Acts 20:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Wishing to teach them this, he first lays a foundation to remove suspicion, lest they think that he is proud. If, he says, I lived “with all humility,” then I do not say what I say out of pride.

At the same time, he expresses his meekness: “with you,” he says, “serving the Lord,” presenting them as his fellow participants in this good work. Thus communion is always a good thing.

He presents his good works as common and attributes no superiority to himself. Could he, you say, have been proud before God? There are many people who are proud even before Him.

But Paul was not proud even before his own disciples. Here is the dignity of a teacher: to edify his disciples by his own virtues.

Next he speaks of his courage, but also humbly: “with many tears, amid the temptations that befell me through the plots of the Jews.” Do you see how he grieves over what happened?

Here he seems to express his compassion. He suffered for those who were perishing, for the very authors of the afflictions, while he rejoiced over what happened to himself.

He belonged to the company of those who rejoiced, “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 5:41).

Elsewhere he says: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you” (Col 1:24). And again: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17).

He said this out of humility. But here he shows his courage, and not so much courage as patience. It is as if he says: I suffered grievously, but with you, and, what is especially grievous, from the Jews.

Notice what qualities of teaching he indicates here: love and courage.

I was among the temptations that befell me through the plots of the Jews. You know how I kept back nothing profitable from you, but preached to you, proclaiming to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 18-21).

These were tears of sorrow and grief when his preaching did not produce the desired effect in people, or when it met obstacles from the enemies of the truth.

He also endured many temptations that befell him through the plots of the Jews.

What exactly did the Apostle do while acting in Asia in such a spirit and under such circumstances? You know, he says further to the presbyters of Ephesus, how I kept back nothing profitable from you.

There was nothing useful that I failed to preach to you or teach you, publicly and from house to house, proclaiming the Gospel to Jews and Greeks: repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is, when the matter concerned his ministry, he held it high. But when the matter concerned him personally, he was humble and meek, pouring out his grief in tears.

Second, his ministry was full of dangers, because the Jews were always plotting against him. In many things their designs were carried out, casting him into distress.

“He wishes to persuade them to endure all things courageously, both separation from him and the dangers to come,” says Saint John Chrysostom.

“And see what he adds next: ‘I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility.’ Here is true virtue, when he can present his disciples as witnesses of his good works.

And you see what is especially proper to those who govern, namely, to abstain from pride. This is the foundation of every good thing, as Christ also says: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ (Mt 5:3).

He did not say simply, ‘with humility,’ but ‘with all humility.’ For there are many forms of humility. Some are humble with the humble and arrogant with the arrogant. This is not humility.

Others, with both the former and the latter, are now humble and now dignified. This above all is humility. At the same time he expresses his meekness.

‘I was with you,’ he says, ‘serving the Lord,’ presenting them as participants in this good work.”

Then he speaks of his courage, and not so much of courage as of patience. It is as if he says: I suffered grievously, but with you, and, what is especially grievous, from the Jews.

Here he seems to express compassion, for he suffered for those who were perishing, for the very authors of the afflictions.