Discuss Acts 20 Page 8

Jesus taught us in different ways e.g in proverbs, in his word that, we should give and support those who are in need. He also taught us that, our giving should come from the heart, that is, generous sacrificial, willingly etc. Several people in the Bible gave generously and God responded to their offerings. In Gen. 4 Abel gave with the whole of his heart and God responded to his Offering. In 2Chro1 6 Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings unto God and God appeared unto him in the night. In Luk 6 38 we are instructed to give in order to receive. In acts 9 36 43 Dorcas supported the saints and windows. For us to receive something tangible from God, we are encouraged to give. Remember, we can only give what we have, do not steal and give it to somebody.

1Cor. 16:1-8 Sum 25 years after the cross Paul is on a onetime welfare trip to Jerusalem for the poor saints in Jerusalem. This seems to be a onetime gathering of goods by each individual. Not a church service. This had nothing to do with the weekly tithe.
God's first day of the week is from sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday. Acts 20:7 was most probably on Saturday evening.
God's word never refers to the first day of the week as the Lord's Day. Lord's Day can only be found in Rev. 1:10
God never instructed man to abolish His Holy Sabbath.

In verse 28,church of god is the truth,it is the true name of the church,and it's written in the bible that if anyone will change what is written on the book will be punished.

what about the George Lamsa translation regarding Acts 20:28? what is the point of other commentators?

I feel that they, them selfs, knowing this was the last time they was the hear of paul,s teaching an instruction,s was at that point reflecting that of a man,s sleep of parting words , was brought back to life by pauls hands threw christ intervention , had dought,s on there own efforts to minister the word of Christ to the people, that where to be set charge of in principle by there own faith yet to be tested , had reservation,s in spirit of the mission set before them to which knowing of past works of pauls they where worthy of completion

@Ock

CHRIST being the HEAD of the CHURCH is the savior of the BODY ( Ephesians 5:23). The CHURCH are those He PURCHASED with His own blood ( Acts 20:28). So WE, being many, are ONE BODY in Christ, and every one members one of another ( Romans 12:5). Regarding the BIBLE which we believed as the BOOK of the compilation of the HOLY SCRIPTURES and the THE LAW OF GOD which was translated out of original tongue it was written, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" ( John 5:39); Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them ( Isaiah 34:16); All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2-Timothy 3:16)

Acts 20:28 is a mistranslation of the original writing. it is the congregation of God which he purchased with the BLOOD OF HIS OWN. indicating that God purchased the congregation with the blood of someone who is his own, or someone who belongs to God. God cannot die. understanding the purpose of the ransom will help honest-hearted ones to understand that who God is.

"... Be sure that you feed and shepard God's flock ... purchased with his blood." God had to die for us for the following reasons. A man such as Noah or Daniel couldn't die because he, too, was under the death penalty. And to be a proper subsutitute required someone who was not under any such obligation.

An angel couldn't die for us because angels do not love us. The Bible declares that only God is love. And without love, no angel would have gone through with it. He would have stumbled along the way. Too, an angel would not have had the Spirit of God within him to give him the power and love he needed to resist sin as Jesus did. An angel would have sinned and forfeited his mission. Further, no angel's life is worth the value of the human race. They are created beings, too.

This leaves God, himself. God could do it because he is love: "God so loved the world." This love would compell him to lay down his life for us. Too, God's life is worth more than the value of all humans because the one who creates is always worth more than the created. The creater can make, destroy, and make again, while the created's life is always dependent on the creator.

This verse says that God purchased the church with his own blood. Other Scriptures say Jesus shed his blood for us. This means that God and Jesus are the same. This is possible because Jesus is God's self expression to men. In other words, when Paul met God on the Damascus road God said to him, "I am Jesus ...

God as Jesus later said to Ananias, "Go over to straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you arrive, ask for Saul of Tarsus. HE IS PRAYING TO ME RIGHT NOW."

