Atos 20

Albert Barnes · Citado em PreceptAustin

Atos 20

Barnes comments that what Paul is saying in essence is that "Duty is of more importance than life; and when either duty or life is to be sacrificed, life is to be cheerfully surrendered." John

Atos 20

Barnes comments on attend to yourselves first... To your own piety (godliness), opinions, and mode of life. This is the first duty of a minister; for without this all his preaching will be vain. Compare Col 4:17; 1Ti 4:14. Ministers are beset with unique dangers and temptations, and against them they should be on their guard. In addition to the temptations which they have in common with other people, they are exposed to those special to their office - arising from flattery, and ambition, and despondency, and worldly-mindedness. And just in proportion to the importance of their office is the importance of the injunction of Paul, to take heed to themselves. David

Atos 20

Barnes has a good word on "all"...All the flock the rich and the poor, the bond and the free, the old and the young. It is the duty of ministers to seek to promote the welfare of each individual of their charge not to pass by the poor because they are poor, and not to be afraid of the rich because they are rich. A shepherd regards the interest of the tenderest of the fold as much as the strongest; and a faithful minister will seek to advance the interest of all. To do this he should know all his people; should be acquainted, as far as possible, with their unique needs, character, and dangers, and should devote himself to their welfare as his first and main employment (Ed: I would add, he should be praying through his church roster for each of his sheep individually -- all of them, even the obstreperous ones!). Jesus said... Do not be afraid (command in present imperative with a negative calling for continual dependence on the Holy Spirit to obey), little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. (Lk 12:32+) Flock (4168)(poimnion from poimen = shepherd) was literally a flock of sheep but in the NT is applied only figuratively to spiritual sheep that make the community of Jesus' disciples, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. The OT describes Israel as God's flock (Ps. 77:20; 78:52; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 63:11; Jer. 13:17; 23:2-3; 31:10; Ezek. 34:2ff.; Mic. 2:12; 5:4; 7:14; Zech. 10:3). The NT pictures the church as a flock and the Lord Jesus Christ as its Shepherd (Luke 12:32, John 10:1ff; Heb 13:20+; 1 Pet. 2:25+; 1Pe 5:2-4). Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd (aorist imperative calling for reliance on enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey) the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd (the Lord Jesus Christ) appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe (aorist imperative calling for reliance on enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. (1Pe 5:1-3+, 1Pe 5:4-5+) CHECKLIST FOR SHEPHERDS... 1) Shepherd the flock 2) Exercise oversight 3) Not with compulsion 4) Voluntarily 5) According to the will of God 6) Not for sordid gain 7) With eagerness 8) Not lording it over 9) Proving examples to the flock 10) Promise of an unfading crown of glory 11) Clothed with humility - God opposed to proud, gives grace to humble The TDNT explains that The term poímnē or poímnion is used for flocks or herds of sheep or cattle numbering from 20 to over 500. A mixed herd is in view in Mt. 25:32; such herds are common in ancient Palestine. The sheep and goats pasture together but are separated at night because goats are more susceptible to cold. On summer nights several shepherds come together with their flocks and watch over them in open fields. For better protection the flock might be kept in a walled court with the door closed and the shepherds on guard. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. TDNT - abridged online) SOVEREIGN SELECTION BY THE SPIRIT Holy Spirit has made you overseers - These men did not apply for the position. They did not receive this title because they were wealthy, well liked by all, successful in business, etc, but because God's Spirit appointed them to the position! What criteria does your church use in to select those God's Spirit has appointed (See Scriptural "definition" of an overseer - 1Timothy 3:2-7)? Jack Arnold - This verse clearly tells us that it is God the Holy Spirit who makes and appoints an elder to his position. Men only recognize in a man the biblical qualifications’ and the spiritual gifts which God has given. In every biblical local church, God is setting aside a few men for the office of elder. The words “among which” indicate that the elders are under-shepherds to the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, for they are not tyrants over the church but servants of Christ among the church. What this verse tells us is that elders are not made by self-appointment, vote of a congregation or ordination by a presbytery, but by the Holy Spirit Himself. The God-prepared men will become obvious in a local church in the same way that cream rises to the top in fresh milk. Men merely recognize God’s men for the office of elder. Since an elder is ultimately appointed to the office of elder by God, then that elder's final accountability for leading a flock is not to a denomination, a local congregation or even a pastor-teacher, but to God Himself. God will be the final judge of every elder and an elder must fear God and not be overly concerned about what men may threaten to do to him or say about him. It is better to be faithful to God than to compromise the Word of God at any point. God will bless the elder (and the elder board) who seeks to be faithful to the living Christ and the inspired and infallible Word of God. (Acts 20:28-38 Concerns of a Shepherd) John

