Acts 20:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He said that "savage wolves will enter among you." He said, "I am clean from the blood of all." Both statements were fearful and sufficient to bring them into sorrow. But what grieved them most of all was the news that they would see him no more. This was hard for them to overcome. "And falling on Paul's neck," says the writer, "they wept." This expresses their disposition toward him. They fell upon his neck and embraced him in a final embrace, as those who had fully felt his love and friendship after his speech. If we grieve at an ordinary separation from one another, even though we know we shall see one another again, how could they then part from Paul without grief? I think that Paul also wept.

It should be noted that one who is parting should make a prostration and pray with all who are present, and only then depart. The strength of their affection for Paul is seen in the words, "they fell on Paul's neck." They embraced him as for the last time, and from his final conversation they felt strong love and friendship.

The Apostle's words made a deep impression on the hearts of his hearers (Acts 20:36). All were weeping. All fell upon Paul's neck. All kissed him. The travelers scarcely tore themselves from their hands (21:1). This scene was repeated later in Tyre, and finally in Caesarea Philippi. The closer Paul came to Jerusalem, the more clearly and strikingly the fate awaiting him there appeared before him. In Caesarea, Agabus, the very man who fourteen or fifteen years earlier had opened Paul's path to Jerusalem by predicting the famine, now met him again with alms in view. He bound the hands and feet of the benefactor himself with Paul's own belt. This means, said the prophet, that in this way they will bind this man in Jerusalem and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

Having finished his farewell address to the Ephesian pastors, the Apostle Paul knelt down and prayed with them all, commending himself and them to the all-good, all-wise, and all-powerful God. The Ephesian pastors parted from their father and archpastor with many tears. They grieved especially over the word he had spoken to them, that they would no longer see his face.

This speech vividly portrays the tireless diligence, deep humility, and complete self-renunciation of his apostolic ministry. It made a deep impression on everyone. He ended his discourse amid an outburst of weeping. As they said farewell to him, they were anxious about his future and about their own future. All bowed their heads upon his neck and kissed him warmly. They were especially grieved by his remark that they would never again see him as they had until then. They would never again look upon the beloved face of their teacher, who had endured so much for their sake and whom they loved so deeply. If the Apostle Paul aroused fierce hatred in his opponents, he also inspired the strongest love and attachment. According to St.

"No small weeping," and so forth: a simple and deeply moving portrayal of the final farewell between the beloved teacher and father and his beloved disciples and children.

The final farewell was full of compunction and deeply moving. The Apostle bent his knees for prayer. Without doubt, all likewise prayed on bended knee. Then they began to kiss him, parting from him forever with tears. Thus they loved him, and thus they were disposed toward him. But what grieved them most was the news that they would see him no more. This was hard to overcome. He did not pray simply, but with compunction. This is a great consolation. What, then, did the great teacher pray for? What did his disciples pray for? It is natural to suppose that Paul prayed to God for what he now desired for his disciples. He prayed that they might be established on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, having Jesus Christ Himself as the cornerstone.