This proves that Paul prayed to Jesus as God, and we should too!

hi, anyone...
why Mr. George Lamsa's version of ACTS 20:28 is church of "Christ" not church of "GOD?"
i really want to know what comes to his mind to change it from "GOD" to "CHRIST" ^_^

Why is the part "with joy" omitted from many of the translations? Could it be that we have a difficult time associating suffering and self-denial with having joy? Maybe Paul wanted to convey that he did not count his life in the world as important because he wanted to be able to be a cheerful giver of himself to the Lord.

Nowhere in the four gospels does it state that Jesus rose from the dead on the "first day of the week". All gospels leave no doubt as to the time and day of the discovery of our Savior's empty tomb. Also there are no instructions or examples, in GOD'S word, of Christians celebrating the discovery of HIS empty tomb on Sun day morning. GOD Bless.

this verse for me proves that the interpretation of acts 20:7 justifying sunday worship is going against scripture. acts 20:7 does not command rest on sunday say sunday is hallowed to be remembered and kept holy. to go against scripture goes against God and Jesus. John 10 35 Jesus says scripture cant be broken. v20 he says I and my father are 1. John 15:10 He says I kept My fathers commandments. Luke 6:46 He says why call me Lord and not do what I say? Luke 4:16 says He went into the synagogue in Nazareth to read as was His custom. Today as then each sabbath they read from the Torah in every synagogue around the world. gentiles that are saved and truly repentant are spiritual israelites. we are adopted into Christs faith. we should obey the Word of that faith. Not what we think scripture says. Luke 4.4 man must live not by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. No scripture commands the first day to be observed or to stop observing Gods 7 holy feasts.The 7th day and 7 feasts that number is Gods number of perfection. he has a plan for the end times for Jesus to fulfill through the weekly and annual sabbaths. We need to observe them as god commanded and jesus did if we are to be right with God.

We have to thank the Apostle Paul for his faithfulness to the ministry, and how he could say that I am free from the blood of all men. Paul could say that because he did not hesitate to preach the whole council of God. Today ministers are caught up in the struggle to be politically correct, but the most important thing is to make sure that we are preaching the whole council of God. Just as the Holy Spirit testified to Paul that bonds, and afflictions awaits me in every city, we must finish the race that God has given to us. Being sure not to covet any silver, gold, or apparel of any man, rather we can work with our hands so that we can give to those who have needs. By doing this we become a model to the flock of God how that it is more blessed to give, than to receive. May the Lord bless all of those who are working in His vineyard, and whatever is right God will pay.

I now commend you to the Lord our God, Jesus Christ His Grace, who is able to build us all up and also give us inheritance, if we continue grounded in FAITH of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Book of Acts is one of my favorite books and Paul has inspired me since his encounter on the road to Damascus...We have a race to run according to Acts 20:24 and no matter what the obstacles, God has called us, He has positioned us and man cannot stop us! He will use who ever HE chooses to bless us. Paul was shipwrecked, but when it was time for him to leave Malta they had everything they needed. God gave them favor with the Barbarians! We have the power and the authority to lay hand of the sick and they will be healed!!! Amen! This "new health care reform" is going to really force God's believers to trust HIM, HIM alone and not man!!! God says "TRUST ME!"

I believe that Alexander needs to get himself a real Bible instead if a corrupted version, as this is not helping his confusion at all. The Calvinistic mindset is another thing that needs to be tossed out. It is not the problem (so called) of the old English prose in the King James Bible, but rather the problem of the interpreter. If we are not born again, (the way the Bible tells us - not the Calvinist way) of the Spirit of God, then we will never understand God's Word aright. It is not true that nobody can do any good works. Paul said of the barbarians, "They showed me much kindness." Also we read in the Gospel of Matthew how there would be those who would glorify God in heaven as they see their good works. If our standing (professed in many cases, but not "in Christ") does not correspond to our state, then there has not been a work of God done in the soul. God predestinated a "peculiar people" not to heaven, this is unscriptural, but for a purpose, "to be holy before him in love." This means living a holy and blameless life, "Be ye holy for I am holy." Our daily walk will be coming more and more comforted to our heavenly standing, if we have exercised "repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," as commanded in Acts 20:21. Calvinistic teachings must be rejected as "doctrine of devils." Only Holy Spirit discernment can open us our understanding of the Word of God, and there is only one in English, not 300 of them. Alexander, you may as well write your own Bible, as you have so much error and confusion in your post. "God is not the author if confusion." We know who is.

