Acts 20:20

Acts 20:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
• New International Version (NIV)You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
• English Standard Version (ESV)how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
• New King James Version (NKJV)how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

Context of Acts 20:20

18When they arrived, Paul said to them, ‘You yourselves know about everything that I did here in Asia. You saw how I lived from the first day that I arrived in this region. I was with you for the whole time. 19I did not say that I was an important man. Instead, I worked as a servant of the Lord Jesus. I often was sad because of trouble that came to me. Some Jewish people spoke against my message. They wanted to hurt me. But I have not been afraid to teach God's message. I have taught you everything that would help you. I have done this outside for everyone to hear. I have also taught you in your own homes. 21I have taught the same things both to Jewish people and to Gentiles. I have said clearly to them all, “You must stop doing wrong things. Change the way that you live and turn to God. Believe in our Lord Jesus.” 22Now I am going to Jerusalem. God's Holy Spirit has shown me that I must go there. I do not know what will happen to me there.

Acts 20:20 word by word

ὡς οὐδὲν ὑπεστειλάμην τῶν συμφερόντων τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι ὑμῖν καὶ διδάξαι ὑμᾶς δημοσίᾳ καὶ κατ᾽ οἴκους,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• howὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• I kept backὑποστέλλωhupostellō · to withdrawG5288
• nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• that was profitableὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that was profitableσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
• butμήmē · notG3361
• have shewedἀναγγέλλωanaggellō · to reportG312
• youσύsu · youG4771
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• have taughtδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
• publicklyδημόσιοςdēmosios · publicG1219
• fromκατάkata · according toG2596
• house to houseοἶκοςoikos · house: homeG3624

Cross-references for Acts 20:20

• Acts 20:27I have told you everything that God wants you to know.
• Acts 5:2Ananias gave part of the money that he received to the apostles. But he kept part of the money for himself. Sapphira knew all about what Ananias had done.
• Deuteronomy 4:5Look! I have taught you rules and laws, as the Lord my God told me to do. Now you must obey them when you go into the land where you will live.
• Psalms 40:9In the great meeting of your people, I have told them about your justice. I cannot keep quiet! You know that this is true, Lord.
• Ezekiel 33:7Son of man, I have chosen you to be a guard for Israel's people. You must listen to the messages that I give you. Then you must use what I say to warn the Israelites.
• 1 Corinthians 15:3I received the good news from Christ, and I told that message to you. I told you the most important things: Christ died as a sacrifice for our sins. The Bible already said how that would happen.
• Colossians 1:28That is why we tell everyone the message about Christ. God helps us to be very wise as we warn people and we teach them. We want every person who belongs to Christ to become complete, as God sees them.
• 1 Corinthians 12:7God helps each of us with a gift from his Spirit. He does that so that we can help others.
• 1 Corinthians 14:6My Christian friends, if I come to visit you, then I want to help you. But if I speak to you in languages that you do not understand, that will not help you at all. I would need to explain to you what God has shown to me. I would need to help you to understand something. I would need to speak a clear message from God, or teach you something. Only that would help you.
• Philippians 3:1My Christian friends, there are a few more things that I want to say. You belong to the Lord, so be happy! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again. And it will help to keep you safe.
• 2 Timothy 3:16Everything that is written in the Bible comes from God's Spirit. It helps us in many ways. The Bible teaches us what is true. It warns us when we are doing wrong things. It shows us what is right. It teaches us how to live good lives.
• Acts 20:31So be very careful! For three years I taught you, in the day and in the night. I warned you to be careful, so that I even cried about it.
• Acts 2:46The whole group of believers met together every day in the yard of the temple. They shared their food and they ate meals together in each other's homes. They were very happy and they were honest with each other.
• Acts 5:42Every day the apostles continued to teach people about Jesus. They spoke in people's homes and in the yard of the temple. All the time, they told people the good news that Jesus is God's Messiah.
• Mark 4:34He always used stories to teach the people. Then he explained everything to his own disciples when he was alone with them.
• 2 Timothy 4:2Tell God's message to people. Always be ready to speak God's message clearly to people, whether they want to listen to you or not. Warn people when they are doing something wrong. Tell them to stop doing wrong things, and explain to them what they ought to do. But be very patient while you teach them what is true.

Commentaries on Acts 20:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20I kept back nothing - Notwithstanding the dangers to which he was exposed, and the temptations he must have had to suppress those truths that were less acceptable to the unrenewed nature of man, or to the particular prejudices of the Jews and the Gentiles, he fully and faithfully, at all hazards, declared what he terms, Acts 20:27, the whole counsel of God. "Behold here," says the judicious and pious Calmet, "the model of a good shepherd - full of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20I kept back nothing … - No doctrine, no admonition, no labor. Whatever he judged would promote their salvation, he faithfully and fearlessly delivered. A minister of the gospel must be the judge of what will be profitable to the people of his charge. His aim should be to promote their real welfare to preach what will be profitable. His object will not be to please their fancy, to gratify their taste, to flatter their pride, or to promote his own…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-27Verses 17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-38Paul’s message to the elders (leaders) of the church in Ephesus describes his life and work among them. He also calls these leaders to show the same kind of commitment as they continue the ministry. In this message, Paul points to his own life as an example. He shows his honesty and care for people (20:18–21, 26, 31). He also speaks about what will happen in the future (20:22–23, 25, 29–30). He warns them about false teachers (people who teach wrong ideas…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. kept back--timidly withheld from fear of consequences. nothing that was profitable--edification directing all. have taught you publicly, and from house to house--Did an apostle, whose functions were of so wide a range, not feel satisfied without private as well as public ministrations? How then must pastors feel? [Bengel].Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 20:20

• Ephesus
• Miletus
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• Bind
• Bishop
• Counsel
• Count
• Course
• Determine
• Draw
• Elder
• Embrace

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