Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. Acts 20:28 (Acts 20:19-32)
As he prepared ter leave Asia fer tha last time and head off ter Jerusalem and then Rome, Saul Paul wrote words of gratefulness ter them who helped him along his journey. Those in Saul Paul’s crew included:
- Soapter of Berea
- Secundus of Thessalonica
- Gaius of Derbe
- Timothy of Derbe
- Tychicus of Macedonia
- Trophimus of Asia
- Apollos of Alexandria
- Priscilla and Aquila of Rome who settled in Corinth
- Dionysius of Athens
- Damaris of Athens
- Silas of Jerusalem
- Jason of Thessalonica
- Lydia of Thyatira
- Judas Barasbaus of Jerusalem
- Simeon Niger of Antioch
- Lucius of Cyrene
- Manaen of Antioch
- Epaphras, founder of the church in Colossi who may have also assisted in planting and serving the churches in Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.
By tha time Saul Paul set sail fer Jerusalem, ne’er ter return ter tha churches in Asia agin, tha Son whar shinning on churches and growing disciples fer him in Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, Ephesus, Corinth, Athens, Lystra, Iconium, provinces of Syria and Cilcia, Pisidian Antioch, Colossi, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
At tha conclusion of his work in Asia, Saul Paul said, “I am innocent of the blood of all men. I have boldly proclaimed to you the whole will of God. I have completed the task. I have declared to both Jews and Gentiles, to all men, that they must turn to God in repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus. I am compelled by the Spirit. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears. I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you. Therefore keep watch over yourselves. Keep watch over all those in your care. Be good shepherds of the church of our Lord which he bought with his own blood.”
This be tha conclusion of tha matter fer Saul Paul and that task laid upon all who would dare ter proclaim tha good spiel and disciple others.
Complete tha task laid upon ya. In humility declare that all must turn ter Skipper in repentance and faith in our Lord, tha Son. Serve tha Lord with great humility by demonstrating love ter all, joy in all circumstances, tha peace of Skipper, patience in trials, kindness in times of praise and in response ter opposition, goodness ter all, gentleness ter all, faithfulness in all circumstances, and self-control over yer tongue, thoughts, heart, and flesh.
Do this and ah righteous crew ‘ill be those who sail in yer wake, ya may lay ter that.