Atos 20

Barnes comments on the mention of clothes (raiment), noting that... Changes of raiment among the ancients, as at present among the Orientals, constituted an important part of their property. ( Barnes notes on Mt 6:19 [my note] have the following comment) Treasures, or wealth, among the ancients, consisted in clothes or changes of raiment, as well as in gold, silver, gems, wine, lands, and oil. It meant an abundance of anything that was held to be conducive to the ornament or comfort of life. As the Orientals delighted much in display, in splendid equipage, and costly garments, their treasures, in fact, consisted much in beautiful and richly-ornamented articles of apparel. See Ge 45:22, where Joseph gave to his brethren changes of raiment; Jos 7:21, where Achan coveted and secreted a goodly Babylonish garment. Compare also Jdg 14:12. Seeking empties a life; giving fills it. Steven

Atos 20

Barnes has a pithy comment... How much more influence will such a man have than he who has been worldly-minded; he who has sought to become rich; and he, the only memorials of whose life is, that he has sought “the fleece, not the flock”—that he has gained the property, not the souls of men. Needs (5532)(chreia from chraomai = to use, make use of or chreos = a debt) means a necessity, what is needed or the occasion of need. Clearly Paul's tent making business brought in a good income, a testimony to the ability of his (our) God to supply for our needs. See Paul's encouragement to the saints at Philippi (Php 4:19+) - See Jehovah Jireh: The LORD Will Provide. And to the men who were with me - To whom does this refer? Some commentaries surmise Aquila and Priscilla. MacArthur makes the point that... Although Paul had every right to receive support for his ministry (1Cor 9:3ff.) and sometimes did (2Cor. 11:8-9; Phil. 4:10-19), it was his custom to support himself (2 Cor. 11:7; 12:13; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8). He did so that he might "offer the gospel without charge" (1Cor 9:18). Acts 20:35 "In 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.'": panta hupedeica (1SAAI) umin oti outos kopiontas (PAPMPA) dei (3SPAI) antilambanesthai (PMN) ton asthenounton, (PAPMPG) mnemoneuein (PAN) te ton logon tou kuriou Iesou oti autos eipen, (3SAAI) Makarion estin (3SPAI) mallon didonai (PAN) e lambanein. (PAN ) : NET Acts 20:35 By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we 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.'" GNT Acts 20:35 πάντα ὑπέδειξα ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως κοπιῶντας δεῖ ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν ἀσθενούντων, μνημονεύειν τε τῶν λόγων τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ὅτι αὐτὸς εἶπεν, Μακάριόν ἐστιν μᾶλλον διδόναι ἢ λαμβάνειν. NLT Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" KJV Acts 20:35 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. ESV Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" ASV Acts 20:35 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. CSB Acts 20:35 In every way I've shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" NIV Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" NKJ Acts 20:35 "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.'" NRS Acts 20:35 In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" YLT Acts 20:35 all things I did shew you, that, thus labouring, it behoveth us to partake with the ailing, to be mindful also of the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.' showed: Ac 20:20,27 that: Isa 35:3 Ro 15:1 1Co 9:12 2Co 11:9,12, 12:13 Eph 4:28 1Th 4:11 1Th 5:14 Heb 12:12,13, 13:3 It is: Ps 41:1-3 112:5-9 Pr 19:17 Isa 32:8 58:7-12 Mt 10:8 25:34-40 Luke 14:12-14 2Co 8:9 9:6-12 Php 4:17-20 Heb 13:16 Acts 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AN EXAMPLE TO IMITATE In everything - All the things Paul did by word and deed while he was among the saints at Ephesus. Paul commanded the saints at Corinth (and by application ALL disciples): Be (present imperative - make this your daily practice - be careful - the only way to do this is by jettisoning self reliance and relying wholly the Holy Spirit to obey! Successful obedience to supernatural commands calls for continual reliance on supernatural enablement!) imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. (1 Cor 11:1+) I showed you (5263)(hupodeiknumi from hupó = under + deiknuo = show, make known the character or significance of something by visual, auditory, gestural, or linguistic means) literally means to show by placing under (as under one's gaze or before one's eyes) and so to show or instruct plainly, to set before one's eyes, to exemplify by words or actions. The idea is to direct someone’s attention to something and so to point out or make known. In some context the idea is to warn (Mt 3:7, Lk 3:7, 12:5) Note that some lexicons state that the original meaning is to show secretly (Liddell-Scott). Marvin

