當保羅前往馬其頓，他可以回首往事，想起如今存在於那個地區的教會。他如今的同伴名單表明了福音帶來的深度和廣度：「有庇哩亞人畢羅斯的兒子所巴特，帖撒羅尼迦人亞里達古，和西公都，還有特庇人該猶，並提摩太，又有亞西亞人推基古，和特羅非摩。」

保羅回想了這些旅途中神的作為，也包括在特羅亞使一位少年起死回生，他感受到聖靈的催促。保羅對未來並不樂觀。聖靈警戒他，有捆鎖和患難在前面等他；然而保羅很清楚，聖靈還是要帶領他重返耶路撒冷。

離別前，保羅叫以弗所的長老們在米利都與他會面。保羅再次教導他們，牧養教會意味著什麼，敦促他們警醒那些如豺狼般偷走門徒的人。

儘管保羅已經說的很清楚，忍耐絕不是容易的，但他的見證仍在挑戰信徒們要委身。在他流淚禱告告別之前，保羅給出出自耶穌的離別贈言：「施比受更有福。」

As Paul moves along to return to Macedonia, he can look back and remember the churches that now exist in that area. The list of his current companions shows the breadth and depth of the impact the good news has made: “He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.”

As he reflects on all that God has done in these travels, which included bringing a dead young man back to life in Troas, Paul feels a tug from the Holy Spirit. The future does not look pleasant for Paul. The Spirit warns him that prison and hardships loom ahead, and yet Paul knows that the Spirit is also leading him to travel again to Jerusalem.

Before leaving, Paul calls for the elders of the Ephesian church to meet him in Miletus. Paul teaches them one more time about what it means to be shepherds of the church, urging them to be on their guard for wolfish leaders who will try to draw disciples away.

Paul’s testimony calls for commitment even as he makes clear that persevering is never easy. And before he says goodbye with tears and words of prayer, Paul provides a parting memory from Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

父神，求你以聖靈的大能引導和催促我們。願我們慷慨給予。願我們邁出勇敢的步伐。願我們明白愛的眼淚。保守我們的忠誠。奉耶穌的名，阿們。