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Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

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Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/acts/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />&#8220;So guard yourselves and God&#8217;s people. Feed and shepherd God&#8217;s flock&#8212;his church, purchased with his own blood&#8212;over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/acts/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/acts/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has set you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with the own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/acts/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/acts/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/acts/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Be on guard for yourselves and for 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/acts/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Be on guard for yourselves and for 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/acts/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />&#8220;Be on guard for yourselves and for 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/acts/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Be on guard for yourselves and for 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/acts/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Take care <i>and</i> 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/acts/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/acts/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/acts/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/acts/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Look after yourselves and everyone the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be like shepherds to God's church. It is the flock he bought with the blood of his own Son. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/acts/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/acts/20.htm">GOD'S WORD&reg; Translation</a></span><br />Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God's church which he acquired with his own blood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/acts/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he made his own through the blood of his Son. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/acts/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God's church, which he acquired with his own blood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/acts/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Therefore keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of the Lord and of God, which He purchased with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/acts/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/acts/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Watch out for yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/acts/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you to take the oversight for Him and act as shepherds to the Church of God, which He has bought with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/acts/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/acts/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the Assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has set you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with the own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/acts/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/acts/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Attend therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit set you inspectors, to feed the church of God, which he acquired by his own blood.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/acts/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/acts/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Take care of yourselves and of the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has stationed you as Bishops to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased by his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/acts/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/acts/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/acts/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/20.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />&#8220;Pay attention to yourselves therefore, and to the whole flock in which The Spirit of Holiness has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which he has purchased with his blood.&#8221; <div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/acts/20.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Therefore, take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, that you be shepherds to the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/acts/20.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />Take heed to yourselves, and all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has placed you shepherds, to shepherdise the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/acts/20.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed as shepherds the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/acts/20.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />be therefore upon your guard to secure your selves, and the whole flock over which the holy spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you to take the oversight for Him and act as shepherds to the Church of God, which He has bought with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/acts/20.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit appointed you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which He purchased with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/acts/20.