Acts 20:35
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In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
that so labouring--as I have done for others as well as myself. ye ought to support the weak to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he--"how Himself." said, It is more blessed to give than to receive--This golden saying, snatched from oblivion, and here added to the Church's abiding treasures, is apt to beget the wish that more of what issued from those Lips which "dropped as an honeycomb," had been preserved to us. But see on Joh 21:25.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. Paul's travels up and down about Macedonia, Greece, and Asia, and his coming at length to Troas (Act 20:1-6). II. A particular account of his spending one Lord's day at Troas, and his raising Eutychus to life there (Act 20:7-12). III. His progress, or circuit, for the visiting of the churches he had planted, in his way towards Jerusalem, where he designed to be by the next feast of pentecost (Act 20:13-16). IV. The farewell sermon he preached to the presbyters at Ephesus, now that he was leaving that country (v. 17-35). V. The very sorrowful parting between him and them (Act 20:36-38). And in all these we find Paul very busy to serve Christ, and to do good to the souls of men, not only in the conversion of heathen, but in the edification of Christians.
Open source ↗20:35 ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’: This saying of Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.
Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.