Acts 20:35

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:35

Paul at Miletus: the greater blessedness. We may well be thankful that this one word of the Lord Jesus, unrecorded in the " fourfold biography," has been preserved to us. It may be said to be Divine indeed. It gives the heavenly aspect of human life. It is the exact and perfect contravention of that which is low, worldly, evil. It breathes the air of the upper kingdom. It puts into language the very spirit of Jesus Christ. It is the life of the Savior in a sentence. To receive is quite... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:35

The Divine secret of a blessed life. "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus," etc. Interest of the saying as not found in ore' Gospels. The life of Jesus said it. Possibly preserved traditionally. Summary of many recorded sayings. Christ his own interpreter. I. AN INSIGHT INTO THE NATURE OF TRUE BLESSEDNESS . Not in external things, not in a passive state, either intellectually or morally. As we give out from ourselves, we grow in knowledge and enjoyment. Especially true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:35

The blessedness of giving. We have no other record of these words as uttered by Christ. They must have been treasured in the memory of the apostles, and have been often mentioned by them, but never written down. There must be a great deal of Christ's teaching not preserved for us; but we may be assured that the unrecorded was like the recorded, and we may gratefully receive what the Divine Spirit has been pleased to preserve for us. The truth of this statement that it is "more blessed to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 20:35

I have showed you - I have taught you by instruction and example. I have not merely discoursed about it, but have showed you how to do it.All things - Or, in respect to all things. In everything that respects preaching and the proper mode of life, I have for three years set you an example, illustrating the design, nature, and duties of the office by my own self-denials and toil.How that - Or, that - ὅτι hoti. I have showed you that ye should by so laboring support the weak.So labouring -... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 20:33-35

Acts 20:33-35. I have coveted no man’s silver, &c. Here the apostle begins another branch of his farewell discourse, in terms like those of old Samuel, taking his leave of the children of Israel, 1 Samuel 12:8. As if he had said, I have a testimony in my own conscience and in yours, that I have not directed my ministry to any mercenary views of pleasing any, how distinguished soever their circumstances might be, nor sought by any methods to enrich myself among you. Yea, ye yourselves... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 20:13-38

To Jerusalem with the offering (20:13-21:16)From Troas Paul went by land to Assos, where he rejoined the rest of the party and sailed to Miletus (13-16). Since Miletus was only about fifty kilometres from Ephesus, Paul took the opportunity to call the elders of the Ephesian church to come and meet him. He wanted to give them some final encouragement and pass on helpful warnings (17).Paul’s opponents in Asia had probably been trying to turn the Christians against him. Therefore, he reminded the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 20:35

have shewed = shewed. Greek. hupodeiknumi. See note on Acts 9:16 . labouring = toiling. Greek. kopiao. Compare Matthew 6:28 , first occurance. support . Greek. antilambanomai. Only here, Luke 1:54 . 1 Timothy 6:2 . weak . Greek. astheneo. Often translated "sick". It is, &c . This is one of the Paroemiae ( App-6 )of the Lord, not elsewhere recorded. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 20:35

Acts 20:35. To support the weak, &c.— To assist the infirm, The word ασθενουντων has exactly this signification; and, as Raphelius has shewn, may express either sickness or poverty; yet here undoubtedly it signifies such poor persons as were disabled by some means or other from maintaining themselves by their own labour. Compare Ephesians 4:28. The evangelists have assured us, that they neither intended to relate, nor have related, all that our Lord did and said; the latter clause... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 20:35

35. that so labouring—as I have done for others as well as myself. ye ought to support the weak to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he—"how Himself." said, It is more blessed to give than to receive—This golden saying, snatched from oblivion, and here added to the Church's abiding treasures, is apt to beget the wish that more of what issued from those Lips which "dropped as an honeycomb," had been preserved to us. But see on :-. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 20:17-35

Paul’s address to the Ephesian elders 20:17-35"Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders is the nearest approximation to the Pauline letters in Acts. Its general content recalls how in his letters Paul encouraged, warned, and exhorted his converts. Moreover, its theological themes and vocabulary are distinctively Pauline. In his three missionary sermons (Acts 13:16-41; Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:22-31) and five defenses (chs. 22-26), Paul addressed non-Christian audiences. But he was speaking... read more

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