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the holy Spirit hath appointed you bishops, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with his own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/acts/20-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=6836" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/acts/20.htm">Paul's Farewell to the Ephesians</a></span><br>&#8230;<span class="reftext">27</span>For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God. <span class="reftext">28</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/4337.htm" title="4337: Prosechete (V-PMA-2P) -- From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.">Keep watch over</a> <a href="/greek/1438.htm" title="1438: heautois (RefPro-DM3P) -- Himself, herself, itself. ">yourselves</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: t&#333; (Art-DNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: panti (Adj-DNS) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">entire</a> <a href="/greek/4168.htm" title="4168: poimni&#333; (N-DNS) -- A little flock. Neuter of a presumed derivative of poimne; a flock, i.e. group.">flock</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">of</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: h&#333; (RelPro-DNS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">which</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/40.htm" title="40: Hagion (Adj-NNS) -- Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.">Holy</a> <a href="/greek/4151.htm" title="4151: Pneuma (N-NNS) -- Wind, breath, spirit. ">Spirit</a> <a href="/greek/5087.htm" title="5087: etheto (V-AIM-3S) -- To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.">has made</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymas (PPro-A2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you</a> <a href="/greek/1985.htm" title="1985: episkopous (N-AMP) -- From epi and skopos; a superintendent, i.e. Christian officer in genitive case charge of a church.">overseers.</a> <a href="/greek/4165.htm" title="4165: poimainein (V-PNA) -- To shepherd, tend, herd; hence: I rule, govern. From poimen; to tend as a shepherd of.">Be shepherds</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: t&#275;n (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/1577.htm" title="1577: ekkl&#275;sian (N-AFS) -- From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.">church</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">of God,</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: h&#275;n (RelPro-AFS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">which</a> <a href="/greek/4046.htm" title="4046: periepoi&#275;sato (V-AIM-3S) -- To acquire, earn, purchase, make my own, preserve alive. ">He purchased</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">with</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">His</a> <a href="/greek/2398.htm" title="2398: idiou (Adj-GNS) -- Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication, private or separate.">own</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/129.htm" title="129: haimatos (N-GNS) -- Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred.">blood.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">29</span>I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.&#8230;<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> &middot; <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-2.htm">1 Peter 5:2-3</a></span><br />Be shepherds of God&#8217;s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/10-11.htm">John 10:11</a></span><br />I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/13-17.htm">Hebrews 13:17</a></span><br />Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/3-1.htm">1 Timothy 3:1-7</a></span><br />This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. / An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, / not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/4-16.htm">1 Timothy 4:16</a></span><br />Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/1-7.htm">Titus 1:7-9</a></span><br />As God&#8217;s steward, an overseer must be above reproach&#8212;not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. / Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. / He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-11.htm">Ephesians 4:11-12</a></span><br />And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, / to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-20.htm">1 Corinthians 6:20</a></span><br />you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/12-28.htm">1 Corinthians 12:28</a></span><br />And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-25.htm">1 Peter 2:25</a></span><br />For &#8220;you were like sheep going astray,&#8221; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/34-2.htm">Ezekiel 34:2-10</a></span><br />&#8220;Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: &#8216;Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-15.htm">Jeremiah 3:15</a></span><br />Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/11-16.htm">Zechariah 11:16-17</a></span><br />For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves. / Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-11.htm">Isaiah 40:11</a></span><br />He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/23-1.htm">Psalm 23:1-4</a></span><br />A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. / He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.</p><p class="hdg">Take.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/19-6.htm">2 Chronicles 19:6,7</a></b></br> And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who <i>is</i> with you in the judgment&#8230; </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/13-9.htm">Mark 13:9</a></b></br> But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/21-34.htm">Luke 21:34</a></b></br> And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and <i>so</i> that day come upon you unawares.</p><p class="hdg">all.