Acts 20:28

Acts 20:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
• New International Version (NIV)Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Acts 20:28

26For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. 27For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan of God. Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood. 29I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse and distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as their followers].

Acts 20:28 word by word

προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ, ἐν ᾧ ὑμᾶς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἔθετο ἐπισκόπους, ποιμαίνειν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, ἣν περιεποιήσατο διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἰδίου.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Take heedπροσέχωprosechō · to watch outG4337
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• unto yourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• to allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• the flockποίμνιονpoimnion · flockG4168
• overἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• hath madeτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• youσύsu · youG4771
• overseersἐπίσκοποςepiskopos · overseerG1985
• to feedποιμαίνωpoimainō · to shepherdG4165
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• he hath purchasedπεριποιέωperipoieomai · to gainG4046
• withδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129

Cross-references for Acts 20:28

• 2 Chronicles 19:6and he said to the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord who is with you in the matter of judgment.
• Mark 13:9“But be on your guard; they will turn you over to courts, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand [as accused] before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
• Luke 21:34“But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap;
• 1 Corinthians 9:26Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing].
• Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, “See to it that you fulfill [carefully the duties of] the ministry which you have received in the Lord.”
• 1 Timothy 4:16Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
• Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
• Acts 20:29I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
• Isaiah 40:11He will protect His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom; He will gently and carefully lead those nursing their young.
• Isaiah 63:11Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses [and they said], Where is He who brought our fathers up out of the [Red] Sea, with the shepherds of His flock [Moses and Aaron]? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in their midst,
• Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not listen and obey, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And flow with tears, Because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.
• Jeremiah 31:10Hear the word of the Lord, O you nations, And declare it in the isles and coastlands far away, And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him And will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”
• Ezekiel 34:31“As for you, My flock, the flock of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.
• Micah 7:14Shepherd and rule Your people with Your scepter [of blessing], The flock of Your inheritance and Your possession Which dwells alone [separate and secure from attack] in the forest, In the midst of a garden land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old [the days of Moses and Elijah].
• Luke 12:32Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
• 1 Peter 5:2shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm;

Commentaries on Acts 20:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Made you overseers - , Appointed you bishops; for so we translate the original word in most places where it occurs: but overseers, or inspectors, is much more proper, from , over, and , I look. The persons who examine into the spiritual state of the flock of God, and take care to lead them in and out, and to find them pasture, are termed episcopoi, or superintendents. The office of a bishop is from God; a true pastor only can fulfill this office: it is an…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Take heed, therefore - Attend to; be on your guard against the dangers which beset you, and seek to discharge your duty with fidelity. Unto yourselves - To your own piety, opinions, and mode of life. This is the first duty of a minister; for without this all his preaching will be vain. Compare Colossians 4:17; 1 Timothy 4:14. Ministers are beset with unique dangers and temptations, and against them they should be on their guard. In addition to the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-38Verses 28-38 If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28Paul describes the church as God’s people and God’s flock (a group cared for by a shepherd; compare 1 Peter 2:25; 5:2, 4). In other places, the church is described as: "the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:23; 4:12; Colossians 1:24); the "bride" of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7; see Ephesians 5:25–32; "God's temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16). "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. Take heed ... unto yourselves--Compare 1Ti 3:2-7; 4:16; 6:11. and to all the flock--Compare He 13:17. Observe here how the personal is put before the pastoral care. over ... which the Holy Ghost hath made you--Compare Joh 20:22, 23; Ep 4:8, 11, 12; Re 3:1. (Ac 14:23 shows that the apostle did not mean to exclude human ordination). overseers--or, as the same word is everywhere else rendered in our version, "bishops." The English Version has hardly…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 20:28

• Atonement
• Bishop
• Blood
• Church
• Elder
• Ephesus
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Miletus
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Redemption
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Holy Ghost
• Appoint
• Bind
• Bishop
• Counsel
• Count
• Course
• Determine

Commentaries on Acts 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings