Acts 20 27

Acts 20:27 kjv

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Acts 20:27 nkjv

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20:27 niv

For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Acts 20:27 esv

for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20:27 nlt

for I didn't shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

Acts 20 verses

Acts 20 27 Meaning

The Apostle Paul, in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, emphatically states that he has never hesitated, out of fear or self-preservation, to proclaim to them the entirety of God's revealed purpose, plan, and redemptive will for humanity. This verse underscores his unwavering faithfulness and comprehensive delivery of divine truth without compromise or omission.

Acts 20 27 Context

Acts 20:27 is part of Paul's emotionally charged farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38). Paul, on his third missionary journey and heading to Jerusalem where he anticipates suffering, gathers the church leaders to give them final instructions and warnings. He recounts his faithful ministry among them (Acts 20:18-21), emphasizing his unwavering service and personal suffering for the Gospel. The preceding verse (Acts 20:26) declares his innocence regarding the spiritual state of his hearers, linking directly to his assertion in verse 27 that he withheld nothing of God's complete message. This statement serves as a foundation for his subsequent exhortation to the elders to be vigilant against false teachers ("savage wolves") and to shepherd God's flock, reinforcing the heavy responsibility placed upon them to maintain the whole counsel of God, just as he had.

Acts 20 27 Word analysis

• For I have not shunned (οὐχ ὑπεστειλάμην, ouch hypesteilamen)

  • οὐχ (ouch): "not." A strong negative, emphasizing complete negation.
  • ὑπεστειλάμην (hypesteilamen): From hypostello, meaning "to shrink back from," "to draw back," "to withhold," "to avoid," "to hesitate." It implies withdrawing due to fear, timidity, or a desire for self-preservation or popularity. Paul strongly denies such behavior. Its use here highlights his courage and determination to speak all truth, regardless of the consequences or how unpopular it might be. This also implies not just saying less, but saying nothing contrary either.

• to declare (τοῦ ἀναγγεῖλαι, tou anangeilai)

  • τοῦ (tou): "to," functioning as an infinitive marker.
  • ἀναγγεῖλαι (anangeilai): From anangello, meaning "to announce," "to report," "to proclaim fully," "to make known completely." It suggests a thorough and explicit communication of a message, leaving no significant part unsaid. It emphasizes clarity and openness.

• unto you

  • Specifically referring to the Ephesian elders and, by extension, the church they represented. Paul's audience was not merely passive hearers but leaders entrusted with continuing his ministry.

• all (πᾶσαν, pasan)

  • πᾶσαν (pasan): "all," "the whole," "every." This word is crucial. It underscores the completeness and totality of what Paul declared. It signifies that no part of God's revealed will or message—whether difficult, challenging, or controversial—was omitted. It was the full, unvarnished truth.

• the counsel (τὴν βουλὴν, tēn boulēn)

  • τὴν (tēn): "the."
  • βουλὴν (boulēn): From boule, meaning "will," "purpose," "plan," "decree," "design," "counsel." It's not just isolated facts or doctrines but God's overarching, eternal, redemptive plan, encompassing His decrees and intentions for salvation, the church, and humanity. It refers to the divinely ordered system of truth that provides direction and guidance. It is not human advice but God's sovereign decision.

• of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Theou)

  • τοῦ (tou): "of the."
  • Θεοῦ (Theou): "God." This indicates the divine origin and authority of the "counsel." It's God's own will and plan, not Paul's interpretation or human philosophy.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "I have not shunned to declare": This phrase emphatically highlights Paul's integrity and courage. He stood firm against any pressure—internal or external—that might have tempted him to hold back parts of the divine message. It implies conscious resistance to an urge to retreat or omit, portraying him as a fearless and diligent messenger. This directly contrasts with false teachers who might preach only what is pleasant or profitable.
  • "all the counsel of God": This signifies the absolute totality and comprehensiveness of the divine message delivered. It encompasses the entirety of the revealed truth about God's plan of salvation, His ethical requirements, His nature, and the future. It leaves no room for partiality or picking and choosing convenient doctrines, ensuring that the hearers received a full picture of God's intentions.

Acts 20 27 Bonus section

This verse serves as a crucial ethical touchstone for Christian leadership and preaching today. It lays bare the responsibility to present God's truth wholly, without catering to prevailing cultural sensitivities or personal fears of rejection. True ministers of the Gospel, like Paul, must not filter God's Word through human preferences or marketing strategies, but must boldly and fully declare what God has revealed, even the "hard sayings" (John 6:60). This also implies that "all the counsel of God" extends beyond simply a salvation message to include His instructions for holy living, social justice, worship, church discipline, and eschatology, presenting a robust, multifaceted understanding of divine truth.

Acts 20 27 Commentary

Acts 20:27 stands as a powerful testament to Paul's integrity and diligence in ministry, offering a definitive statement about the nature of faithful Gospel proclamation. It assures his audience, and subsequent generations, that he discharged his apostolic duty without compromise. By affirming he "had not shunned" (ἀπόλλογος - apologos - to acquit himself completely from all charges and responsibilities) to deliver "all the counsel of God," Paul asserts both his courage to confront uncomfortable truths and his commitment to the full breadth of divine revelation. This wasn't just preaching parts of the good news, but God's complete, coherent, redemptive purpose, encompassing doctrine, ethics, warnings, and promises. It means the message was presented in its totality, rather than selectively tailoring it to appease specific groups or avoid personal risk. This declaration serves as both a final self-defense and an implicit challenge to the Ephesian elders to similarly embrace and pass on the full truth, preparing them for the coming onslaught of false teaching.