Acts 20:32 kjv
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 20:32 nkjv
"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 20:32 niv
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 20:32 esv
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 20:32 nlt
"And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
Acts 20 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 20:32 | "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." | Foundational promise |
| Gen 12:1-3 | God's call and promises to Abraham, initiating inheritance. | God's promise of inheritance |
| Ex 34:6-7 | God revealing Himself as merciful, gracious, and forgiving. | God's gracious character |
| Ps 23:5 | God preparing a table and anointing with oil, signifying provision and blessing. | God's abundant provision |
| Ps 119:105 | The Word of God as a lamp to the feet. | Word of grace as guidance |
| Isa 40:31 | Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. | Grace enabling renewal |
| Jer 31:33 | God's law written on the heart, signifying internal transformation. | Internal transformation by grace |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | Spiritual enablement |
| Matt 7:24-27 | Building a house on the rock (Christ), a metaphor for strong spiritual foundation. | Building up by Christ's words |
| John 1:16 | "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." | Abundance of grace |
| John 15:4-5 | Remaining in Christ as the source of fruitfulness. | Fruitfulness through grace |
| Rom 5:1-2 | Justification by faith leading to access to grace and peace. | Access by grace |
| Rom 5:17 | Those who receive abundance of grace reign in life through Christ. | Reigning by grace |
| Rom 8:29-30 | Predestination to be conformed to the image of Christ, God's plan for inheritance. | Predestined for inheritance |
| 1 Cor 1:4-8 | Thanksgiving for the grace given, enriching in utterance and knowledge. | Enrichment by grace |
| 1 Cor 15:10 | Paul's labor by the grace of God, which was not in vain. | Grace enabling effective labor |
| 2 Cor 3:5-6 | Sufficiency for ministry comes from God, the Spirit giving life. | Sufficiency through the Spirit |
| 2 Cor 4:15 | Grace abounding through thanksgiving to overflow to others. | Grace causing overflow |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | God able to make all grace abound, that you may have sufficiency. | Abounding grace for sufficiency |
| Eph 2:8-10 | Salvation by grace through faith, created for good works. | Grace as salvation and enablement |
| Eph 3:20 | God able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. | God's abundant power through grace |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." | Strength through Christ |
| Col 1:27-28 | Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we proclaim, warning and teaching. | Christ's presence enabling service |
| Tit 2:11-12 | The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation, training us. | Grace as training and salvation |
| Heb 12:15 | "See to it that no one fails to receive the grace of God." | Importance of receiving grace |
| Heb 12:22-24 | New Jerusalem, the inheritance of the saints. | Heavenly inheritance |
| 1 Pet 1:3-4 | Born again to a living hope and an inheritance. | Inheritance through rebirth |
| 1 Pet 5:10 | The God of all grace will restore, strengthen, and establish you. | Grace for establishment |
| 2 Pet 3:18 | "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." | Growth in grace |
| 1 John 1:7 | Walking in the light, fellowship, cleansing by His blood. | Fellowship through Christ |
Acts 20 verses
Acts 20 32 Meaning
This verse powerfully conveys God's ability to impart His rich and abundant grace. This grace is not merely favor, but a divine enablement, a source of strength and provision that equips believers for every good work and leads them to spiritual inheritance.
Acts 20 32 Context
This verse is part of Paul's farewell address to the elders of Ephesus in Acts chapter 20. Paul had spent a significant amount of time ministering in Ephesus, establishing the church. Now, sensing his own departure and foreseeing difficulties for the church, he entrusts them to God and the powerful message of His grace. This was a crucial moment for the Ephesian believers, as they were about to face a new phase without the direct apostolic oversight of Paul. The historical context includes the expansion of Christianity in the Roman Empire, facing both internal challenges and external opposition. The immediate literary context shows Paul's deep affection and concern for the church, as he reminds them of his own ministry among them, including his tears and trials, and charges them to shepherd the flock.
Acts 20 32 Word Analysis
- And now (kai nun): "Kai" means "and" or "even," introducing a conjunction or continuation. "Nun" signifies "now" or "at this moment." This highlights the immediate transition and finality of Paul's commendation.
