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George Haydock's Catholic Commentary

Acts 20:35

It is more blessed to give than to receive. We find not these words of Christ in the gospels. St. Paul might have them from the apostles. (Witham) --- Among the many excellent examples of good things our dear Lord said, and which are not mentioned in the gospel, this is one: "it is a more blessed thing to give, than to receive;" which did men justly weigh, they would be more ready to give alms, were it only for their own account. Thrice happy then are they who assist their indigent neighbour to the utmost of their power, and for the pure love of God! (Haydock)

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See also Acts 20:35 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 35. _I HAVE SHOWED YOU ALL THINGS_] The preposition κατα is to be understood before παντα; and the clause should be read thus-_I have showed you IN all things_, c. _IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I HAVE SHOWED YOU - I have taught you by instruction and example. I have not merely discoursed about it, but have showed you how to do it. ALL THINGS - Or, in respect to all things. In everything tha...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 20 __ 1. Paul in Macedonia (Acts 20:1). 2. His abode in Greece, the visit to Troas and what transpired there (Acts 20:3). 3. The journey from Troas to Miletus (Acts 20:13). 4. The farewell...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL'S SPEECH TO THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS AT MILETUS. See Ramsay, art. Miletus in HDB, as to the difficulties of the journey at that period from Miletus to Ephesus; one had to sail to Priene and make fro...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CONCLUSION. Acts 20:32. Read _mg.___ Acts 20:33. _Cf._ 2 Corinthians 12:14 f., 1 Corinthians 4:12

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. When they were with him he said to them, "You yourselves know how, from the first day I came into Asia, I spent all the time,...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    SETTING OUT FOR JERUSALEM (Acts 20:1-6)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    HAVE SHEWED. shewed. Greek. _hupodeiknumi._ See note on Acts 9:16. LABOURING. toiling. Greek. _kopiao._ Compare Matthew 6:28, first occurance. SUPPORT. Greek. _antilambanomai._ Only here, Luke 1:54;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I have shewed you all things_ Better (as _Rev. Ver._) "_In all things I gave you an example_." The verb is cognate with that noun which Jesus uses (John 13:15), "I have given you an example that ye s...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PAUL SENDS FOR THE ELDERS FROM EPHESUS, GIVES THEM HIS PARTING CHARGE, AND LEAVES MILETUS...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΆΝΤΑ ὙΠΈΔΕΙΞΑ ὙΜΙ͂Ν, _in all things I gave you an example_. Cf. John 13:15, ὑπόδειγμα γὰρ ἔδωκα ὑμῖν. ὍΤΙ ΟὝΤΩΣ ΚΟΠΙΩ͂ΝΤΑΣ, _how that thus labouring_, i.e. as I myself laboured and you beheld and kne...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _PAUL VISITED WITH THE ELDERS FROM EPHESUS ACTS 20:17-38:_ Paul called for the Elders from the church at Ephesus to meet with him at Miletus. He reminded them that he had never tried to obtain the app...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΥΠΈΔΕΙΞΑ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΎΠΟΔΕΊΚΝΥΜΙ (G5263) представлять, давать наглядный урок, показывать (RWP). ΚΟΠΙΏΝΤΑΣ _praes. act. part. от_ ΚΟΠΙΆΩ (G2872) работать, трудиться. Гл. подчеркивает тяжесть р...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1803 THE BLESSEDNESS OF LIBERALITY Acts 20:35. _Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive_. SCARCELY any thing can be conceived more cal...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TO SUPPORT THE WEAK, &C.— _To assist the infirm,_ The word ασθενουντων has exactly this signification; and, as Raphelius has shewn, may express either _sickness_ or _poverty;_ yet here undoubtedly it...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    IN MILETUS. Acts 20:16-38. a. Past Ephesus to Miletus. Acts 20:16-17. Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 28...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _ _ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. I have sho...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    21 Repentance had its place in Paul's preaching while he was proclaiming the kingdom. It was associated with pardon. Henceforth he no longer preaches these, but justification and conciliation by faith...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    20:35 shewed (d-3) Specially, 'to show by example.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY (CONTINUED) 1-6. Paul in Macedonia and Greece. St. Paul waited at Ephesus until the return of Timothy and Erastus, and left Ephesus shortly after Pentecost, 55 a.d. (1 Corinth...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    YE OUGHT TO SUPPORT THE WEAK] 'The weak' are here, probably, the poor and the sick. The presbyters are exhorted to work with their hands (like St. Paul), that with their earnings they may support the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST PAUL'S SPEECH TO THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS. He reminds them of his ministry among them (Acts 20:18). And now that the Spirit draws him to Jerusalem, to face the unknown future, he entrusts the Ephesian...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 20 PAUL TRAVELS THROUGH MACEDONIA AND GREECE, 20:1-6 V1 After the *riot, Paul sent for the *believers and he encouraged them. Then he said good...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    I HAVE SHEWED YOU ALL THINGS. — The words point to his motive in acting as he did. He sought to teach by example, to _indicate in all things_ how others ought to act. TO SUPPORT THE WEAK. — The Greek...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    πάντα ὑπέδ.: “in all things I gave you an example,” R.V., see also critical note. The verb and the cognate noun are both used in Greek in accordance with this sense, Xen., _Oec_ [345], xii., 18, Isocr...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    COMMENDED TO GOD Acts 20:28 Notice the change of the Revised Version in Acts 20:28. The elder, whether presbyter or bishop, is not put _over_ the flock; he is _in_ it like the rest, needing redemptio...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Restful and mastered by Christ, Paul was yet restless and resistless in devotion to the enterprise of his Lord. These facts are evident throughout this chapter. We follow him in rapid movements, alway...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Paul's Charge to the Ephesian Elders Because he did not anticipate seeing them again, the apostle charged those elders, who had been selected on the basis of the qualifications listed by the Holy Spir...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought (m) to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (m) As it w...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    Here Paul protests to the Ephesian elders his felicitous salvation from paltry pelf, asseverating that he had toiled with his hands making tents, not only for his own temporal support, but that of his...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (18) And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _RECEIVING AND GIVING_ ‘Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35 In these words, not recorded in the Gospels, but rescued by St. Pa...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But let us return to the history of Paul. After the uproar has ceased he sends for the disciples, embraces them, and departs for Macedonia; he visits that whole country, and comes into Greece. The beg...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I HAVE SHOWED YOU ALL THINGS,.... Both as to doctrine and practice, and had set them an example how to behave in every point, and particularly in this: HOW THAT SO LABOURING YE OUGHT TO SUPPORT THE W...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Ver. 35. _It is...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    SUPPORT THE WEAK; supply the wants of the feeble and destitute. THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS; a saying of our Lord not recorded in the gospels, though the truth which it contains was taught abundantly...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Paul's words of farewell:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I HAVE SHOWED YOU ALL THINGS, HOW THAT SO LABORING YE OUGHT TO SUPPORT THE WEAK, AND TO REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS HOW HE SAID, IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. Paul had held up b...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Finally Paul follows Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, leaving a field of labor that had been most fruitful. How long he spent in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea we are not told, but he gave them muc...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    I HAVE SHOWN YOU IN EVERY WAY, BY LABORING LIKE THIS, THAT YOU MUST SUPPORT THE WEAK. AND REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS, THAT HE SAID, ‘IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. '" 1. Paul p...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "In all things. gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive"In all th...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 char...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I HAVE SHOWED YOU ALL THINGS; as in ACTS 20:27. SO LABOURING; with more than ordinary pains and constancy. TO SUPPORT; that they do not fall; or, being fallen, that they may rise again. The word impor...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    1 Clement and were more willing to give than to receive.[6] Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book IV Since even the Lord said: "The giver was happier than the receiver."[2] Constitutions of the...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 20:35 shown G5263 (G5656) you G5213 way G3956 by G3779 laboring G2872 (G5723) this G3754 must...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL'S ADDRESS TO THE ELDERS OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH (20:17-38)....