Atos 20

Barnes comments...To provide for the wants of the sick and feeble members of the flock, who are unable to labour for themselves. The weak here denote the poor, the needy, the infirm. Must (present tense = speaks of a continual obligation) (1163)(dei from deo = to bind or tie objects together, put in prison and also root of doulos, bond-servant) refers to what is not optional but needful (binding) out of intrinsic necessity or inevitability. Dei describes that which is under the necessity of happening or which must necessarily take place. Help (482)(antilambano from antí = mutually or against + lambáno = to take, to hold) means to take hold of another as by the hand. Figuratively antilambano meant to support from falling as if taking them by the hand to help, support or assist them. To come to the aid of. Antilambano in 1Ti 6:2 has another meaning -- "to give or commit oneself wholeheartedly to something" or "to experience the benefit from someone" (Louw-Nida). "to commit oneself wholeheartedly to something, take part in, devote oneself to, practice" (BDAG). Friberg says antilambano in 1Ti 6:2 probably means "benefit from, receive benefit from something" or less likely "devote oneself to something" (Friberg) Marvin

Atos 20

Barnes adds that the idea is "To call to mind for encouragement, and with the force of a command." Remember (present tense = continually recall) (3421)(mnemoneuo (mnemoneuo from mimnesko = to recall to one's mind) means to exercise memory, call something to mind, recollect, to pay attention to something. Webster's 1828 definition of remember - To have in the mind an idea which had been in the mind before, and which recurs to the mind without effort (Ed comment: I think in the NT sense we often need to make a conscious effort, a volitional choice to remember. And we have the Spirit to aid our recall - cp Jn 14:26, 1Co 2:12, 13). When we use effort to recall an idea, we are said to recollect it. This distinction is not always observed. Hence remember is often used as synonymous with recollect, that is, to call to mind. We say, we cannot remember a fact, when we mean, we cannot recollect it. (Click for all 15 definitions of remember) GIVING LIKE GOD! He Himself said "It is more blessed to give than to receive" - This specific saying is not recorded in the Gospels. Note that Jesus is not saying that the recipients of another's generosity are less blessed! Indeed they are! Note also that Paul is not advocating that we be great givers in order to curry favor with our Father or even worse to try to barter our way into heaven. The Father is satisfied (propitiated) only with the greatest gift of His Son's sacrificial death. As Steven Cole emphasizes... Before you can give anything that pleases God, you must first receive God’s free gift of eternal life (Ro 5:15+, Ro 5:16+, Ro 6:23+, Ro 3:24+). You must come to God as a poor sinner, unable to pay the debt that you owe, and receive the forgiveness that He has provided freely for you, but at great cost to Himself. Jesus’ death is the only satisfaction for our sins before the holy God. He offers this unspeakable gift to everyone who will receive it (Jn 1:11, 12, 13). Receiving God’s salvation in Christ is the starting point for becoming a giver, because it is the starting point of being conformed in your character to the Lord Jesus. Thus if we are becoming givers, although we can never match what Jesus did or even think of paying Him back, we are being more conformed to His image (Ro 8:29+), and we will be blessed (Ed: E.g., see Lk 14:13-14, Jas 1:25+).... (Cole continues with a story of the) late billionaire J. Paul Getty had payphones installed in his mansion for his house guests to use, because he didn’t want to pay for their long distance calls! Needless to say, those guests were not there because of the warm feelings that they had for J. Paul Getty! Stingy, greedy people cut themselves off from close relationships with others. Think of how greed has often divided family members from one another because they think that they are not getting their fair share of the inheritance of a departed “loved one,” who was not very loved! Greed destroys close relationships, but givers know the joy of deep and enduring relationships with others. Givers are invariably people of faith, because you have to trust in God to give away money that you easily could spend on yourself. People of faith are people of prayer, because it is through prayer that we receive from God’s bountiful supply. So it was fitting that Paul knelt down with these men and prayed with them before he got on board the ship. He probably prayed that God would keep them from false teachers, that each man would be a godly example to the flock, and that through them the church would be built up and expand all over Asia. And he probably prayed that God would meet their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19+). These men grieved at the thought of never seeing Paul again, because they knew that this generous man loved them, and they loved him. So givers are blessed because they are freed from the destructive sin of greed; they are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ; and, they have deep and enduring relationships with others. But there is a fourth reason that givers are blessed. It is not explicit in our text, although it is implicit here and explicit elsewhere - Givers are blessed because they will reap eternal rewards....those who have received God’s gift of eternal life will reap rewards in heaven in proportion to their stewardship of money in this life. Unlike our investments in this uncertain world, that can be lost in a market crash, our investments in heaven are secure from every source of loss (See 1Ti 6:17-19)...How can you put a price on an investment that yields eternal dividends? If you give to further the Lord’s work, you will someday be welcomed into eternal dwellings by many friends who are there because you gave (Luke 16:1-9). The essence of Paul's quote from Jesus is implied by Christ in a general sense in the following passages... Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Mt 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give. NET Bible note comment: The saying (more blessed to give...) is similar to Mt 10:8. Service and generosity should be abundant. Interestingly, these exact words are not found in the gospels. Paul must have known of this saying from some other source.

