Acts 20:20 kjv
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Acts 20:20 nkjv
how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
Acts 20:20 niv
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Acts 20:20 esv
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
Acts 20:20 nlt
I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.
Acts 20 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 20:20 | ...taught you publicly and from house to house, | Paul's ministry scope |
| Acts 20:21 | ...testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God and of faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. | Core message of the Gospel |
| Romans 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation... | Power of the Gospel |
| 2 Timothy 4:2 | Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort,... | Call to faithful preaching |
| Hebrews 10:26 | For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, | Importance of retaining truth |
| 1 Corinthians 15:2 | By which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. | Holding fast to the preached word |
| 2 Corinthians 2:17 | For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God for profit, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. | Sincerity in proclamation |
| Acts 18:25 | This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things of the Lord,... | Apollos's zealous teaching |
| John 15:15 | No longer do I call you servants, but friends; for the servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. | Jesus revealed all to His disciples |
| Matthew 28:20 | ...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and indeed I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. | Mandate to teach all commands |
| Luke 1:4 | that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. | Certainty in instruction |
| Acts 2:42 | And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. | Steadfastness in doctrine |
| 2 Timothy 3:16-17 | All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. | Sufficiency of Scripture |
| Acts 18:26 | And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. | Accurate teaching |
| Acts 26:22 | Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand as a witness to both small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come,— | Witness to prophetic truths |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:10 | You are witnesses, and God also, of how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe; | God's witness to faithfulness |
| Acts 28:31 | Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. | Bold and unhindered preaching |
| Acts 5:42 | And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. | Daily, everywhere ministry |
| Colossians 1:28 | Whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ Jesus. | Maturing believers in Christ |
| Philippians 3:12-14 | Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. | Pressing on to completeness |
| Ephesians 4:11-13 | And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; | Equipping and maturing the church |
Acts 20 verses
Acts 20 20 Meaning
This verse highlights Paul's unwavering dedication to the Gospel message. He did not hold back any essential truth but faithfully proclaimed everything God intended for the people to hear. This includes both public declarations and private teachings, covering all aspects of Christian doctrine and practice that were relevant to their spiritual growth and understanding. His message was comprehensive, addressing all that was profitable for them.
Acts 20 20 Context
This verse is part of Paul's farewell address to the elders of Ephesus in Acts chapter 20. Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, knowing that suffering awaited him there. He called for the Ephesian elders to Miletus to impart his final counsel and to prepare them for his departure. In this context, Paul is reflecting on his own ministry among them, highlighting his integrity and faithfulness in proclaiming the full message of God's will. The Ephesian church had a significant ministry base, and Paul was concerned for their continued spiritual health and growth after he was gone. He was essentially passing on the baton of faithful ministry to them.
Acts 20 20 Word Analysis
- I (Greek: egō)
- Personal pronoun, emphasizing Paul's individual responsibility and action.
- have kept back (Greek: hypostellō)
- Literally means "to draw back," "to conceal," or "to hold back."
- Implies a reluctance or refusal to make something known. Paul asserts he did not do this with his message.
- nothing (Greek: outhen)
- An emphatic negation, signifying completeness in his lack of holding back.
- profitable (Greek: sympherōn)
- Means "to bring together," "to be useful," "beneficial," or "advantageous."
- Paul only taught what was genuinely beneficial for their spiritual well-being and understanding. He didn't preach "his own opinions" or irrelevant topics.
- declared (Greek: apaggellō)
- To announce, report, or proclaim.
- Paul presented the Gospel message as a formal announcement.
- you (Greek: hymas)
- Refers specifically to the Ephesian elders whom he was addressing.
- from house to house (Greek: kat' oikon)
- Indicates a personal, intimate, and widespread ministry, not confined to public settings. It speaks to teaching in private homes, covering every aspect of their lives.
- publicly (Greek: demosia)
- Means "in the presence of the people," "openly," or "publicly."
- Refers to his ministry in synagogues, the public square, or large gatherings.
Phrase/Group Analysis:
- I have kept back nothing that was profitable for you: This phrase underscores a total commitment to the entire counsel of God as it applied to their lives. It suggests an inclusive and comprehensive teaching, not selectively omitting parts of the Gospel or its implications. The teaching was geared towards their benefit and growth.
- declared... publicly and from house to house: This contrast shows the breadth and depth of Paul's ministry. He was not shy about proclaiming the truth in the open, nor did he shy away from intimate, personal discipleship in smaller settings. This covered all accessible spheres of life.
Acts 20 20 Bonus Section
Paul's approach was rooted in the New Testament commission given by Jesus himself, to teach all that He commanded (Matthew 28:20). The Ephesian elders were to carry on this tradition of teaching the full counsel of God. This commitment contrasts with teachings that might be popular but not entirely true, or selective preaching that ignores certain difficult doctrines. Paul's example is a strong admonition to all ministers to be unashamed of the entire Word of God and to minister it with both public impact and personal devotion, ensuring all aspects that lead to maturity in Christ are covered. The comprehensiveness of his teaching ensured that believers were well-equipped, leading to them being presented "perfect" or "mature" in Christ (Colossians 1:28).
Acts 20 20 Commentary
Paul’s ministry was marked by complete faithfulness to God's revelation. He didn't withhold any essential truth that would benefit the believers' spiritual life and understanding. This included both public proclamation and private, in-depth teaching within homes. His ministry was holistic, impacting the church collectively and individuals personally. He preached everything God instructed, nothing more, nothing less, with the goal of benefiting those he ministered to. His motive was not popularity or personal gain, but the spiritual maturity of the believers, mirroring Christ’s own self-disclosure of all He received from the Father (John 15:15). This comprehensive and dedicated approach served as a model for pastoral leadership, especially in farewell.