Acts 20:35

In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

World English Bible

Learn

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

In all things I gave you an example, that so labouring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

BSB

In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

KJV

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

ASV

In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

BBE

In all things I was an example to you of how, in your lives, you are to give help to the feeble, and keep in memory the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, There is a greater blessing in giving than in getting.

Original Greek

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

πάντα panta In everything G3956 ὑπέδειξα hupedeixa I showed G5263 ὑμῖν humin you G4771 ὅτι hoti that G3754 οὕτως houtōs by thus G3779 κοπιῶντας kopiōntas straining G2872 δεῖ dei it behooves [us] G1163 ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι antilambanesthai to aid G482 τῶν tōn those G3588 ἀσθενούντων asthenountōn being weak G770 μνημονεύειν mnēmoneuein to remember G3421 τε te and also G5037 τῶν tōn the G3588 λόγων logōn words G3056 τοῦ tou of the G3588 κυρίου kuriou Lord G2962 Ἰησοῦ Iēsou Jesus G2424 ὅτι hoti how G3754 αὐτὸς autos He Himself G846 εἶπεν eipen said G2036 μακάριόν makarion Blessed G3107 ἐστιν estin it is G1510 μᾶλλον mallon more G3123 διδόναι didonai to give G1325 ἢ ē than G2228 λαμβάνειν lambanein to receive G2983

The early church

"I have showed you all things, how that so laboring, ye ought to support the weak." Observe him employed in work and not simply that, but toiling. "These hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me:" so as to put them to shame. And see how worthily of them. For he says not, Ye ought to show yourselves superior to money, but what? "to support the weak" - not all indiscriminately - "and to hear the word of the Lord which He spake, It is more blessed to give than to receive." For lest any one should think that it was spoken with reference to them, and that he gave himself for an ensample, as he elsewhere says, "giving an ensample to you," he added the declaration of Christ, Who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

And he does not say, that to receive is bad, but that not to receive is better. For, "remember," he says, "the words of the Lord which he spake: It is more blessed to give than to receive." And where said He this? Perhaps the Apostles delivered it by unwritten tradition; or else it is plain from recorded sayings, from which one could infer it. For in fact here he has shown both boldness in meeting dangers, sympathy with those over whom he ruled, teaching with unshrinking boldness, humility, voluntary poverty: but, what we have here is even more than that poverty. For if He says there in the Gospel, "If thou wilt be perfect, sell what thou hast and give to the poor," when, besides receiving nothing himself, he provides sustenance for others also, what could equal this? It is one degree to fling away one's possessions; a second, to be sufficient for the supply of one's own necessities: a third, to provide for others also; a fourth, for one to do all this who preaches and has a right to receive. So that here is a man far better than those who merely forego possessions. "Thus it is right to support the weak:" this is indeed sympathy with the weak; for to give from the labors of others, is easy.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 28–38

If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity and worth into it, as to ransom believers from all evil, and purchase all good. Paul spake about their souls with affection and concern. They were full of care what would become of them. Paul directs them to look up to God with faith, and commends them to the word of God's grace, not only as the foundation of their hope and the fountain of their joy, but as the rule of their walking. The most advanced Christians are capable of growing, and will find the word of grace help their growth. As those cannot be welcome guests to the holy God who are unsanctified; so heaven would be no heaven to them; but to all who are born again, and on whom the image of God is renewed, it is sure, as almighty power and eternal truth make it so. He recommends himself to them as an example of not caring as to things of the present world; this they would find help forward their comfortable passage through it. It might seem a hard saying, therefore Paul adds to it a saying of their Master's, which he would have them always remember; "It is more blessed to give than to receive:" it seems they were words often used to his disciples. The opinion of the children of this world, is contrary to this; they are afraid of giving, unless in hope of getting. Clear gain, is with them the most blessed thing that can be; but Christ tell us what is more blessed, more excellent. It makes us more like to God, who gives to all, and receives from none; and to the Lord Jesus, who went about doing good. This mind was in Christ Jesus, may it be in us also. It is good for friends, when they part, to part with prayer. Those who exhort and pray for one another, may have many weeping seasons and painful separations, but they will meet before the throne of God, to part no more. It was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with him and stayed with them.

Read Matthew Henry on Acts 20 →

Cross-references

People & places

Jesus

Topics

Poor Fellowship Liberality Self-Denial Example Kindness Labor

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.