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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_20:25-35
25"And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Act_20:25 "I know that all of you. . .will see my face no more" He was planning to go to Spain (cf. Rom_15:24; Rom_15:28), but this possibly contextually refers to his upcoming, predicted imprisonment and possible death at Jerusalem. If the Pastoral Epistles describe Paul's fourth missionary journey then he did return to this very area again.
1. Ephesus, 1Ti_1:3; 1Ti_3:14; 1Ti_4:13
2. Miletus, 2Ti_4:20
3. Possibly even Troas, 2Ti_4:13.
Paul lived by faith in God's leadership. He did not know the specific future.
▣ "preaching the kingdom" See note at Act_2:34.
Act_20:26 "I am innocent of the blood of all men" This is a Jewish idiom, like Act_18:6, or more specifically, Eze_3:16 ff; Eze_33:1 ff. Paul had faithfully presented the gospel (cf. 2Co_2:17). Now those who responded and those who rejected bear the burden of their own decision. One to service, the other to destruction (cf. 2Co_2:15-16).
Act_20:27 "I did not shrink" See note at Act_20:20.
▣ "the whole purpose of God" We must always proclaim God's full message, not just our favorite part! This may be an allusion to the Judaizers who claimed that Paul left out part of the message (i.e., Mosaic Law-Judaism) or to the charismatics of 2 Corinthians 12 who thought Paul was devoid of spiritual experiences. God's purpose is that humans be restored to full fellowship with Himself, which was the purpose of creation (cf. Gen_1:26-27; Gen_3:8; Gen_12:3).
Act_20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves" This is a present active imperative. This admonition is also in 1Co_16:13; Col_4:2; 1Th_5:6; 1Th_5:10. The Christian life has both a divine and a human aspect. God always takes the initiative and sets the agenda, but believers must respond and continue to respond. In one sense we are responsible for our spiritual lives (cf. Php_2:12-13). What is true of individual believers, is true for church leaders (cf. 1 Corinthians 3).
▣ "and for all the flock" This is a metaphor for the people of God (cf. Psalms 23; Luk_12:32; Joh_21:15-17). It is also the origin of the term "pastor." See note at Act_20:17. Church leaders are responsible to God for themselves and their churches (cf. 1 Corinthians 3).
▣ "the Holy Spirit has made you" This shows the divine call of God in choosing church leaders.
▣ "overseers" See note at Act_20:17.
▣ "the church of God" "God" is found in the ancient Greek manuscripts P74, A, C, D, and E, while "Lord" is found in MSS à and B. Paul uses the phrase "church of God" often, but never the phrase "church of the Lord." The context supports "the church of the Lord" because the next phrase, "with His own blood," which surely refers to Christ. However, this is just the kind of editorial scribal change that one would expect (see Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary, pp. 480-482). Therefore the UBS4 Greek text retains "God," but gives it a "C" rating. "Lord" would be the most unusual and difficult reading (see Appendix Two: Textual Criticism).
This text serves as a good example of how scribes changed texts for theological reasons. A good discussion is found in Bart D. Ehrman's The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture, pp. 87-89. Scribes altered texts to make them stronger doctrinally against the Christological heresies of their day. Act_20:28 offers a variety of changes probably related to internal historical/theological tensions.
Before we throw up our hands in despair, we must remember that the New Testament has a superior textual tradition, far better than any other ancient writing. Although we cannot be absolutely sure of the exact wording of the original autographs, we still have a trustworthy and accurate text! The original words are in the variants. These variants do not affect any major doctrines!! See Rethinking New Testament Textual Criticism ed. David Alan Black.
▣ "He purchased with His own blood" This reflects the OT concept of sacrificial substitution (cf. Leviticus 1-7; Isaiah 53). This emphasis is surprisingly not mentioned much in the kerygma of Acts (see James D. G. Dunn, Unity and Diversity in the NT, pp. 17-18). It is also possibly a strong reference to Jesus' deity (i.e., "church of God"). Paul often uses phrases which point to this truth (cf. Rom_9:5; Col_2:9; Tit_2:13).
It is also possible to translate this Greek phrase as "through His own," meaning near relative (i.e., His Son Jesus). F. F. Bruce, Commentary on the book of the Acts, p. 416 #59, says this phrase should be translated "by means of the blood of His own one," which he asserts is well attested in the Egyptian Koine papyri literature.