I really don’t know what to say, I feel like I have not myself have done anything for the lord. When I read about Paul and all the others, how much they loved one another it made me cry. When Paul did not care for himself, but wanted to do God's work I say to myself I want to do more. I read how little Paul and other had; but could not wait to get to the next town. I think now I will have a hard time feeling sorry for myself. I [will] stop and thank God for what I do have. God bless all of you.

Hi, The Romans changed the measurement of a day to be from midnight till midnight. GOD'S "first day of the week" is from sunset Saturday evening till sunset Sunday evening. Therefore this meeting could only have been on Saturday evening and then Paul left Troas on Sunday morning. Paul did not rest, worship, keep holy, or celebrate the discovery of our Savior's empty tomb on the Roman Sun day morning or the Sun day evening. This was a onetime meeting that took place over 25 years after our Savior's crucifixion. See Havdalah, The "first day of the week" always reads "One of Sabbaths" in the original Greek. GOD Bless, Jackie.

In Mathew 1:1 Jesus Christ is son of David, son of Abraham. He was made seed of David according to the flesh ( Romans 1:4). He, as seed of Abraham was promised to possess the gates of his enemies. In Abraham's seed all the nations of the earth be blessed ( Genesis 22:17-18). In Mathew 1:18) He is Child of the Holy Ghost. He came down from heaven ( John 3: 13). This Child of the Holy Ghost was the word made flesh, the only begotten of the Father ( John 1:14). The Holy Ghost is the Father. The Holy Ghost and the Father are the self same person. God is a Spirit ( John 4:24) and you must be born of water the Spirit to see the kingdom of God ( John 3:5). God is the Father and He is the Holy Ghost. God was manifest in the flesh ( 1Timothy 3:16) For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham ( Hebrews 1:16). God was manifested in the flesh make atonement for sin and to purchase His church by His own blood ( Acts 20: 28). The Shekinah glory that was in that once filled the temple in Jerusalem took a body of flesh. He became God's Choosen Place of Worship, God's Temple that He choose to put His name, the perfect realisation ofthe old testament temple (Deutromy12:5-11). Jesus was God's temple and the Church is the temple of his body ( John 2:19; Ephesians 5:30; 2:21- 22). The church of Christ, the bride is the mouthpiece of the Holy Ghost for the commission was its not ye that speak but the Holy Ghost ( Mark 13:11) and again what Holy Ghost speaks the true church speaks the same ( Revelation 22:17), for He that is Joined unto the Lord is one Spirit ( 1Corinthians 6:16). Now the Spirit of the Lord that was on Jesus is in His church even as He promised: as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD, My spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out the mouth of thy Seed's seed, from henceforth and forever( Isaiah 59:21). The witness of the Apostles and prophets in the Bible is the witness of the Holy Ghost, for they were sent by the Holy Ghost ( Acts 13:4) and they preached by the Holy Ghost ( Galatians 1 :11-12). For the church to receive the blessing of Abraham the must stay exacty with the original gospel as Spoken by the Holy Ghost through His apotles

Jesus was God manifested in the the flesh ( 1 Timothy 3:16). God is a Spirit( Holy Spirit) - John 4: 24; God was manifested in the flesh to take away the sin of the world. God purchased his church by his own blood ( acts 20:28). Isaiah 9:6 says unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and his name shall be called wonderful, counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting father. Notice hear it didnt say names but name. All the titles applied to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 refer to the self same person. He was God above us in the old testament and Immanuel (God with us) when he was manifested in the flesh. In John 14:6-11 Jesus says, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. Thomas in John 20:28 called him my Lord and God. In Titus 2:11-14, Jesus is refered to as the Great God and saviour. In 1 John 5:20 He is refered to as the true God and eternal life.

I have shown you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.( Acts 20:35) Also, I Thessalonians 5:14.

My son was talking to me about one of his video games. He said the outcome for the character you choose depends upon how much support you give that character. Depending upon how much support you can build up and give to that particular character, directly affects the outcome for that character in the game.