Atos 20

Barnes comments - The usual attitude of prayer. It is the proper posture of a suppliant. It indicates reverence and humility; and is represented in the Scriptures as the usual attitude of devotion, 2 Ch. 6:13; Da. 6:10; Lk 22:41; Acts 7:60; 9:40; 21:5; Ro 11:4; Phi. 2:10; Ep. 3:14; Mk. 1:40. Prayed (4336)(proseuchomai from pros = toward, facing, before [emphasizing the direct approach of the one who prays in seeking God’s face] + euchomai = originally to speak out, utter aloud, express a wish, then to pray or to vow. Greek technical term for invoking a deity) in the NT is always used of prayer addressed to God (to Him as the object of faith and the One who will answer one’s prayer) and means to speak consciously (with or without vocalization) to Him, with a definite aim (See study of noun proseuche). Proseuchomai in Acts - clearly prayer was a vital dynamic in the early church as emphasized by frequent use by Luke. Acts 1:24; Acts 6:6; Acts 8:15; Acts 9:11; Acts 9:40; Acts 10:9; Acts 10:30; Acts 11:5; Acts 12:12; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23; Acts 16:25; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5; Acts 22:17; Acts 28:8; Acts 20:37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,: hikanos de klauthmos egeneto (3SAMI) panton, kai epipesontes (AAPMPN) epi ton trachelon tou Paulou katephiloun (3PIAI) auton,: NET Acts 20:37 They all began to weep loudly, and hugged Paul and kissed him, GNT Acts 20:37 ἱκανὸς δὲ κλαυθμὸς ἐγένετο πάντων καὶ ἐπιπεσόντες ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον τοῦ Παύλου κατεφίλουν αὐτόν, NLT Acts 20:37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. KJV Acts 20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, ESV Acts 20:37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, ASV Acts 20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, CSB Acts 20:37 There was a great deal of weeping by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, NIV Acts 20:37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. NKJ Acts 20:37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, NRS Acts 20:37 There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, YLT Acts 20:37 and there came a great weeping to all, and having fallen upon the neck of Paul, they were kissing him, Weep aloud: 1Sa 20:41 2Sa 15:30 2Ki 20:3 Ezra 10:1 Job 2:12 Ps 126:5 2Ti 1:4 Rev 7:17 21:4 embraced: Ge 45:14, 46:29 kissed: Ro 16:16 1Co 16:20 2Co 13:12, 1Th 5:26 Acts 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Young's Literal - and there came a great weeping to all, and having fallen upon the neck of Paul, they were kissing him Frank Allen - As in the case of Paul and the Ephesian elders, tears may sometimes dim our eyes, but Oh! how much better it is to have our eyes dimmed with tears than to have our hearts remain cold with neglect and sin! (The Acts of the Apostles) Embraced Paul - They "fell on his neck" and repeatedly kissed him, as Middle Eastern men do to this day when greeting one another. This scene indicates a deep and tender mutual brotherly love, similar to the scene in Ge 46:29 when Joseph met his aged father Jacob after years of separation. Brian Bell - It takes a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye! How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. - Carol Sobieski and Thomas Meehan, Annie Kissed (2705)(kataphileo from kata = intensifies the verb + phileo = to love, kiss, cp philos = loved, dear, friend) means to kiss fervently, eagerly . Liddell Scott says "to kiss tenderly, to caress, Xen." Paul uses the imperfect tense which vividly pictures the elders as over and over ("repeatedly") demonstrating their fond affection to their beloved teacher and friend. What a contrast with the wicked kiss of Judas to one he hailed as Rabbi (but not as friend)! Compare the similar use of a deceptively "affectionate" treacherous kiss in 2Sa 20:9,10! Vine comments "the stronger force of this verb (phileo) has been called in question, but the change from phileo to Kataphileo in Matt. 26:49 and Mark 14:45 can scarcely be without significance, and the act of the traitor was almost certainly more demonstrative than the simple kiss of salutation. So with the kiss of genuine devotion, Luke 7:38, 45; 15:20; Acts 20:37, in each of which this verb is used.

