Acts 20:34

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 20:17-35

It should seem the ship Paul and his companions were embarked in for Jerusalem attended him on purpose, and staid or moved as he pleased; for when he came to Miletus, he went ashore, and tarried thee so long as to send for the elders of Ephesus to come to him thither; for if he had gone up to Ephesus, he could never have got away from them. These elders, or presbyters, some think, were those twelve who received the Holy Ghost by Paul's hands, Acts 19:6. But, besides these, it is probable that... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 20:17-38

20:17-38 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. When they were with him he said to them, "You yourselves know how, from the first day I came into Asia, I spent all the time, during which I was with you, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and amidst the trials that happened to me because of the machinations of the Jews. You know how I kept back nothing that was to your profit, how I did not fail to announce my tidings to you and to teach you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 20:34

Yea, you yourselves know ,.... So far was the apostle from desiring to have other men's money, or to wear their apparel, or to eat their bread, that he could appeal to these elders for the truth of it, they having been eyewitnesses of it: that these hands have ministered unto my necessities ; meaning, that he had wrought with his hands, which he then held up, or stretched out, at tent making, along with Aquila and Priscilla, at Ephesus, as he had done before at Corinth, Acts 18:2 and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:34

These hands have ministered, etc. - It was neither "sin nor discredit" for the apostle to work to maintain himself, when the circumstances of the Church were such that it could not support him. Still many eminent ministers of God are obliged to support themselves and their families, at least in part, in the same way, while indefatigably testifying the Gospel of the grace of God. Whatever it may be to the people, it is no cause of reproach to the minister, to be obliged thus to employ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:34

Verse 34− 34.Yea, ye know He doth not, in these words, precisely set down a law which all the ministers of the word must needs keep; for he did not behave himself so loftily and lordlike, that he did take that away which the Lord had granted to his servants, but doth rather in many places maintain their right, which is, that they be maintained with that which is common, Matthew 10:10; 1 Corinthians 9:14; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17; Philippians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:8. Whereunto belongeth... 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

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