We are commanded to support the weak. We can directly affect the life of people by how much support we give them.

Jesus came to support the weak. He has directly affected our lives. By His support, we are made strong. By His support, we live. By His support, the broken are made whole, the lame walk, the blind see, the poor have the gospel preached unto them.

We can directly affect the lives of people by the support we give.

Comment on Hebrews verse 4, We would like to say, there is no fornication or adultery in the true Church of God. The true church is a spiritual body, the anointed candle stick of God to carry the truth to a lost & dying world. There are many types of people in the congregation that profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him & unto every good work reprobate. These are of the ungodly spoken of in 1 Peter. The only way into the true church is not by joining, but by being borned into it by spiritual birth. True righteousness has no ungodliness or sin in it because it has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we take about face turn from unrighteousness or sin unto righteous living, which is of God. The true church in Acts 20:28 is a spiritual body & the only way to get into this body is to be borned of the spirit into it. The church that you call church is a building where you assemble yourselves together to hear the Word of God. This is where many people today in religion join and are still lost without God. This is why their works are not of God and according to truth. This is why the call in Revelation is come out of her my people & not be apart of her abominations & sins. May God help you to see the truth & understand that there is no sin in the True Church of God or the spiritual body that's of God, they are all blood washed saints. The blood Cleanses from all unrighteousness...God Bless and help you all to see the Truth...

I am study for become Overseer & Minister
in church of god.

v.28 in the Greek manuscript used for the KJV has it "episkopos" and should be read in English "bishops". The 'Christian office' contemplated by the writer of Jewish background was not according to the pagan Greek concept; rather one that answers to the position of the chief priest in the hierarchy of Old which was nothing but a foreshadow of the Church hierarchy with Jesus Christ as the High Priest (cf. Heb. 10.21).

in Acts chapter 20 it reminds us always the experience of Apostle Paul when He ministered.He experienced a lot of trials and even His kinsmen wants to persecute Him but Apostle Paul continued His Ministry to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God that's why in verse 24 He says...But none of these things move me,neither count i my life dear unto myself,so that i might finish my course with joy,and the ministry,which i have received of the Lord Jesus,to testify the gospel of the grace of God....

Jesus were given his disciples and followers specific commands, a kind of worldwide works that individually should follow,if truly they are an obedient followers. This is about the preaching work about the Kingdom of God and discipleship making. Please read Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:18,20

But most people around the world still do not know what is the Kingdom of God? And which among many religions are truly followers of Jesus, since Jesus himself warned that "many" will confess him as Lord but "will deceived many"- Matthew 24:4,5

The safest things to do is to stay at home and wait someone to knock on our door. Why? Because Jesus had specific command to his true followers, at Matthew 10:5-11 Jesus commanded his follower to " Preach the good news of the kingdom of God through house to house method, village to village and city to city." Also read Acts 20:20

Yes, if we are truly determined to obey Jesus command, We should stick to his "specific" teachings and wait until we meet this kind of people, right on our doorway. Ask them like, " Do you know what is the Kingdom of God?"

Here are some truth about the Kingdom of God:

When Will
God’s Kingdom Come?

“LORD, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” ( Acts 1:6) The apostles were eager to know when Jesus would establish his Kingdom. Today, some 2,000 years later, people are still eager to know: When will God’s Kingdom come?

Since Jesus made the Kingdom the theme of his preaching, you might expect that he discussed this question. And indeed he did! He spoke extensively about a marked period of time that he called his “presence.” ( Matthew 24:37) That presence is closely tied to the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom. What is this presence? Let us consider four truths the Bible reveals about the presence of Christ.

1. Christ’s presence would begin a long time after his death. Jesus gave an illustration in which he likened himself to a man who “traveled to a distant land to secure kingly power,” or to “secure a kingdom.” ( Luke 19:12; footnote) How was that prophetic illustration fulfilled? Well, Jesus died and was resurrected; then he traveled to the “distant land,” that is, heaven. As Jesus foretold in a similar illustration, his return in kingly power would come only “after a long time.”— Matthew 25:19.