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/20-29.htm">Acts 20:29</a></b></br> For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/1-7.htm">Song of Solomon 1:7,8</a></b></br> Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest <i>thy flock</i> to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? &#8230; </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/40-11.htm">Isaiah 40:11</a></b></br> He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry <i>them</i> in his bosom, <i>and</i> shall gently lead those that are with young.</p><p class="hdg">over.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/13-2.htm">Acts 13:2</a></b></br> As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/14-23.htm">Acts 14:23</a></b></br> And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/12-8.htm">1 Corinthians 12:8-11,28-31</a></b></br> For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; &#8230; </p><p class="hdg">overseers.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/philippians/1-1.htm">Philippians 1:1</a></b></br> Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_timothy/3-2.htm">1 Timothy 3:2</a></b></br> A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_timothy/5-17.htm">1 Timothy 5:17</a></b></br> Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.</p><p class="hdg">Greek.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-70.htm">Psalm 78:70-72</a></b></br> He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: &#8230; </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/10-21.htm">Proverbs 10:21</a></b></br> The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/40-11.htm">Isaiah 40:11</a></b></br> He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry <i>them</i> in his bosom, <i>and</i> shall gently lead those that are with young.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/zechariah/13-5.htm">Acquired</a> <a href="/acts/19-36.htm">Act</a> <a href="/acts/20-17.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/acts/18-17.htm">Attention</a> <a href="/philippians/1-1.htm">Bishops</a> <a href="/acts/20-26.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/acts/7-16.htm">Bought</a> <a href="/acts/18-17.htm">Care</a> <a href="/acts/20-17.htm">Church</a> <a href="/john/21-17.htm">Feed</a> <a href="/john/10-16.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/acts/20-23.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/acts/13-40.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/acts/20-23.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/acts/8-20.htm">Obtained</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-11.htm">Overseers</a> <a href="/acts/1-20.htm">Oversight</a> <a href="/acts/19-6.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/acts/8-20.htm">Purchased</a> <a href="/john/21-16.htm">Shepherd</a> <a href="/luke/2-20.htm">Shepherds</a> <a href="/acts/20-23.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/acts/12-6.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/acts/15-36.htm">Wherein</a> <a href="/acts/20-18.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/22-28.htm">Acquired</a> <a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Act</a> <a href="/acts/21-22.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/acts/24-22.htm">Attention</a> <a href="/philippians/1-1.htm">Bishops</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/acts/22-28.htm">Bought</a> <a href="/acts/20-32.htm">Care</a> <a href="/acts/21-18.htm">Church</a> <a href="/romans/12-20.htm">Feed</a> <a href="/acts/20-29.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/acts/21-11.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/acts/22-26.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/acts/21-11.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/acts/22-28.htm">Obtained</a> <a href="/philippians/1-1.htm">Overseers</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-1.htm">Oversight</a> <a href="/acts/28-8.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/galatians/3-13.htm">Purchased</a> <a href="/hebrews/13-20.htm">Shepherd</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-11.htm">Shepherds</a> <a href="/acts/21-4.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/acts/20-31.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/romans/2-1.htm">Wherein</a> <a href="/acts/20-30.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-1.htm">Paul goes to Macedonia, and thence to Troas.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-7.htm">He celebrates the Lord's supper, and preaches.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-9.htm">Eutychus having fallen down dead is raised to life.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-13.htm">Paul continues his travels;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-17.htm">and at Miletum he calls the elders together, tells them what shall befall to himself,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-28.htm">commits God's flock to them,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-29.htm">warns them of false teachers,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-32.htm">commends them to God,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/20-36.htm">prays with them, and departs.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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Leaders must first ensure their own spiritual health and integrity before they can effectively guide others. This echoes the teachings of Jesus in <a href="/matthew/7-5.htm">Matthew 7:5</a>, where He instructs to remove the plank from one's own eye before addressing the speck in another's. The call to self-watchfulness is a recurring theme in Scripture, highlighting the need for personal holiness and accountability.<p><b>and the entire flock</b><br>The "flock" refers to the community of believers, often depicted as sheep in biblical literature. This imagery is rooted in the pastoral culture of ancient Israel, where shepherds were responsible for the care and protection of their sheep. The metaphor underscores the vulnerability of believers and the responsibility of leaders to provide guidance and protection. This concept is also seen in <a href="/john/10-11.htm">John 10:11</a>, where Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.