Acts 20:33

Raiment Mentioned along with gold and silver because it formed a large part of the wealth of orientals. They traded in costly garments, or kept them stored up for future use. See on purple, Luke 16:19; and compare Ezra 2:69; Nehemiah 7:70; Job 27:16. This fact accounts for the allusions to the destructive power of the moth (Matthew 6:19; James 5:2).

Acts 20:33-35 . I have coveted no man’s silver, &c. — Here the apostle begins another branch of his farewell discourse, in terms like those of old Samuel, taking his leave of the children of Israel, 1 Samuel 12:8 . As if he had said, I have a testimony in my own conscience and in yours, that I have not directed my ministry to any mercenary views of pleasing any, how distinguished soever their circumstances might be, nor sought by any methods to enrich myself among you. Yea, ye yourselves know, that — Far from having any secular or worldly designs in preaching the gospel; these hands — Callous as you see with labour; have ministered to my necessities — Have procured me food and raiment, and even have assisted in supporting them that were with me — Who is he that envies such a bishop or archbishop as this? I have showed you — Elders or bishops, by my example; all things — And this among the rest; that so labouring — So far as the labours of your office allow you time; ye ought to support the weak — Or to assist in supporting them, namely, those who are disabled by sickness, or any bodily infirmity, from maintaining themselves by their own labour. And to remember — Effectually, so as to follow them; the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said — When he conversed with his disciples; It is more blessed to give than to receive — To imitate God, and have him, as it were, indebted to us.

32-35. I commend you to God—the almighty Conservator of His people. and to the word of his grace—that message of His pure grace (Ac 20:24) by the faith of which He keeps us (1Pe 1:5). which—that is, God. is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance, &c.—Observe how salvation—not only in its initial stages of pardon and regeneration, but in all its subsequent stages of "up-building," even to its consummation in the final inheritance—is here ascribed to the "ability" of God to bestow it, as in Ro 16:25; Eph 3:20; particularly Jude 24; and compare 2Ti 1:12, where the same thing is ascribed to Christ. among all them which are sanctified—Sanctification is here viewed as the final character and condition of the heirs of glory, regarded as one saved company.

Verse 33. - Coveted for have coveted , A V. Apparel . One of the items of an Oriental's treasure for the purpose of gifts ( 2 Kings 5:5, 22, 23, 26 ; Genesis 45:22 ; Matthew 6:19, 2 (1). St. Paul contrasts his own example in not seeking such gifts with the conduct of the false apostles who draw away disciples after them for gain ( 1 Timothy 6:5-10 ; Romans 16:17, 18 ; comp. 1 Corinthians 9 .). Acts 20:33

33 . I have coveted ] Rev. Ver. “ I coveted. ” But this seems unnecessary. The Apostle implies that the state of mind was his when he was with them and continues still. apparel ] In which Oriental wealth largely consisted. Hence Naaman brings “changes of raiment” as well as money among the rewards which he expects to give for his cure ( 2 Kings 5:5 ), and the same may be noticed in many other parts of the Scripture history. Cp. Genesis 24:53 ; Genesis 45:22 ; 2 Kings 7:3 , &c.

Acts 20:33-35 . Paul concludes his address, so rich in its simplicity and deeply impressive, by urging on the presbyters the complete disinterestedness and self-denial, with which he had laboured at Ephesus, as a τύπος ( 2 Thessalonians 3:9 ) for similar conduct. Comp. 1 Corinthians 9:4 ff.; 2 Corinthians 11:7 ff; 2 Corinthians 12:14 ff.; 2 Thessalonians 3:8 ff. Reason for this: not the obviating of a Judaistic reproach (Olshausen), not a guarding of the independence of the church in the world (Baumgarten); but the necessity of the ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν ἀσθενούντων , Acts 20:35 . ἀργ . ἢ χρυσ . ἢ ἱματ .] specification of what are usually esteemed the most valuable temporal possessions. Comp. Jam 5:2-3 . αὐτοί ] without my needing to say it to you. καὶ τοῖς οὖσι μετʼ ἐμοῦ ] Thus also for his companions, to their necessities, he applied the gain of his manual labour. αὗται ] he shows them, and certainly they were not soft and tender. πάντα [115] ὙΠΈΔΕΙΞΑ ὙΜῖΝ, ὍΤΙ ] either in all points ( 1 Corinthians 10:33 ; see on Ephesians 4:15 ; Lobeck, ad Aj . 1402; Kühner, § 557 A. 4) I have shown to you (by my example) that; or, all things I have showed to you (by my example) in reference to this, that , etc. ( ὅτι = εἰς ἐκεῖνο , ὅτι , as in John 2:18 ; John 9:17 ; 2 Corinthians 1:18 ; Mark 16:14 , et al. ). The former is simpler. οὕτω ] so labouring , as I have done, so toiling hard (comp. 1 Corinthians 4:12 ).

Not: my fellow-labourers in the gospel (Klostermann), which, at variance with the context, withdraws from οὕτως its significance. It is the example-giving οὕτως . Comp. 1 Corinthians 9:24 ; 1 Corinthians 9:26 ; Php 3:17 . ΤῶΝ ἈΣΘΕΝΟΎΝΤΩΝ ] is, with Erasmus, Calvin, Beza, Grotius, Calovius, Er. Schmid, Bengel, and others, including Neander, Tholuck, Schneckenburger, Baumgarten, to be explained of those not yet confirmed in Christian principles and dispositions . Comp. Romans 14:1 ; Romans 15:1 ; 1 Corinthians 9:22 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ; 2 Corinthians 11:21 . These might easily consider the work of one teaching for pay as a mere matter of gain, and thus be prejudiced not only against the teacher, but also against the doctrine, 1 Corinthians 9:12 . But if, on the other hand, the teacher gained his livelihood by labour, by such self-devotion he obviated the fall of the unsettled, and was helpful to the strengthening of their faith and courage (comp. 2 Corinthians 12:14 ). This is that ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν ἀσθενούντων , in which Paul wished to serve as a model to other teachers and ecclesiastical rulers. Others (Chrysostom, Oecumenius, Theopbylact, et al. , including Wetstein, Heinrichs, Kuinoel, Olshausen, de Wette, Hackett) render it: that they should help the poor and needy by support (comp.