Act_20:29 "savage wolves will come in among you" This is a metaphor based on the previously used metaphors of "flock" and "shepherd." This accentuates the problem of the false teachers, both from without (Act_20:29) and within (Act_20:30). They both came in sheep's clothing (cf. Mat_7:15-23; Luk_10:3; Joh_10:12, also in interbiblical apocalyptic literature, I Enoch 89:10-27; IV Ezra 5:18). Believers must test those who claim to speak for God (cf. 1Jn_4:1). Test them by their faithfulness to the gospel, both in word and deed (cf. Act_20:18-24; Matthew 7; Rom_16:17-18).
Act_20:30 "speaking perverse things" "Speaking" is a present active participle, while "perverse things" is a perfect passive participle, used as a substantive (direct object). Its basic meaning is "to twist." It is used to describe human society (cf. Luk_9:41; Php_2:15). This activity is described (different term) in 2Pe_3:15-16.
▣ "to draw away the disciples after them" The theological question is, "Are those drawn away, spiritually lost or confused?" (cf. Mat_24:24). It is impossible to be dogmatic, but true faith continues! (cf. 1Jn_2:18).
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Act_20:31 "be on the alert" This is a present active imperative (cf. Mar_13:35), which is parallel to Act_20:28, "Be on guard for yourselves" (present active imperative). God's leaders and God's church must be on constant watch for false teachers—not those who disregard our personal preferences, but those who disregard the gospel and its lifestyle implications.
▣ "for three years" This refers to Paul's stay in Ephesus. This time indication includes all of Paul's activity in the area. He stayed longer with these believers than with any other city, church, or area. They knew the gospel. Now they must protect it and spread it!
Act_20:32 "commend you to God" This means "entrust to" (cf. Act_14:23). We are responsible to God for the gospel we have been entrusted with (cf. 1Ti_1:18). We are responsible to pass it on to others who will pass it on (cf. 2Ti_2:2).
The name "God" is found in MSS P74, à , A, C, D, and E. The term "Lord" is found in MS B. UBS4 gives Theos a "B" rating (almost certain).
▣ "and to the word of His grace" This is a synonymous phrase for "the gospel." See note at Act_20:24.
▣ "able to build you up" Notice that it is the person and truth of God (the gospel) that leads to maturity (cf. Act_9:31). Paul uses this metaphor often. This Greek word can be translated both "build up" or "edify" (cf. 1 Corinthians 14). This is the goal of the gospel, not just the maturity of the individual believer, but of the whole church.
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▣ "and to give you the inheritance" In the OT God was the inheritance of the Levites and Priests. In the NT God is all believers' inheritance because believers are God's children through the person and work of Christ (cf. Rom_8:15; Rom_8:17; Gal_4:1-7; Col_1:12).
NT believers, like the OT Israelites, are priests (cf. 1Pe_2:5; 1Pe_2:9; Rev_1:6). We are meant to minister to the lost world.
▣ "among all those who are sanctified" This is a perfect passive participle. See hyperlink at Act_9:32.
Act_20:33 "silver or gold or clothes" These were items of wealth. Paul is defending his actions and motives. In the NT greed and sexual exhortation are often hallmarks of false teachers (cf. 1Co_3:10-17).
Act_20:34 "ministered to my own needs" Paul refused to take help from the churches he currently served because of the constant accusation by the false teachers concerning his motives. Paul supported himself (cf. 1Co_4:12; 1Co_9:3-7; 2Co_11:7-12; 2Co_12:13; 1Th_2:9; 2Th_3:6-13). Also Paul, being a trained rabbi, would have personal qualms about accepting money for teaching. However, he asserts that ministers of the gospel should be paid (cf. 1Co_9:3-18; 1Ti_5:17-18).
There is an excellent brief history of the first century Mediterranean world by James S. Jeffers, The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. It mentions that Paul alludes to working with his own hands to provide his physical needs in all three missionary journeys (cf. p. 28).
1. First journey, 1Co_4:12; 1Co_9:6; 1Th_2:9
2. Second journey, Act_18:3
3. Third journey, Act_19:11-12; Act_20:34; 2Co_12:14
Act_20:35 Notice that the believers' hard labor is not for personal gain or luxury, but for the sake of others in need in Christ's name (cf. 2Co_9:8-11). Paul's quote from Jesus is not found in any of the Gospels. Therefore, it must be an oral tradition.
This "weak" is not used here in the sense of over scrupulous Christians (cf. Rom_14:1; Rom_15:1; 1Co_8:9-13; 1Co_9:22), but physically needy. Paul worked to support himself and other believers in need.