<p><b>of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers</b><br>The role of overseers, or elders, is divinely appointed by the Holy Spirit, indicating that church leadership is not merely a human institution but a spiritual calling. This aligns with the broader New Testament teaching on spiritual gifts and roles within the church, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/12-28.htm">1 Corinthians 12:28</a> and <a href="/ephesians/4-11.htm">Ephesians 4:11</a>. The Holy Spirit's involvement underscores the sacredness and seriousness of the leadership role.<p><b>Be shepherds of the church of God</b><br>The call to "be shepherds" reinforces the pastoral responsibility of leaders to nurture, guide, and protect the congregation. This directive is consistent with the charge given to Peter in <a href="/john/21-15.htm">John 21:15-17</a>, where Jesus instructs him to feed and tend His sheep. The church is described as belonging to God, emphasizing its divine ownership and the leaders' role as stewards rather than proprietors.<p><b>which He purchased with His own blood</b><br>This phrase highlights the sacrificial nature of Christ's atonement, underscoring the immense value and cost of the church. The reference to blood signifies the new covenant established through Jesus' death, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/9-12.htm">Hebrews 9:12-14</a>. This echoes the Passover lamb in Exodus, a type of Christ, whose blood was a means of deliverance. The purchase language also reflects the concept of redemption, where believers are bought back from sin and death, as articulated in <a href="/1_peter/1-18.htm">1 Peter 1:18-19</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The speaker of this verse, Paul is addressing the Ephesian elders in Miletus, providing them with final instructions and warnings as he prepares to leave them.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephesian_elders.htm">Ephesian Elders</a></b><br>Leaders of the church in Ephesus, responsible for the spiritual oversight and care of the congregation.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/holy_spirit.htm">Holy Spirit</a></b><br>The divine person who appoints and empowers the elders as overseers of the church.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/church_of_god.htm">Church of God</a></b><br>The community of believers, described as a flock, emphasizing their need for guidance and protection.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/miletus.htm">Miletus</a></b><br>The location where Paul delivers his farewell speech to the Ephesian elders.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_overseers.htm">The Role of Overseers</a></b><br>Elders and leaders in the church are appointed by the Holy Spirit and are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the congregation.<br><br>Leadership in the church is a divine calling that requires vigilance and dedication.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_the_church.htm">The Value of the Church</a></b><br>The church is precious, having been purchased with the blood of Christ. This underscores the immense value God places on His people.<br><br>Leaders should recognize the sacredness of their responsibility in caring for the church.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_vigilance.htm">Spiritual Vigilance</a></b><br>Leaders must first keep watch over their own spiritual lives to effectively shepherd others.<br><br>Personal holiness and integrity are essential for those in positions of spiritual authority.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/sacrificial_leadership.htm">Sacrificial Leadership</a></b><br>Just as Christ sacrificed for the church, leaders are called to serve selflessly, prioritizing the needs of the flock over their own.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_the_holy_spirit.htm">Dependence on the Holy Spirit</a></b><br>The empowerment and guidance of the Holy Spirit are crucial for fulfilling the role of an overseer.<br><br>Leaders should seek the Spirit&#8217;s wisdom and strength in their ministry.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/pastor_qualifications_in_the_bible.htm">What are the biblical qualifications for a pastor?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_church_leadership.htm">What defines church leadership?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_qualifies_as_a_spiritual_leader.htm">Who qualifies as a spiritual leader?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who's_the_ecumenical_patriarch.htm">Who is the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) <span class= "bld">Over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">in which the Holy Ghost set you as watchers.</span> The word used is the same as that commonly translated <span class= "ital">bishops, </span>but, as used here in connection with the idea of the flock, it requires a word less technically ecclesiastical. It will be noticed that the word is commonly used in the New Testament as associated with this imagery. So in <a href="/1_peter/2-25.htm" title="For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.">1Peter 2:25</a>, we have "the Shepherd and <span class= "ital">Bishop</span> of your souls," and the corresponding verb in <a href="/1_peter/5-2.htm" title="Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;">1Peter 5:2</a>, "feed the flock of God . . . <span class= "ital">taking the oversight</span> thereof." The appointment, as referred to the Holy Ghost, implies, probably, (1) the inward call, the impulse which drew the man to the office; (2) the attestation of that call by the voices of the prophets, as in <a href="/acts/13-2.htm" title="As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.">Acts 13:2</a>, <a href="/1_timothy/4-1.htm" title="Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;">1Timothy 4:1</a>; (3) the bestowal of gifts fitting them for the work.<p><span class= "bld">To feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.