Church of God

True Church of God

ACTS 20 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 20:26-27 Whole Counsel of God

Acts 20:28-38 Church of God

ACTS 20:28 28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to 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.

What is "church of God" (Acts 20:28)?
εκκλησιαν (ekklesian), the original Greek word translated "church," literally means an assembly of people, so "church of God" - εκκλησιαν του θεου (ekklesian tou Theou) - means an assembly of the people of God.

What qualifies such people as members of the church of God?
God paid for them "with His own blood" (Acts 20:28) by dying on the cross to pay the death penalty due for their sins (see Crucify Him).

ACTS 20:29 29 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

From which direction will "savage wolves" (Acts 20:29) attack the church of God?
From the outside, they will "come in among" (Acts 20:29) the elders of the church.

Why does Paul tell them to "shepherd the church of God" (Acts 20:28)?
He is telling them to be true shepherds who lay down their lives to defend the flock instead of fleeing when the wolves attack, as Jesus declared: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them" (John 10:11-12).

ACTS 20:30-32 30 “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32 So 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 those who are sanctified.

What will happen from within their own ranks?
"Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:30) instead of Jesus.

How should they identify and defend against those who say such "perverse things" (Acts 20:30)?
Rely on "God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

In which 'book' today do we find "the word" of God's "grace"?

ACTS 20:33-38 33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Was it proper for Paul to be "kissed" (Acts 20:37) by men?
A kiss on the cheek was a sign of respect, which is what Judas feigned when he kissed Jesus to identify him to the arresting mob the night before His crucifixion (see Judas' kiss). To this day, men in parts of the Middle East kiss each other on the cheek to greet and express respect.

Who was used more to spread the Gospel - apostle Paul or a tele-evangelist of today?

If Paul had pushed people to donate "silver or gold" (Acts 20:33), couldn't he have bought a private yacht and used it to reach more people, and hired bodyguards to protect him from persecution?

What did he do instead?
He worked as a tentmaker.

To provide only for his own "necessities" (Acts 20:34)?
No, to also provide "for those who were with" (Acts 20:34) him, including "the weak" (Acts 20:35).

At your church, does money flow from the pastor to the poor or from the poor to the pastor?

If both are poor, who at your church is hoarding God's money intended to provide for their necessities?