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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:23

Verse 23− 23.But that the Holy Ghost. I do not understand this of secret oracles, but of those foretellings which he heard everywhere of the prophets. And this speech hath greater dignity to set forth the prophecies, than if the men themselves which spake were called and cited to be witnesses. For by this means the word of God hath his [its] authority, when we confess that the Spirit of God is the author thereof, though the ministers be men. Now, forasmuch as the same Spirit, which foretelleth... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:24

Verse 24− 24.I care not. All the godly must be so framed in their minds, and chiefly the ministers of the Word, that, setting all things apart, they make haste to obey God. The life is, indeed, a more excellent gift than that it ought to be neglected; to wit, seeing we be therein created after the image of God, to the end we may think upon that blessed immortality which is laid up for us in heaven, in which the Lord doth now by diverse testimonies and tokens show himself to be our Father. − ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:25

Verse 25− 25.And, behold, now I know. He doth now utter that plainly which he had insinuated covertly. And we said that he did put them out of hope of his return, to the end he might more deeply imprint in their minds his exhortations. For we know what great force the words and speeches of men have which are uttered at their departure or death. Also, he would have them beware by this forewarning, that they do not depend upon his presence, and so their faith should faint through wearisomeness.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:26

Verse 26− 26.Wherefore I take you to record. It is all one as if he had said, I call you to witness, or I call you to bear witness before God and his angels. And this doth he not so much for his own cause, as that he may prescribe unto them their duty with greater authority. Furthermore, this place containeth a brief sum of teaching rightly and well, and it exhorteth the teachers themselves, vehemently and sharply, that they be diligent in their function. What order must pastors then keep in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:13-38

The charge. The previous section brought before us St. Paul's labors as a missionary and an evangelist. The present section sets him before us as the Christian bishop, delivering his solemn charge to the presbyters of the Church. The qualities brought out in the charge are a transparent integrity of character; a noble ingenuousness, which enables him to speak of himself without a particle of vanity; and a resoluteness of purpose to do what is right, which no persuasion could weaken and no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17-35

Paul at Miletus: the review which gratifies. It has been truly said that our whole life is divisible into the past and the future. The present is a mere point which separates the two. And there is a certain time which must come, if it have not already arrived, when, instead of finding our satisfaction in looking forward to the earthly good which we are to partake of, we shall seek our comfort and our joy in looking back on the path we have trodden and the results we have achieved. Ill... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17-36

Mingled fidelity and tenderness: an example for Christian ministers. Perhaps there is no other place in which we have so much of the nature of personal detail respecting Paul from his own lips. For the most part in his Epistles, there is a singular abstinence on his part from personal references. They seem to abound here. Without doubting their bare justification, we desiderate some other and higher account of them. May not this be found in a twofold consideration?— I. PAUL 'S ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17-38

Paul's farewell to the elders of Ephesus. I. THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE EVANGELICAL PREACHING . ( Acts 20:17-21 .) 1. The spirit and conduct of the preacher himself; for this is inseparable from the preaching ( Acts 20:18-20 ). He had lived with his flock. His life had been devoted to their service. He had entered the sphere of their life as the loving sharer in their joys and sorrows. He had presented to them a pattern of humility. He had borne them on his heart.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17-38

Last words. The scene at Miletus representative. I. Of the relations between the apostolic leaders and the Churches. 1. Affectionate. 2. Founded on a common faith in the gospel of the grace of God. 3. Absolutely free from all sordid and worldly entanglements. 4. While recognizing the eminence o! the leaders, still not dependent on individual men. Sorrowing separation was not overwhelming despair. II. Of the character of primitive Christianity as exemplified in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:20

How that I shrank not from declaring unto you anything for and how I kept back nothing, A.V.; profitable for profitable unto you, A.V and teaching for but have showed you and have taught, A.V. I shrank not from declaring , etc. The R.V. seems to construe the phrase as if it were ὡς ὑπεσταιλάμην τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι ὑμῖν οὐδὲν τῶν συμφερόντων , which is a very labored construction, of which the only advantage is that it gives exactly the same sense to ὑπεστειλάμην... read more

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