New International Version
Acts 20:28
28Keep 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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 declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 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. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away 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 19:6He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.
- Mark 13:9“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
- Luke 21:34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.
- 1 Corinthians 9:26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
- Colossians 4:17Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
- 1 Timothy 4:16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
- Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
- Acts 20:29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- Isaiah 40:11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
- Isaiah 63:11Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,
- Jeremiah 13:17If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
- Jeremiah 31:10“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
- Ezekiel 34:31You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
- Micah 7:14Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago.
- Luke 12:32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
- 1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
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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