</span>--It is clear that the words as they stand in the text are of immense importance, as bearing their witness to the belief of the Apostolic Church at once in the absolute divinity of Christ and in the nature of His redemptive work. The MSS., however, vary in their readings. Some of the best uncials and versions give "God;" others, of almost equal authority, give "Lord;" others, again, combine the two "Lord and God." The fact that elsewhere St. Paul invariably speaks of "the Church of God" (<span class= "ital">e.g., </span><a href="/1_corinthians/1-2.htm" title="To the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and our's:">1Corinthians 1:2</a>; <a href="/2_corinthians/1-1.htm" title="Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:">2Corinthians 1:1</a>; <a href="/galatians/1-13.htm" title="For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:">Galatians 1:13</a>; <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-14.htm" title="For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:">1Thessalonians 2:14</a>, <span class= "ital">et</span> <span class= "ital">al</span>.), and never "the Church of the Lord," may be allowed, from one point of view, some weight as internal evidence in favour of the Received reading; while from another it may be urged that it might have tempted a transcriber to substitute a familiar for an unfamiliar phrase. Accepting that reading, the words not only confirm the great truths of the Church's creed, but give an implicit sanction to the language of theology or devotion, when it applies to the divine nature of our Lord predicates that belong strictly to the human nature which was associated with it. So Ignatius (<span class= "ital">Romans 6</span>) spoke of "the passion of my God," and Tertullian (<span class= "ital">Ad Uxor, </span>ii. 3) and Clement of Alexandria (<span class= "ital">Quis dives, </span>c. 34) use the very phrase "the blood of God" which this passage suggests, and the Eastern Church at the council of Ephesus gave to the Blessed Virgin the title of <span class= "ital">Theot?kos Deipara, </span>the mother of the very God. So in the liturgy which bears the name of St. James the brother of the Lord, he is described as <span class= "ital">Adelphotheos, </span>the brother of God, and that name is still current among the Greek Christians of Jerusalem. The general drift of the language of the New Testament writers was, however, in the other direction, and predicated human acts and attributes of the man Christ Jesus, Divine acts and attributes of the eternal Son; and it is obvious that this tends at once to greater accuracy of thought, and is really more reverential than the other. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 28.</span> <span class="accented">- Take heed</span> for <span class="accented">take heed therefore</span>, A.V. and T.R.; <span class="accented">in</span> for <span class="accented">over</span>, A.V.; <span class="accented">bishops</span> for <span class="accented">overseers</span>, A.V.; <span class="accented">purchased</span> for <span class="accented">hath purchased</span>, A.V. <span class="cmt_word">Take heed</span>, etc.; <span class="greek">&#x3c0;&#x3c1;&#x3bf;&#x3c3;&#x1f73;&#x3c7;&#x3b5;&#x3c4;&#x3b5;&#x20;&#x1f11;&#x3b1;&#x3c5;&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fd6;&#x3c2;</span>, peculiar to Luke (Acts 5:53; <a href="/luke/12-1.htm">Luke 12:1</a>; <a href="/luke/17-3.htm">Luke 17:3</a>; <a href="/luke/21-34.htm">Luke 21:34</a>). Now follows the weighty charge of this great bishop to the clergy assembled at his visitation. With the true feeling of a chief pastor, he thinks of the whole flock, but deals with them chiefly through the under-shepherds. If he can awaken in these individually a deep concern for the souls committed to their charge, he will have done the best that can be done for the fleck at large. The first step to such concern for the flock is that each be thoroughly alive to the worth and the wants of his own soul. "Take heed unto yourselves." He that is careless about his own salvation will never lie careful about the souls of others (comp. <a href="/1_timothy/4-16.htm">1 Timothy 4:16</a>). <span class="cmt_word">In the which the Holy Ghost</span>, etc. <span class="greek">&#x1f18;&#x3bd;&#x20;&#x1ff7;</span>, no doubt, does not strictly contain the idea of "over which;" but the idea of authoritative oversight is contained in the word <span class="greek">&#x1f10;&#x3c0;&#x1f77;&#x3c3;&#x3ba;&#x3bf;&#x3c0;&#x3bf;&#x3c2;</span>, and therefore the rendering of the A.V., and of Alford's A.V. revised, is substantially correct. Perhaps the exact force of the <span class="greek">&#x1f10;&#x3bd;&#x20;&#x1ff7;</span> is "among which," like <span class="greek">&#x1f10;&#x3bd;&#x20;&#x1f21;&#x3bc;&#x1fd6;&#x3bd;</span> (<a href="/acts/2-29.htm">Acts 2:29</a>, and elsewhere). The call and appointment to the ministry is the special function of the Holy Ghost (<a href="/john/20-22.htm">John 20:22, 23</a>; <a href="/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2</a>; Ordination Service). <span class="cmt_word">To feed</span>; <span class="greek">&#x3c0;&#x3bf;&#x3b9;&#x3bc;&#x3b1;&#x1f77;&#x3bd;&#x3b5;&#x3b9;&#x3bd;</span>, the proper word for "tending" in relation to <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x1f78;&#x20;&#x3c0;&#x3bf;&#x1f77;&#x3bc;&#x3bd;&#x3b9;&#x3bf;&#x3bd;</span>, the flock, as <span class="greek">&#x3c0;&#x3bf;&#x3b9;&#x3bc;&#x1f75;&#x3bd;</span>, the pastor, or shepherd, is for him who so feeds the flock of Christ (see <a href="/john/10-11.htm">John 10:11, 16</a>; <a href="/john/21-17.htm">John 21:17</a>; <a href="/hebrews/13-20.htm">Hebrews 13:20</a>; <a href="/1_peter/5-2.htm">1 Peter 5:2, 3</a>). St. Peter applies the titles of "Shepherd and Bishop of souls" to the Lord Jesus (<a href="/1_peter/2-25.htm">1 Peter 2:25</a>). St. Paul does not use the metaphor elsewhere, except indirectly, and in a different aspect (<a href="/1_corinthians/9-7.htm">1 Corinthians 9:7</a>). <span class="cmt_word">The Church of God</span>; margin, <span class="accented">Church of the Lord.