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “In all things I gave you an example, that so labouring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, which he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'.” A...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 20:35. I HAVE SHOWED YOU ALL THINGS, HOW, etc. ‘All things' here signifies ‘in all ways,' by teaching and by life. Not only have I told you in words what is the duty of a Christ-loving man, but I...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _St. Paul's Farewell Address to the Elders of the Church at Ephesus,_ 18-38. In this short epitome of the discourse of the apostle on the occasion of his bidding farewell to his old Ephesian friends a...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    I GAVE YOU AN EXAMPLE (υπεδειξα). First aorist active indicative of υποδεικνυμ, old verb to show under one's eyes, to give object lesson, by deed as well as by word (Luke 6:47). Hυποδειγμα means exa...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    IT IS MORE See (Luke 14:12)....

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 20:35 I. These words are often interpreted in a very narrow spirit. They are supposed generally to be merely a reference to the giving of alms; so it is said that as an apostle Paul ministered un...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul goes to Macedonia and Greece. His visits at Troas, Miletus. Paul's conference with the Ephesian elders. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy Spirit, Paul, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tim...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 20:4. _There accompanied him Sopater of Berea,_ the son of Pyrrhus, according to the Vulgate. He is called by Paul, Sosipater. Romans 16:21. _Aristarchus,_ who accompanied him to Rome, and _Secun...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AND NOW I PLACE YOU IN THE CARE OF GOD. He places a solemn obligation upon them. Compare James 1:21; Hebrews 4:12. FOR ALL HIS PEOPLE. See 1 Corinthians 1:2;...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I have coveted no man’s silver._ HONEST LABOUR “Two men,” says Carlyle,” I honour, and no third. First, the toil-worn craftsman, that with earth-made implement laboriously conquers the Earth and mak...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive._ THE BLESSEDNESS OF DOING GOOD I. That these words represent the character of our Lord. He was devoted...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 20:17 Paul’s Miletus address is the only example in Acts 1:1 of a major speech to Christians. Of all Paul’s speeches in Ac

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 20:35 THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS. This saying from Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels. Jesus did many things that are not recorded in Scripture (see John 21:25

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 20:17. MILETUS.—Thirty-six miles south of Ephesus, and on the south-west of the Latmian Gulf. “Now a desolation: then an emporium of trade with four ports or docks crowded wit...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 20:1 _Having sent for_ …_ and exhorted _for _called unto him, _A.V. and T.R.; _took leave of them, and departed _for _and embraced them, and departed, _A.V. DEPARTED FOR TO GO INTO MA...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Last week we left Paul in Ephesus, in the midst of a near riot in town, as Demetrius the silversmith got together his companions in trade and pointed out how the preaching of Paul was about to put the...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Corinthians 11:12;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    I have shewed you all things [π α ν τ α υ π ε δ ε ι ξ α υ μ ι ν]. The verb means to shew by example. Thus Luke 6:47, "I will shew you to whom he is like," is followed by the illustration of the man wh...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I have showed you — Bishops, by my example, all things — And this among the rest; that thus labouring — So far as the labours of your office allow you time; ye ought to help the weak — Those who are d...

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