When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship. [Acts 20.36-38]
Paul knew what was coming in Jerusalem. He knew he would encounter imprisonment, suffering, and possibly even death.
So confident of his ill fate in Jerusalem was Paul that he told the people, including Ephesian leaders who had come to Miletus at Paul's request, that he (Paul) would never see any of them again.
While this story has a grim side, it also speaks of a higher side - a Kingdom side. Paul was actually making decisions to suffer on purpose because he knew the end result would have significant Kingdom impact.
Perhaps Paul was considering his own conversion (on the heels of having witnessed the suffering and death of Stephen) and anticipating the conversion of others on the heels of his own suffering. This is almost certainly the case.
And, Paul's resolve to suffer that others might benefit is most like Jesus.
Oh, to be like Jesus.
Father, help me to see and seize my opportunities to be like Jesus.
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