . ἡμέρ .] See on Luke 2:37 . νύκτα is here placed first, because it most closely corresponds to the figurative γρηγορεῖτε . As to the idea of νουθεσία , admonition, see on Ephesians 6:4 .

31 . Therefore watch ] The sort of watching implied is that unsleeping alertness which can never be taken by surprise. and remember, that by the space of three years ] As the verb here is a participial form the Rev. Ver. translates “ Wherefore watch ye, remembering , &c.,” in which there is this gain, that the watchfulness which the Apostle enjoins is thus enforced by his own example. Be ye watchful, because ye know that I was so night and day while I was among you. The “three years” may be a speaking in round numbers, yet it cannot have been far from the length of time which Paul spent at Ephesus. See notes on Acts 19:8 ; Acts 19:10 . I ceased not to warn [admonish, Rev. Ver. ] every one night and day with tears ] We know from his appeal to the Corinthians ( 2 Corinthians 11:29 ) and other places, how sympathetic St Paul was in all that concerned his flock. “Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?” And if for weakness and offences, how much more in a city like Ephesus where idolatry was rampant everywhere. We need not confine the “every one” to the presbyters, St Paul’s labour was spent on the whole Ephesian Church.

(31) Therefore watch . . . —The word was, as it were, an echo from our Lord’s teaching ( Matthew 24:42 ; Matthew 25:13 , et al .), which could hardly have been unknown to St. Paul. Here, however, it receives a fresh significance from its connection with the term episcopi. They who were the bishops, the overseers, the watchers of the flock, ought, above all others, to set an example of vigilance. By the space of three years.—Strictly speaking, the narrative of the Acts accounts for three months’ preaching in the synagogue (Acts 19:8), two years in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:10), and an undefined period embracing the time immediately before and after the tumult of Demetrius. This would be enough to warrant him describing the time of his ministry, speaking roughly, as extending over three years. To warn every one night and day with tears.—Comp. Note on Acts 20:19.