English Standard Version
Acts 20:28
28Pay 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.
Context of Acts 20:28
26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 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. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Read all of Acts 20Acts 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 said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment.
- Mark 13:9"But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.
- Luke 21:34"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
- 1 Corinthians 9:26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
- Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord."
- 1 Timothy 4:16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
- Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
- Acts 20:29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
- Isaiah 40:11He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
- Isaiah 63:11Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit,
- Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock has been taken captive.
- Jeremiah 31:10"Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.'
- Ezekiel 34:31And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God."
- Micah 7:14Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.
- Luke 12:32"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- 1 Peter 5:2shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries