Acts 20:35
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.'"
In everything
This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Paul's example. The Greek word "πάντα" (panta) suggests an all-encompassing approach to life and ministry. Paul is not selective in his demonstration of Christian living; rather, he embodies a holistic commitment to the teachings of Christ. This serves as a reminder that our faith should permeate every aspect of our lives, leaving no area untouched by the love and service of Christ.

I showed you
The Greek verb "ὑπέδειξα" (hupedeixa) implies a demonstration or a setting forth as an example. Paul is not merely instructing with words but is actively modeling the behavior he wishes to see in others. This aligns with the biblical principle that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Paul’s life is a living testimony, encouraging believers to lead by example in their own communities.

that by this kind of hard work
The phrase underscores the value of diligence and effort in the Christian life. The Greek word "κοπιῶντας" (kopiontas) refers to laborious toil, suggesting that the Christian journey is not one of ease but of dedicated service. This reflects the biblical work ethic that honors God through industriousness and perseverance, as seen in Proverbs 14:23, "In all toil there is profit."

we must help the weak
Here, "help" translates from the Greek "ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι" (antilambanesthai), meaning to support or assist. The "weak" (ἀσθενεῖς, astheneis) refers to those who are physically, spiritually, or economically disadvantaged. This call to aid the vulnerable is a recurring theme in Scripture, echoing Jesus’ ministry to the marginalized and His command to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31).

remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself
This phrase highlights the importance of recalling and adhering to the teachings of Christ. The Greek "μνημονεύειν" (mnēmoneuein) means to remember or to keep in mind continually. It is a call to let the words of Jesus guide our actions and decisions, ensuring that His teachings remain at the forefront of our lives.

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
This direct quote from Jesus, though not found in the Gospels, is preserved through oral tradition and the apostolic witness. The Greek word "μακάριόν" (makarion) for "blessed" conveys a sense of divine favor and happiness. This teaching challenges the worldly view of success and fulfillment, promoting a kingdom perspective where selflessness and generosity are the true measures of blessedness. It aligns with the beatitudes and the overarching message of the Gospel that true joy is found in serving others and living a life of sacrificial love.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The speaker of this verse, Paul is addressing the Ephesian elders, sharing his final words of encouragement and instruction before departing for Jerusalem.

2. Ephesian Elders
Leaders of the church in Ephesus, they are the recipients of Paul's farewell speech, which includes this verse.

3. Ephesus
A significant city in the early Christian church, known for its diverse population and as a center of early Christian teaching.

4. The Lord Jesus
Referenced by Paul, Jesus is the source of the teaching that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

5. The Weak
Those in need, whether physically, spiritually, or materially, whom Paul encourages believers to support through hard work and generosity.
Teaching Points
The Blessing of Generosity
Giving is not just a duty but a source of blessing. It aligns us with the heart of Christ, who gave Himself for us.

The Example of Hard Work
Paul emphasizes the importance of diligent labor, not for personal gain, but to support those in need. This reflects a Christ-like attitude of service.

Remembering Jesus' Words
Although not directly quoted in the Gospels, this teaching of Jesus is preserved through Paul's message, reminding us of the oral tradition and the importance of remembering and living out Christ's teachings.

Helping the Weak
Our work and resources should be directed towards uplifting those who are weak, whether in faith, health, or circumstances, demonstrating the love of Christ.

Living Out Faith in Community
The Christian life is communal, and our actions should reflect a commitment to the well-being of others, fostering a supportive and loving community.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Paul's example of hard work and generosity challenge your current lifestyle and priorities?

2. In what ways can you practically apply the principle "It is more blessed to give than to receive" in your daily life?

3. How does the teaching in Acts 20:35 connect with Jesus' teachings in the Gospels about serving others?

4. What are some practical ways you can help "the weak" in your community or church?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced the blessing of giving. How did it impact your faith and relationship with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 25:35-40
Jesus teaches about serving others, emphasizing that serving the needy is akin to serving Him.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Paul discusses the principles of generous giving, highlighting the blessings that come from a cheerful heart.

Proverbs 11:25
This verse speaks to the prosperity and refreshment that comes to those who are generous.