Atos 20:17-27

Barnes comments that what Paul is saying in essence is that "Duty is of more importance than life; and when either duty or life is to be sacrificed, life is to be cheerfully surrendered." John

Atos 20:28-38

Barnes comments... To provide for the wants of the sick and feeble members of the flock, who are unable to labour for themselves. The weak here denote the poor, the needy, the infirm. Must (present tense = speaks of a continual obligation) (1163)(dei from deo = to bind or tie objects together, put in prison and also root of doulos, bond-servant) refers to what is not optional but needful (binding) out of intrinsic necessity or inevitability. Dei describes that which is under the necessity of happening or which must necessarily take place. Help (482)(antilambano from antí = mutually or against + lambáno = to take, to hold) means to take hold of another as by the hand. Figuratively antilambano meant to support from falling as if taking them by the hand to help, support or assist them. To come to the aid of. Antilambano in 1Ti 6:2 has another meaning -- "to give or commit oneself wholeheartedly to something" or "to experience the benefit from someone" (Louw-Nida). "to commit oneself wholeheartedly to something, take part in, devote oneself to, practice" (BDAG). Friberg says antilambano in 1Ti 6:2 probably means "benefit from, receive benefit from something" or less likely "devote oneself to something" (Friberg) Marvin

Atos 20:28-38

Barnes adds that the idea is "To call to mind for encouragement, and with the force of a command." Remember (present tense = continually recall) (3421)(mnemoneuo (mnemoneuo from mimnesko = to recall to one's mind) means to exercise memory, call something to mind, recollect, to pay attention to something. Webster's 1828 definition of remember - To have in the mind an idea which had been in the mind before, and which recurs to the mind without effort (Ed comment: I think in the NT sense we often need to make a conscious effort, a volitional choice to remember. And we have the Spirit to aid our recall - cp Jn 14:26, 1Co 2:12, 13). When we use effort to recall an idea, we are said to recollect it. This distinction is not always observed. Hence remember is often used as synonymous with recollect, that is, to call to mind. We say, we cannot remember a fact, when we mean, we cannot recollect it. (Click for all 15 definitions of remember) GIVING LIKE GOD! He Himself said "It is more blessed to give than to receive" - This specific saying is not recorded in the Gospels. Note that Jesus is not saying that the recipients of another's generosity are less blessed! Indeed they are! Note also that Paul is not advocating that we be great givers in order to curry favor with our Father or even worse to try to barter our way into heaven. The Father is satisfied (propitiated) only with the greatest gift of His Son's sacrificial death. As Steven Cole emphasizes... Before you can give anything that pleases God, you must first receive God’s free gift of eternal life (Ro 5:15-note, Ro 5:16-note, Ro 6:23-note, Ro 3:24-note). You must come to God as a poor sinner, unable to pay the debt that you owe, and receive the forgiveness that He has provided freely for you, but at great cost to Himself. Jesus’ death is the only satisfaction for our sins before the holy God. He offers this unspeakable gift to everyone who will receive it (Jn 1:11, 12, 13). Receiving God’s salvation in Christ is the starting point for becoming a giver, because it is the starting point of being conformed in your character to the Lord Jesus. Thus if we are becoming givers, although we can never match what Jesus did or even think of paying Him back, we are being more conformed to His image (Ro 8:29-note), and we will be blessed (Ed: E.g., see Lk 14:13-14, Jas 1:25-note).... (Cole continues with a story of the) late billionaire J. Paul Getty had payphones installed in his mansion for his house guests to use, because he didn’t want to pay for their long distance calls! Needless to say, those guests were not there because of the warm feelings that they had for J. Paul Getty! Stingy, greedy people cut themselves off from close relationships with others. Think of how greed has often divided family members from one another because they think that they are not getting their fair share of the inheritance of a departed “loved one,” who was not very loved! Greed destroys close relationships, but givers know the joy of deep and enduring relationships with others. Givers are invariably people of faith, because you have to trust in God to give away money that you easily could spend on yourself. People of faith are people of prayer, because it is through prayer that we receive from God’s bountiful supply. So it was fitting that Paul knelt down with these men and prayed with them before he got on board the ship. He probably prayed that God would keep them from false teachers, that each man would be a godly example to the flock, and that through them the church would be built up and expand all over Asia. And he probably prayed that God would meet their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19-note). These men grieved at the thought of never seeing Paul again, because they knew that this generous man loved them, and they loved him. So givers are blessed because they are freed from the destructive sin of greed; they are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ; and, they have deep and enduring relationships with others. But there is a fourth reason that givers are blessed. It is not explicit in our text, although it is implicit here and explicit elsewhere - Givers are blessed because they will reap eternal rewards....those who have received God’s gift of eternal life will reap rewards in heaven in proportion to their stewardship of money in this life. Unlike our investments in this uncertain world, that can be lost in a market crash, our investments in heaven are secure from every source of loss (See 1Ti 6:17-19)...How can you put a price on an investment that yields eternal dividends? If you give to further the Lord’s work, you will someday be welcomed into eternal dwellings by many friends who are there because you gave (Luke 16:1-9). The essence of Paul's quote from Jesus is implied by Christ in a general sense in the following passages... Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Mt 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give. NET Bible note comment: The saying (more blessed to give...) is similar to Mt 10:8. Service and generosity should be abundant. Interestingly, these exact words are not found in the gospels. Paul must have known of this saying from some other source.

