Question 1

In vv. 22–23, what does Paul say he knows and does not know about what lies ahead?

Accepted Answer

Paul says two things at once. First, he is going to Jerusalem “bound by the Spirit,” which presents his travel as compelled or directed rather than casual (v. 22). Second, he admits he does not know the specific details of what will happen to him there (v. 22). Even without details, he claims a consistent pattern of warning: the Holy Spirit “testifies in every city” that imprisonment (“bonds”) and hardships (“afflictions”) are waiting for him (v. 23). So uncertainty about particulars is paired with clarity about the general shape of what’s coming.

Question 2

How does v. 24 explain Paul’s willingness to face “bonds and afflictions”?

Accepted Answer

Verse 24 gives Paul’s value-comparison. He treats the threatened suffering as not decisive because he does not regard his life as the highest priority. The controlling goal is to “finish” his race and complete the ministry he received from the Lord Jesus. That ministry is described as fully testifying to “the gospel of the grace of God.” In the flow of the passage, Paul’s willingness to risk his life is grounded in a desire to complete an assigned task, not in ignorance about danger (vv. 23–24) or a denial that suffering matters.

Question 3

What do the phrases “finish my race” and “the ministry I received” suggest about Paul’s self-understanding?

Accepted Answer

“Finish my race” presents Paul’s life as a course with an endpoint and a defined purpose, rather than a series of disconnected events. The image implies perseverance toward completion. “The ministry I received from the Lord Jesus” frames his work as entrusted to him, not self-appointed. Within the passage, this entrusted ministry is specified: he is to bear thorough witness to the gospel of God’s grace (v. 24). Together these phrases show Paul understanding his identity in terms of a commission he must complete, even when the path includes suffering (vv. 23–24).

Question 4

In v. 25, what is the function of Paul saying they will “see my face no more”?

Accepted Answer

In context, the statement signals finality and raises the stakes of the farewell. Paul has been “among” them, traveling and preaching the kingdom of God, but now expects an end to face-to-face contact (v. 25). That expectation prepares for his next claim about accountability in vv. 26–27: since this may be his last direct interaction, he states what he has done and why he is not responsible for their future response. Even if read as strong expectation rather than formal prediction, it functions rhetorically to mark a transition from past ministry to impending separation.

Question 5

What does Paul mean by being “clean from the blood of all,” and how does v. 27 support his claim?

Accepted Answer

Paul’s “clean from the blood of all” is responsibility language: he claims he is not culpable for the outcomes that follow his departure (v. 26). He does not leave the phrase unexplained; he grounds it in his teaching practice. The reason is that he “didn’t shrink” from declaring “the whole counsel of God” (v. 27). In other words, he sees accountability as tied to whether he withheld necessary truth. His innocence claim is not presented as moral perfection in every area, but as faithfulness in communicating God’s message fully.

Question 6

How do “testify fully” (v. 24) and “didn’t shrink from declaring” (v. 27) work together?

Accepted Answer

Both phrases emphasize completeness and openness. In v. 24 Paul describes his assigned ministry as to “fully testify” to the gospel of God’s grace, highlighting thorough witness rather than partial or selective speech. In v. 27 he describes how he carried that out among the Ephesian believers: he did not “shrink” from declaring to them the whole counsel of God. The pairing links the content (the gospel of grace; God’s counsel) with the manner (unflinching, comprehensive communication). This supports his claim of being “clean” by showing consistency between mission and practice.

Acts 20:22-27

Scripture