Cornelis Engebrechtsz.

Christ Taking Leave of his Mother, c.1515–20, Oil on panel, 54.7 x 44 cm, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, SK-A-1719, Courtesy of Rijksmuseum

A Devastating Departure

Commentary by Ben Quash

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Read by Ben Quash

And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him, sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. (Acts 20:37–38)

Paul’s determination to make his way back to Jerusalem meets with resistance and protests from those who love him and depend on him. He will face unpredictable ordeals, and possible death. This passage describes a series of moments of kneeling, weeping, and pleading (20:36–37; 21:5, 12).

The imagined scene of Jesus’s final leave-taking from his mother, Mary—a popular subject in Northern Europe—explores many comparable responses.

Unlike some versions of the subject which show Jesus at a distance from his mother—resolute in doing his Father’s will (Luke 2:49; John 6:38), and requiring her not to cling to him (cf. John 20:17)—here he expresses by his embrace how much he treasures what he is about to lose, and how much it costs him.

Paul likewise remains determined to go to Jerusalem, but expresses his love for those he leaves (it is ‘breaking his heart’; Acts 21:13).

And it is not only Paul who will face new trials as a result; the ‘flock’ (20:28) that he leaves behind will as well. Cornelis Engebrechtsz.’s painting of Jesus’s leave-taking allows the jagged points of the shattered tree trunks on the riverbank, the circling birds in the sky, and the looming turrets of the waiting city to signal not just a personal, but a general threat ahead. Paul, likewise, knows that his followers must suffer as he is to suffer, for ‘after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock…’ (20:29).

See full exhibition for Acts of the Apostles 20:13–21:16

Acts of the Apostles 20:13–21:16

Revised Standard Version

Acts of the Apostles 20

13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mityleʹne. 15And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chiʹos; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we came to Mileʹtus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

17 And from Mileʹtus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18And when they came to him, he said to them:

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. 35In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him, 38sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him to the ship.

21 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patʹara. 2And having found a ship crossing to Phoeniʹcia, we went aboard, and set sail. 3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5And when our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were outside the city; and kneeling down on the beach we prayed and bade one another farewell. 6Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemaʹis; and we greeted the brethren and stayed with them for one day. 8On the morrow we departed and came to Caesareʹa; and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9And he had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10While we were staying for some days, a prophet named Agʹabus came down from Judea. 11And coming to us he took Paul’s girdle and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this girdle and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12When we heard this, we and the people there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “The will of the Lord be done.”

15 After these days we made ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16And some of the disciples from Caesareʹa went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

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