Atos 20:28-38

Barnes comments... The usual attitude of prayer. It is the proper posture of a suppliant. It indicates reverence and humility; and is represented in the Scriptures as the usual attitude of devotion, 2 Ch. 6:13; Da. 6:10; Lu. 22:41; Ac. 7:60; 9:40; 21:5; Ro. 11:4; Phi. 2:10; Ep. 3:14; Mk. 1:40. Acts 20:37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,: hikanos de klauthmos egeneto (3SAMI) panton, kai epipesontes (AAPMPN) epi ton trachelon tou Paulou katephiloun (3PIAI) auton,: Weep aloud: 1Sa 20:41 2Sa 15:30 2Ki 20:3 Ezr 10:1 Job 2:12 Ps 126:5 2Ti 1:4 Rev 7:17 21:4 embraced: Ge 45:14, 46:29 kissed: Ro 16:16 1Co 16:20 2Co 13:12, 1Th 5:26)20:31 Young's Literal - and there came a great weeping to all, and having fallen upon the neck of Paul, they were kissing him Frank Allen - As in the case of Paul and the Ephesian elders, tears may sometimes dim our eyes, but Oh! how much better it is to have our eyes dimmed with tears than to have our hearts remain cold with neglect and sin! (The Acts of the Apostles) Embraced Paul - They "fell on his neck" and repeatedly kissed him, as Middle Eastern men do to this day when greeting one another. This scene indicates a deep and tender mutual brotherly love, similar to the scene in Ge 46:29 when Joseph met his aged father Jacob after years of separation. Brian Bell - It takes a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye! How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. - Carol Sobieski and Thomas Meehan, Annie (Sermon Notes) Kissed (2705)(kataphileo from kata = intensifies the verb + phileo = to love, kiss, cp philos = loved, dear, friend) means to kiss fervently, eagerly . Liddell Scott says "to kiss tenderly, to caress, Xen." Paul uses the imperfect tense which vividly pictures the elders as over and over ("repeatedly") demonstrating their fond affection to their beloved teacher and friend. What a contrast with the wicked kiss of Judas to one he hailed as Rabbi (but not as friend)! Compare the similar use of a deceptively "affectionate" treacherous kiss in 2Sa 20:9,10! Vine comments... the stronger force of this verb (phileo) has been called in question, but the change from phileo to Kataphileo in Matt. 26:49 and Mark 14:45 can scarcely be without significance, and the act of the traitor was almost certainly more demonstrative than the simple kiss of salutation. So with the kiss of genuine devotion, Luke 7:38, 45; 15:20; Acts 20:37, in each of which this verb is used.