- I commend (paratithemi): This Greek verb signifies entrusting something or someone to another for safekeeping. It implies placing value and trust in the recipient. Think of depositing money or entrusting a valuable item. It carries a sense of confident delegation.
- you (hymas): Plural pronoun, referring to the Ephesian elders and by extension, the church in Ephesus.
- to God (theos): Referring to the Triune God of scripture.
- and (kai): Conjunction linking God with the "word of His grace."
- to the word (logoi): Refers to the spoken or written message, the gospel proclamation.
- of His grace (tes charitos autou): "Tes charitos" refers to divine favor, enablement, and undeserved kindness. "Autou" is the possessive pronoun "His," emphasizing that this grace originates from God Himself.
- which is able (dynamenos): The present active participle of "dynamai," meaning "to be able," "can," or "to have power." It emphasizes the ongoing, inherent capability within God's grace.
- to build you up (epoikodomēsai): The aorist infinitive of "epoikodomeo," meaning "to build upon," "to construct," or "to edify." This suggests a process of spiritual construction, growth, and strengthening, like building a house.
- and to give (kai dose): Another aorist infinitive. "Kai" connects the two actions of grace: building up and giving. "Dose" means "to give" or "to grant."
- you (hymin): Dative plural pronoun, indicating the recipients of the inheritance.
- the inheritance (klēronomia): Refers to a bequeathed portion or legacy, often associated with land in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, it signifies the eternal blessings and future portion believers receive from God through Christ.
- among all (en tois hagiaisousin): "En" means "in" or "among." "Tois hagiasousin" refers to "those who are being sanctified" or "the sanctified ones." The article "tois" with the participle suggests a definitive group. This emphasizes that the inheritance is for all those who are set apart by God.
- those who are sanctified (tois hagiasousin): This present passive participle of "hagiazo" indicates those who are in the process of being made holy, set apart by God's power, or those who have been fundamentally sanctified. It speaks to a continuing state of being set apart for God's purposes.
Group of Words Analysis:
- "the word of His grace": This phrase links the divine message (gospel) directly with God's empowering favor. It's not just abstract good news, but a means through which God's life-giving power is communicated and activated.
- "able to build you up": This highlights the inherent power within God's word and grace to foster spiritual maturity and stability in believers, preventing them from being easily swayed by false teachings or trials.
- "give you the inheritance": This connects God's present grace with the future, ultimate reality of being part of God's eternal kingdom. The grace we experience now is the guarantee and the means to that future inheritance.
- "among all those who are sanctified": This underscores that the inheritance is a corporate reality within the community of believers who are progressively made holy, emphasizing unity and shared destiny in God's plan.
Acts 20 32 Bonus Section
The concept of "building up" (epoikodomēsai) resonates strongly with the architectural metaphors common in the New Testament, particularly when referring to the church as the body of Christ or God's temple (1 Cor 3:9-17; Eph 2:21-22). This "building" is not solely individual but corporate, indicating the growth and strengthening of the entire community. The "inheritance" (klēronomia) is a richly woven theme throughout scripture, stemming from God's covenant promises to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) and finding its ultimate fulfillment in the eternal kingdom of God, accessible through Christ's redemption. The "sanctified" (hagiasousin) emphasizes the ongoing process of God's purifying work in believers' lives, which is inseparable from their inheritance. This verse, therefore, encapsulates the believer's journey from receiving God's grace to its empowering effect, leading to their final, assured place among the redeemed.
Acts 20 32 Commentary
Paul, facing separation, entrusts the Ephesian believers to the ultimate care of God. He doesn't leave them adrift but provides them with two vital resources: God Himself and the "word of His grace." This "word" isn't merely a collection of facts but the gospel message through which God's power is dispensed. This divine grace possesses a transformative capacity to strengthen, mature, and secure them. It is the very power that qualifies them for their ultimate inheritance – their eternal home and portion in God's kingdom – an inheritance shared by all who are set apart by His Spirit. The grace described is dynamic, active, and sufficient for both present needs and future glory. It's a testament to God's ability to complete the work He has begun in His people.