Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry… Note — I. THE FACT THAT A MAN WAS ABLE TO SAY OF ALL THE AFFLICTIONS OF LIFE, "NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME." We have here — 1. Calmness. It is a great gift of God, to think deliberately, to speak discreetly, to act wisely. Self-possession is a great secret of life; and I know no road to real self-possession but true religion. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." 2. Elevation. He looks down upon "these things," and says, "None of them move me." For so it is with a spiritual mind, as it is with the natural senses — when we get up high, things, which looked before so large, grow so diminutive. Elevation — getting nearer to the grandnesses of eternity — makes the things of this little world seem what they really are. 3. Independence. The man who wishes to be independent of external circumstances must be dependent upon God. II. THAT PAUL CONNECTS "NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME" WITH "NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF." The less is in the greater. If what man calls "life" is "not dear to him," then, undoubtedly, all the circumstances of life could not be very great to him. But then the question comes, How is a man to be able to say this? By having a deep inner life which supersedes that outer life, which to every natural man is everything. But it is not only so — for he who has the life of grace is always looking on, through it, to the life of glory; and this life becomes, in the balance, very little, because he is always living on, by faith, in that life of glory, to which he is hastening. III. HE GOES ON, "SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY." To him life was a race, and, like a good runner, he thought of the goal as the recompense for all the difficulties of the way. And what is it to "finish the course with joy"? To hold on a consistent life, through God's grace, to the end; and when that end comes, to put no shame on our profession; but to be able to "testify the grace of God," and glorify a dying hour; and then, as we pass away, to see the crown waiting in our Saviour's hand, and to have the full and confident expectation that we are going to receive the recompense. If you can see that end all that stands in the way will "not move you." IV. HE LOOKED AT HIS WORK: "And the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." The great remedy for affliction is work; and, being Christian work, it is sure to be the antidote of trial. Now, St. Paul turned away from "the bonds and the afflictions," and he thought of his "ministry"; and, if so be he could only work at this, it was enough for his consolation. And what is this work? Is not it always to be "living witnesses" by our life — by our words — by our works — to the gospel — the great, gladdening process — the perfect goodness and free favour of God. And, if only you can realise that work, you will be able to say of "this life," "it is not dear to you"! (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. |
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