<p>20:19 <em>Serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind</em>- The idea is of bondage in slavery. Yet Paul also used this word when telling the Romans that although he did indeed serve the Lord, this was <em>in his mind</em>, and he says here it was with &quot;all lowliness of mind&quot;; but in his flesh, he still served the law of sin (Rom. 7:25). His service &quot;with lowliness of mind&quot; was therefore on the basis that he realized that in reality, he still at times served the principles of sin. Paul uses the same term for &quot;lowliness of mind&quot; when he wrote to the Ephesians exhorting them to have such a mind (Eph. 4:2). So what he here told the Ephesian elders about himself, he later asked all the Ephesian believers to emulate.</p><p>Lowliness of mind is one of a number of allusions to Moses: &quot;I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly&quot; (Acts 20:20)... Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things&quot; (Acts 20:30). &quot;The man Moses was very meek&quot; (Num. 12:3). The humility / lowliness of Moses really fired Paul. As Moses likewise warned in his farewell speech that false prophets would <em>arise</em> - and should be shunned (Dt. 13:1).</p><p>John's mission was to prepare Israel for Christ, to figuratively '<em>bring low'&nbsp;</em>the hills and mountains, the proud Jews of first century Israel, and raise the valleys, i.e. inspire the humble with the real possibility of salvation in Christ (Lk. 3:5). Paul uses the same Greek word for &quot;bring low&quot; no fewer than three times, concerning how the Gospel has humbled him (Acts 20:19 &quot;lowliness&quot;; 2 Cor. 11:7; Phil. 4:12). It's as if he's saying: 'John's preaching did finally have its&rsquo; effect upon me; it did finally make me humble enough for the Lord Jesus'. And as John made straight paths for men's feet that they might come unto Christ (Mt. 3:3), so did Paul (Heb. 12:13).&nbsp;</p><p><i>And with tears and with trials which befell me</i>- The tears of Paul were part of his service to the Lord; that is the force of the word &quot;with&quot;. Those caught up in grieving processes need not think that this is all selfish; it can also be part of active serving the Lord.</p><p><em>By the plots of the Jews</em>- The same word used about this in :3.</p>