Luke 6:38
Jesus teaches about the measure of giving and receiving, reinforcing the principle of generosity.
Charity BlessedZ. Isham, D. D.Acts 20:35
Glad of the Opportunity of GivingActs 20:35
It is More Blessed to Give than to ReceiveJ. O. Dykes, D. D.Acts 20:35
More Blessed to Give than to ReceiveClerical LibraryActs 20:35
Paul At Miletus: the Greater BlessednessW. Clarkson Acts 20:35
Receiving and GivingD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 20:35
The Blessedness of Doing GoodG. W. Brooke, D. D.Acts 20:35
The Blessedness of GivingW. Niven, B. D.Acts 20:35
The Blessedness of GivingRichard Newton, D. D.Acts 20:35
The Blessedness of GivingR. Tuck Acts 20:35
The Blessedness of GivingAlexander MaclarenActs 20:35
The Blessedness of Giving More than ReceivingAbp. Tillotson.Acts 20:35
The Blessedness of LiberalityN. Emmons, D. D.Acts 20:35
The Blessedness of Self-GivingJ. R. Gow.Acts 20:35
The Comparative Blessedness of Giving and ReceivingDean Vaughan.Acts 20:35
The Divine Secret of a Blessed LifeR.A. Redford Acts 20:35
The Greater Blessedness of GivingPrincipal Reynolds.Acts 20:35
The Larger Blessing and the LessW. Arnot, D. D.Acts 20:35
The Pleasure of GivingGeorge Peabody.Acts 20:35
The Superior Blessedness of GivingCanon Stowell.Acts 20:35
To Give More Blessed than to ReceiveDean Howson.Acts 20:35
Wherefore is it More Blessed to Give than to ReceiveK. Gerok.Acts 20:35
Paul At Miletus: the Review Which GratifiesW. Clarkson Acts 20:17, 20, 27, 31, 33-35
Mingled Fidelity and Tenderness: an Example for Christian MinistersP.C. Barker Acts 20:17-36
Last WordsR.A. Redford Acts 20:17-38
Paul's Farewell to the Elders of EphesusE. Johnson Acts 20:17-38
An Unmercenary Servant of GodJ. F. B. Tinling.Acts 20:32-36
Honest LabourD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 20:32-36
People
Aristarchus, Asians, Eutychus, Gaius, Paul, Secundus, Sopater, Thessalonians, Timotheus, Timothy, Trophimus, Tychicus
Places
Asia, Assos, Chios, Derbe, Ephesus, Greece, Jerusalem, Macedonia, Miletus, Mitylene, Philippi, Samos, Syria, Troas
Topics
Aid, Ailing, Bear, Behoveth, Blessed, Blessing, Example, Feeble, Getting, Giving, Greater, Kind, Laboring, Labouring, Manner, Memory, Mind, Mindful, Ought, Partake, Receive, Remember, Remembering, Shew, Shewed, Showed, Showing, Shown, Support, Thus, Toiling, Weak, Working
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 20:35

     2224   Christ, the Lord
     5310   exploitation
     5447   poverty, causes
     5448   poverty, attitudes to
     5556   stewardship
     5765   attitudes, to people
     5809   compassion, human
     7734   leaders, spiritual
     8243   ethics, social
     8291   kindness
     8358   weakness, physical
     8436   giving, of possessions
     8670   remembering

Acts 20:17-38

     7720   elders, in the church

Acts 20:33-35

     6710   privileges
     7759   preachers, qualifications

Acts 20:34-35

     7925   fellowship, among believers

Library
This Person Differs in Nothing
This Person differs in nothing, from the Father, but only in this that He is begotten of Him. He is Eternal with the Father, as glorious and as intelligent. He is of the same mind in everything in all worlds, loveth the same objects in as infinite a measure. Is the means by which the Father loveth, acteth, createth, redeemeth, governeth, and perfecteth all things. And the means also by which we see and love the Father: our strength and our eternity. He is the Mediator between God and His creatures.
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