</span> There is, perhaps, no single passage in Scripture which has caused more controversy and evoked more difference of opinion than this. The T.R. has <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x398;&#x3b5;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span>, but most uncials have <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x39a;&#x3c5;&#x3c1;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span>. Kuinoel asserts that the reading <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x39a;&#x3c5;&#x3c1;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span> rests on the authority, besides that of the oldest manuscripts, of the old versions, and of many el' the most ancient Fathers, and says that it is undoubtedly the true reading. Meyer, too, thinks that the external evidence for <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span> <span class="greek">&#x39a;&#x3c5;&#x3c1;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span> is decisive, and that the internal evidence from the fact that <span class="greek">&#x1f10;&#x3ba;&#x3ba;&#x3bb;&#x3b7;&#x3c3;&#x1f77;&#x3b1;&#x20;&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span> <span class="greek">&#x39a;&#x3c5;&#x3c1;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span> Occurs nowhere else in St. Paul's writings, is decisive also. But on the other hand, both the Codex Vaticanus (B) and the Codex Sinaitieus (<span class="hebrew">&#x5d0;</span>), the two oldest manuscripts, have <span class="greek">&#x398;&#x3b5;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span> (<span class="greek">&#x398;&#x3c5;</span>). The Vulgate, too, and the Syriac have it; and such early Fathers as Ignatius (in his Epistle to the Ephesians) and Tertullian use the phrase, "the blood of God," which seems to have been derived from this passage. And Alford reasons powerfully in favor of <span class="greek">&#x398;&#x3b5;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span>, dwelling upon the fact that the phrase <span class="greek">&#x1f10;&#x3ba;&#x3ba;&#x3bb;&#x3b7;&#x3c3;&#x1f77;&#x3b1;&#x20;&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x398;&#x3b5;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span> occurs <span class="accented">ten times</span> in St. Paul's writings, that of <span class="greek">&#x1f10;&#x3ba;&#x3ba;&#x3bb;&#x3b7;&#x3c3;&#x1f77;&#x3b1;&#x20;&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x39a;&#x3c5;&#x3c1;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span> not once. The chief authorities on each side of the question are: <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> in favor of <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x39a;&#x3c5;&#x3c1;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span>, Lachmann, Tischendorf, Bornemann, Lunge, Olshausen, Davidson, Meyer, Hackett, as also Grotius, Griesbaeh (doubtfully), Wetstein, Le Clerc, and others; <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> in favor of <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x398;&#x3b5;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span>, Bengel, Mill, Whitby, Wolf, Scholz, Knapp, Alford, Wordsworth, etc., and the R.T. It should be added that the evidence for <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x398;&#x3b5;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span> has been much strengthened by the publication by Tischendorf, in 1563, of rite Codex Sinaiticus, and in 1867 of the Codex Vaticanus, from his own collation. The result is that <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x398;&#x3b5;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span> seems to be the true reading (see the first of the two collects for the Ember weeks in the Book of Common Prayer. With regard to the difficulty that this reading seems to imply the unscriptural phrase, "<span class="accented">the</span> blood of God," and to savor of the Monophysite heresy, it is obvious to reply that there is a wide difference between the phrase as it stands and such a one as the direct "<span class="accented">blood</span> of <span class="accented">God</span>," which Athanasius and others objected to. The mental insertion of "the Lord" or "Christ," as the subject of the verb "<span class="accented">purchased</span>," is very easy, the transition from God the Father to God incarnate being one that might be made almost imperceptibly. Others (including the R.T.) take the reading of several good manuscripts, <span class="greek">&#x394;&#x3b9;&#x1f70;&#x20;&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x3b1;&#x1f35;&#x3bc;&#x3b1;&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x3c2;&#x20;&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x1f30;&#x3b4;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span>, and understand <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;&#x20;&#x1f30;&#x3b4;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;</span> to be an ellipse for <span class="greek">&#x3c4;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span> <span class="greek">&#x1f30;&#x3b4;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3c5;&#x20;&#x3c5;&#x1f31;&#x3bf;&#x1fe6;</span>, the phrase used in <a href="/romans/8-32.htm">Romans 8:32</a>; and so render it "<span class="accented">which</span> he purchased by the blood of his own Son." <span class="greek">&#x39f;&#x1f31;&#x20;&#x1f30;&#x3b4;&#x1f77;&#x3bf;&#x3b9;</span>, his own, is used without a substantive in <a href="/john/1-11.htm">John 1:11</a>. This clause is added to enhance the preciousness of the flock, and the responsibility of those who have the oversight of it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/acts/20-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Keep watch over</span><br /><span class="grk">&#928;&#961;&#959;&#963;&#941;&#967;&#949;&#964;&#949;</span> <span class="translit">(Prosechete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4337.htm">Strong's 4337: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">yourselves</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7953;&#945;&#965;&#964;&#959;&#8150;&#962;</span> <span class="translit">(heautois)</span><br /><span class="parse">Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1438.htm">Strong's 1438: </a> </span><span class="str2">Himself, herself, itself. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">&#954;&#945;&#8054;</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">&#964;&#8183;</span> <span class="translit">(t&#333;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Dative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">entire</span><br /><span class="grk">&#960;&#945;&#957;&#964;&#8054;</span> <span class="translit">(panti)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">flock</span><br /><span class="grk">&#960;&#959;&#953;&#956;&#957;&#943;&#8179;</span> <span class="translit">(poimni&#333;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4168.htm">Strong's 4168: </a> </span><span class="str2">A little flock. Neuter of a presumed derivative of poimne; a flock, i.e. group.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7952;&#957;</span> <span class="translit">(en)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> </span><span class="str2">In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which</span><br /><span class="grk">&#8103;</span> <span class="translit">(h&#333;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">&#964;&#8056;</span> <span class="translit">(to)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Holy</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7949;&#947;&#953;&#959;&#957;</span> <span class="translit">(Hagion)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> </span><span class="str2">Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Spirit</span><br /><span class="grk">&#928;&#957;&#949;&#8166;&#956;&#945;</span> <span class="translit">(Pneuma)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4151.htm">Strong's 4151: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wind, breath, spirit. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">has made</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7956;&#952;&#949;&#964;&#959;</span> <span class="translit">(etheto)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5087.htm">Strong's 5087: </a> </span><span class="str2">To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="grk">&#8017;&#956;&#8118;&#962;</span> <span class="translit">(hymas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">overseers.</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7952;&#960;&#953;&#963;&#954;&#972;&#960;&#959;&#965;&#962;</span> <span class="translit">(episkopous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1985.htm">Strong's 1985: </a> </span><span class="str2">From epi and skopos; a superintendent, i.e. Christian officer in genitive case charge of a church.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Be shepherds</span><br /><span class="grk">&#960;&#959;&#953;&#956;&#945;&#943;&#957;&#949;&#953;&#957;</span> <span class="translit">(poimainein)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4165.htm">Strong's 4165: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shepherd, tend, herd; hence: I rule, govern. From poimen; to tend as a shepherd of.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the</span><br /><span class="grk">&#964;&#8052;&#957;</span> <span class="translit">(t&#275;n)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">church</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7952;&#954;&#954;&#955;&#951;&#963;&#943;&#945;&#957;</span> <span class="translit">(ekkl&#275;sian)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1577.htm">Strong's 1577: </a> </span><span class="str2">From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God,</span><br /><span class="grk">&#920;&#949;&#959;&#8166;</span> <span class="translit">(Theou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> </span><span class="str2">A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7971;&#957;</span> <span class="translit">(h&#275;n)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">He purchased</span><br /><span class="grk">&#960;&#949;&#961;&#953;&#949;&#960;&#959;&#953;&#942;&#963;&#945;&#964;&#959;</span> <span class="translit">(periepoi&#275;sato)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4046.htm">Strong's 4046: </a> </span><span class="str2">To acquire, earn, purchase, make my own, preserve alive. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">with</span><br /><span class="grk">&#948;&#953;&#8048;</span> <span class="translit">(dia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[His]</span><br /><span class="grk">&#964;&#959;&#8166;</span> <span class="translit">(tou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">own</span><br /><span class="grk">&#7984;&#948;&#943;&#959;&#965;</span> <span class="translit">(idiou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2398.htm">Strong's 2398: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication, private or separate.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">blood.</span><br /><span class="grk">&#945;&#7989;&#956;&#945;&#964;&#959;&#962;</span> <span class="translit">(haimatos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_129.htm">Strong's 129: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/acts/20-28.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore to yourselves (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/20-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 20:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 20:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/20-29.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 20:29"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 20:29" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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