Acts 20:19

Serving. Gr. douleuo, “to serve [as a slave].” Paul often applies this word, and the noun doulos, “servant,” “slave,” to himself as related to Christ, thus denoting the absolute bondage of his mind and will to his Lord. Everything that he did was in servitude to his Christ, his only Master. Neither Paul’s self-interest nor the interests of the world could compete with Christ in his devotion.

Humility of mind. The Paul who gloried only in the cross of Christ, by which he was crucified to the world (Gal. 6:14), could feel no pride of calling or office, nor any self-sufficiency in it. He might have had confidence in the flesh, but would not (Phil. 3:4-7). He could have gloried in his apostolic experiences and sufferings, but refused (2 Cor. 11:18-30). His was the humility of the Christian nobleman who measures his littleness and weakness by the greatness and the power of Christ.

Many tears. Like Jesus, Paul wept (2 Cor. 2:4; cf. John 11:35). He grieved at the loss to the kingdom of his Jewish brethren (Rom. 9:1-5; cf. Luke 19:41, 42). He grieved over the hindrances they put in the way of truth. He grieved because souls were being lost. He grieved at the hardness of men’s hearts. So the Christian minister will sorrow for the lost around him, and will be aroused to godly zeal by their opposition to truth.

Temptations. Gr. peirasmoi, “provings,” “tests.” Compare 1 Peter 4:12, where the same word is translated “trial.” Acts 19 gives a recital of some of these trials, which arose from the opposition of enemies.

Lying in wait. See on ch. 9:24.