January 19 Morning
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind.--ACTS 20:19. Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.--I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man, . . . not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 26 Evening
Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?--SONG 6:10. The church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. There appeared a great wonder
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 9. "None of These Things Move Me" (Acts xx. 24).
"None of these things move me" (Acts xx. 24). The best evidence of God's presence is the devil's growl. So wrote good Mr. Spurgeon once in "The Sword and the Trowel," and that little sentence has helped many a tried and tired child Of God to stand fast and even rejoice under the fiercest attacks of the foe. We read in the book of Samuel that the moment that David was crowned at Hebron, "All the Philistines came up to seek David." And the moment we get anything from the Lord worth contending for,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

December 29. "I have not Shunned to Declare unto You all the Counsel of God" (Acts xx. 27).
"I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts xx. 27). It is probable that God lets every human being, that crosses our path, meet us, in order that we may have the opportunity of leaving some blessing in his path, and dropping into his heart and life some influence that will draw him nearer to God. It would be blessed, indeed, if we could meet every immortal soul, at last, that we have ever touched in the path of life, and truly say, "I am pure from the blood of all men."
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

March 7. "It is More Blessed to Give than to Receive" (Acts xx. 35).
"It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts xx. 35). How shall we know the difference between the earthly and the heavenly love? The one terminates on ourselves and is partly ourself seeking its own gratification. The other reaches out to God and others, and finds its joy in glorifying Him and blessing them. Love is unselfishness, and the love that is not unselfish is not divine. How much do we pray for others, and how much for ourselves? What is the center of our being? Ourselves, or our
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

A Fulfilled Aspiration
'So that I might finish my course....'--ACTS xx. 24. 'I have finished my course....'--2 TIM. iv. 7. I do not suppose that Paul in prison, and within sight of martyrdom, remembered his words at Ephesus. But the fact that what was aspiration whilst he was in the very thick of his difficulties came to be calm retrospect at the close is to me very beautiful and significant. 'So that I may finish my course,' said he wistfully; whilst before him there lay dangers clearly discerned and others that had all
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Parting Words [Footnote: Preached Prior to a Long Absence in Australia. ]
'And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace....'--ACTS xx. 32. I may be pardoned if my remarks now should assume somewhat of a more personal character than is my wont. I desire to speak mainly to my own friends, the members of my own congregation; and other friends who have come to give me a parting 'Godspeed' will forgive me if my observations have a more special bearing on those with whom I am more immediately connected. The Apostle whose words I have taken for my text
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Blessedness of Giving
'...It is more blessed to give than to receive.'--ACTS xx. 35. How 'many other things Jesus did' and said 'which are not written in this book'! Here is one precious unrecorded word, which was floating down to the ocean of oblivion when Paul drew it to shore and so enriched the world. There is, however, a saying recorded, which is essentially parallel in content though differing in garb, 'The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.' It is tempting to think that the text gives a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Parting Counsels
'And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Christian Perfection
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect." Phil. 3:12. 1. There is scarce any expression in Holy Writ which has given more offence than this. The word perfect is what many cannot bear. The very sound of it is an abomination to them. And whosoever preaches perfection (as the phrase is,) that is, asserts that it is attainable in this life, runs great hazard of being accounted by them worse than a heathen man or a publican. 2. And hence some have advised, wholly to lay aside
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Two Essential Things
Paul testified concerning "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ"; by which I understand that, as an ambassador for Christ, he assured the people that through repentance and faith they would receive salvation. He taught in God's name mercy through the atoning sacrifice to all who would quit their sin and follow the Lord Jesus. With many tears he added his own personal testimony to his official statement. He could truly say, "I have repented, and I do repent"; and he could
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 35: 1889

The Minister's Farewell
WHEN Paul was parting from his Ephesian friends, who had come to bid him farewell at Miletus, he did not request of them a commendation of his ability; he did not request of them a recommendation for his fervid eloquence, his profound learning, his comprehensive thought, or his penetrating judgment. He knew right well that he might have credit for all these, and yet be found a castaway at last. He required a witness which would be valid in the court of heaven, and of value in a dying hour. His one
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

On Sleeping in Church
"And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep; and while Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead."--Acts xx. 9. I have chosen these words with design, if possible, to disturb some part in this audience of half an hour's sleep, for the convenience and exercise whereof this place, at this season of the day, is very much celebrated. There is indeed one mortal disadvantage to which all
Jonathan Swift—Three Sermons, Three Prayers

