John Calvin Commentary Acts 20:18

"And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time," — Acts 20:18 (ASV)

You know. Paul, in this sermon, focuses principally on this: exhorting those pastors of Ephesus, by his own example, to do their duty faithfully. For that is the true kind of effective instruction, and by this means authority is gained for his teaching, when the teacher prescribes nothing which he himself has not actually done before.

And it was not an inappropriate thing for Paul to speak of his virtues. There is nothing less tolerable in the servants of Christ than ambition and vanity; but since everyone knew very well the modesty and humility of the holy man, he did not need to fear lest he incur the suspicion of vain boasting, especially since, for the sake of necessary and beneficial instruction, he declared his faithfulness and diligence so that others might take his example.

He does, indeed, greatly extol his labors, patience, fortitude, and other virtues, but to what end? Surely not that he might gain commendation from his audience, but so that his holy exhortation might pierce more deeply and remain firmly in their minds.

He also aimed at another goal: that his integrity and uprightness in dealing might serve afterward to commend his doctrine. And he cites eyewitnesses, lest he seem to speak of things unknown. I call those witnesses who not only knew all these things but also possessed a judgment that was pure and uncorrupted by personal biases.