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 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 20:24 | "...finish my course and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus..." | Faithfulness, Testimony |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | "...necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" | Urgency of Preaching |
| 2 Cor 2:17 | "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God..." | Purity of Message |
| 2 Cor 4:2 | "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty..." | Transparency, Integrity |
| Col 1:27-28 | "Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom..." | Comprehensive Teaching |
| Heb 13:9 | "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." | Sound Doctrine |
| 1 Tim 4:16 | "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." | Responsibility in Teaching |
| 2 Tim 4:5 | "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." | Diligence in Ministry |
| Titus 1:3 | "...his word of prophecy might be fulfilled;" | Fulfillment of God's Word |
| 1 Peter 4:11 | "...if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;" | Divine Authority |
| Gal 1:6-7 | "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel... though there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." | Warning Against Falsehoods |
| Acts 18:5 | "And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ." | Earnest Testimony |
| Rom 1:15 | "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also." | Readiness to Preach |
| John 15:15 | "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." | Openness and Fellowship |
| Acts 20:18-20 | "...Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia... How I kept back nothing that was profitable... and have taught you publicly, and from house to house;" | Open Teaching Methods |
| Acts 20:31 | "...that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." | Diligent Ministry |
| Ps 40:9-10 | "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation..." | Fulfillment of God's Will |
| Ezek 3:17-18 | "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word of my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to turn from his wicked way, to save his life; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." | Responsibility of Watchmen |
| John 17:4 | "I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." | Completion of Mission |
| 1 Cor 15:1-3 | "...I declare unto you the gospel... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" | Core Gospel Message |
Acts 20 verses
Acts 20 27 Meaning
The Apostle Paul declares his complete and unwavering commitment to proclaiming God's entire plan for salvation. He assures the Ephesian elders that he has not withheld or hidden any part of God's message, nor has he failed to teach them everything they needed to know. His declaration is a testimony to his faithfulness and integrity as a minister of the Gospel.
Acts 20 27 Context
This verse is spoken by the Apostle Paul to the elders of the church in Ephesus during his farewell address. He is on his final journey to Jerusalem and knows he will not see them again (Acts 20:25). Having ministered to them for about three years (Acts 20:31), Paul reflects on his faithful service and the doctrine he has imparted. The context highlights Paul's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of the church, urging them to remain steadfast against false teachers and to continue in the truth he taught them. His words are a powerful testament to a life devoted to the faithful proclamation of God's word, even in the face of impending suffering and persecution.
Acts 20 27 Word Analysis
- "For" (γαρ - gar): A conjunction indicating a reason or explanation for what has just been said. It connects his assertion to his past actions.
- "I have not shunned" (ὑπεστειλάμην - hypesteilamen): First-person singular aorist indicative middle of ὑποστέλλω (hypostellō). This verb means "to draw back," "to shrink from," or "to conceal." In this context, it carries a strong sense of holding back or failing to declare something, often out of fear or timidity. Paul asserts he did not shrink from proclaiming anything, however difficult or unpopular.
- "to declare" (ἀναγγεῖλαι - ananggeilai): First-person singular aorist infinitive of ἀναγγέλλω (anangellō). This verb means "to announce," "to report," "to declare," or "to make known." It implies a clear and public proclamation.
- "all" (πᾶν - pan): A common adjective meaning "all," "every," or "whole." Paul uses it here emphatically, indicating no part of God's counsel was omitted.
- "the counsel" (τὴν βουλὴν - tēn boulēn): Accusative singular feminine of βουλή (boulē). This noun means "counsel," "purpose," "plan," or "will." In theological contexts, it refers to God's divine plan and purpose, His complete revelation or design.
- "of God" (τοῦ θεοῦ - tou theou): Genitive singular masculine of θεός (theos), "God." It denotes possession or origin—the counsel belonging to God.
Words-group Analysis:
- "I have not shunned to declare all the counsel of God": This entire phrase encapsulates Paul's ministerial integrity. The aorist tense in Greek can refer to a completed action in the past, but in contexts like this, it often represents a durative or a gnomic aspect, summarizing his consistent approach throughout his ministry. His commitment was not a one-time act but a continuous dedication. The refusal to "shun" or "conceal" speaks volumes about his boldness and fidelity to his divine mandate, even when the message was challenging or potentially offensive.
Acts 20 27 Bonus Section
This verse echoes Jesus' own declaration in John 17:4: "I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." Paul, in following Christ's commission, is likewise able to testify to a finished work in his own ministry. Furthermore, the Old Testament prophets were called to be watchmen (Ezekiel 3:17), responsible for declaring God's message to the people. Paul's words demonstrate a fulfillment of this prophetic calling. His integrity in declaring "all the counsel of God" also implicitly contrasts him with those who might pervert or distort the Gospel, as warned against in passages like Galatians 1:6-7. The Ephesian elders are now tasked with continuing this faithful stewardship.
Acts 20 27 Commentary
Paul's statement is a profound declaration of faithful stewardship. He emphasizes that his preaching was not selective; he did not omit parts of God's truth that were inconvenient or that might have jeopardized his acceptance. This means he taught about God's holiness, justice, wrath against sin, as well as His love, grace, and mercy. He presented the entirety of God's redemptive plan, from creation to final consummation. This comprehensive approach reflects the nature of God's revelation itself, which covers all aspects of life and salvation. It serves as a powerful example for all ministers of the Gospel to preach the whole counsel of God, leaving nothing out, without fear of man, but with accountability to God.
- Practical Example: A pastor who ensures their sermons address the demands of discipleship as well as the comfort of God's promises, or who teaches on Old Testament laws in relation to New Testament fulfillment, is following this principle.