It is Also Plain that the Public Prayers are not to be Couched in Greek...
It is also plain that the public prayers are not to be couched in Greek among the Latins, nor in Latin among the French or English (as hitherto has been every where practised), but in the vulgar tongue, so that all present may understand them, since they ought to be used for the edification of the whole Church, which cannot be in the least degree benefited by a sound not understood. Those who are not moved by any reason of humanity or charity, ought at least to be somewhat moved by the authority
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

Our Inheritance
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."--Acts 20:32. "And inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."--Acts 26:18. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification."--1 Thess. 4:3. "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The New Crusade --Serampore and the Brotherhood
1800 Effects of the news in England on the Baptists--On the home churches--In the foundation of the London and other Missionary Societies--In Scotland--In Holland and America--The missionary home--Joshua Marshman, William Ward, and two others sent out--Landing at the Iona of Southern Asia--Meeting of Ward and Carey--First attempt to evangelise the non-Aryan hill tribes--Carey driven by providences to Serampore--Dense population of Hoogli district--Adapts his communistic plan to the new conditions--Purchase
George Smith—The Life of William Carey

Fac-Similes
OF ANCIENT NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS, TO ILLUSTRATE CHAPTER XXVI., PAGE 380. Most of the following specimens of ancient manuscripts are taken from Scrivener's Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament. No. (1) is from Tischendorf s Novum Testamentum Graece ex Sinaitico Codice; Nos. (2) and (11) from Smith's Dictionary of the Bible; and No. (5) from Horne's Introduction, Vol. IV. No. (1). PLATE I. SINAI CODEX, Century IV. Heb. 12:27-29. Notice the occasional use of very small letters. In
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Epistles of Paul
Paulos genomeno; megistos; hupogrammos. (Clement of Rome.) Comp. §§ 29-36 and 71. General Character. Paul was the greatest worker among the apostles, not only as a missionary, but also as a writer. He "labored more than all." And we may well include in this "all" the whole body of theologians who came after him; for where shall we find an equal wealth of the profoundest thoughts on the highest themes as in Paul? We have from him thirteen Epistles; how many more were lost, we cannot even
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

Moreover, if Discourse must be Bestowed Upon Any...
21. Moreover, if discourse must be bestowed upon any, and this so take up the speaker that he have not time to work with his hands, are all in the monastery able to hold discourse unto brethren which come unto them from another kind of life, whether it be to expound the divine lessons, or concerning any questions which may be put, to reason in an wholesome manner? Then since not all have the ability, why upon this pretext do all want to have nothing else to do? Although even if all were able, they
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Whether Men are Bound to Pay Tithes under a Necessity of Precept?
Objection 1: It would seem that men are not bound by precept to pay tithes. The commandment to pay tithes is contained in the Old Law (Lev. 27:30), "All tithes of the land, whether of corn or of the fruits of trees, are the Lord's," and further on (Lev. 27:32): "Of all the tithes of oxen and sheep and goats, that pass under the shepherd's rod, every tenth that cometh shall be sanctified to the Lord." This cannot be reckoned among the moral precepts, because natural reason does not dictate that one
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether it is Lawful for Religious to Live on Alms?
Objection 1: It would seem unlawful for religious to live on alms. For the Apostle (1 Tim. 5:16) forbids those widows who have other means of livelihood to live on the alms of the Church, so that the Church may have "sufficient for them that are widows indeed." And Jerome says to Pope Damasus [*Cf. Cf. Can. Clericos, cause. i, qu. 2; Can. Quoniam, cause xvi, qu. 1; Regul. Monach. iv among the supposititious works of St. Jerome] that "those who have sufficient income from their parents and their own
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
1. Connection of this chapter with the previous one and the subsequent chapters. Repentance follows faith, and is produced by it. Reason. Error of those who take a contrary view. 2. Their First Objection. Answer. In what sense the origin of Repentance ascribed to Faith. Cause of the erroneous idea that faith is produced by repentance. Refutation of it. The hypocrisy of Monks and Anabaptists in assigning limits to repentance exposed. 3. A second opinion concerning repentance considered. 4. A third
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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