“Seruing the Lord with all humilitie of minde, and with many teares, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Iewes:”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
20:19 Serving - See the picture of a faithful servant! The Lord - Whose the church is, with all humility, and with tears, and trials - These are the concomicants of it. The service itself is described more particularly in the following verse. This humility he recommends to the Ephesians themselves, #Eph 4:2|. His tears are mentioned again, #Ac 20:31|, as also #2Cor 2:4|; #Php 3:18|. These passages laid together supply us with the genuine character of St. Paul. Holy tears, from those who seldom weep on account of natural occurrences, are no mean specimen of the efficacy and proof of the truth of Christianity. Yet joy is well consistent therewith, #Ac 20:24|. The same person may be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.