Some years after Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostle Paul wrote: “This man [Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” ( Hebrews 10:12, 13) So a lengthy period of waiting followed Jesus’ arrival in heaven. The wait finally ended when Jehovah God made his Son the King of the long-promised Messianic Kingdom. That was when Christ’s presence began. Would humans on earth see this momentous event?

2. The presence is invisible to human eyes. Remember, Jesus discussed the sign of his presence. ( Matthew 24:3) If his presence were visible to human eyes, would a sign be needed? To illustrate: Imagine that you are traveling to see the ocean. You may see road signs directing you along the way, but once you are at the shore, standing at the water’s edge with the vast expanse of water stretching out to the horizon, would you expect to see a sign with a big arrow pointing ahead, emblazoned with the word “Ocean”? Of course not! Why have a sign to point out what you can easily identify with your eyes?

Jesus described the sign of his presence, not to point out something that humans could see with their eyes, but to help them discern something that would occur in heaven. Thus, Jesus said: “The kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness.” ( Luke 17:20) How, then, would the sign show those on earth that Christ’s presence had begun?

3. Jesus’ presence would be marked by a time of profound troubles here on earth. Jesus said that his presence as King in heaven would be marked on earth by wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, and lawlessness. ( Matthew 24:7-12; Luke 21:10, 11) What would cause all this misery? The Bible explains that Satan, “the ruler of this world,” is full of rage because he knows that his time is very short now that Christ’s presence as King has begun. ( John 12:31; Revelation 12:9, 12) Such visible evidence of Satan’s rage and of Christ’s presence has been abundant in our time. Especially since 1914, a year that historians acknowledge was a turning point, has this evidence appeared on an unprecedented and global scale.

All of that may sound like bad news, but it is not. It means that the Messianic Kingdom is ruling now in heaven. Very soon, that government will exercise its rule right here over all the earth. How, though, would people know about that Kingdom in order to accept its rule and become its subjects?

The bad news we hear every day proves that good things are coming soon
Two women discussing Jesus' prophecy

4. Jesus’ presence is marked by a global preaching work. Jesus said that his presence would be like “the days of Noah.”* ( Matthew 24:37-39) Noah was more than an ark builder; he was also “a preacher of righteousness.” ( 2 Peter 2:5) Noah warned people that a judgment from God was on its way. Jesus said that his followers on earth would be doing something similar during his presence. He prophesied: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”— Matthew 24:14.

As we saw in the preceding article, God’s Kingdom will destroy all the governments of this world. The preaching work alerts people that this heavenly government is about to act, giving all an opportunity to escape the coming destruction and become subjects of that Kingdom. The key question, then, is, How will you respond?
Will God’s Kingdom Mean Good News for You?

The message that Jesus preached was one of incomparable hope. After the rebellion in Eden thousands of years ago, Jehovah God purposed to form a government that would set matters right, returning faithful humans to the condition that God had in mind for them from the start—life eternal in a paradise here on earth. What could be more thrilling than the knowledge that this long-promised government is ruling right now in heaven? It is not some remote, abstract concept but a living reality!

Now, God’s appointed King is ruling in the midst of his enemies. ( Psalm 110:2) In this corrupt world alienated from God, the Messiah is fulfilling his Father’s desire to search out all who want to come to know God as he really is and to worship him “with spirit and truth.” ( John 4:24) The hope of living forever under the rule of God’s Kingdom is available to people of all races, ages, and social backgrounds. ( Acts 10:34, 35) We urge you to take hold of the marvelous opportunity before you. Learn about God’s Kingdom now, so that you can enjoy living under its righteous rule forever!— 1 John 2:17.

versus 29 and 30 speak of a solemn warning from Paul. I believe that this is where our churches are today. The organization of the Church has about taken over the organism of the Church. The ever popular liberal ho-hum attitude of Christians today that consists of thumbing their noses at God. And the resulting tragedy is a luke-warm Church in Hell bent world.

Some of us claim to be sold out for Christ, but few actually live it. There is no greater position to be in then when you must learn to trust in the Lord with all of your heart. GOD is so amazing in being able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think. It would be nice if He could trust us, like that

I believe that all of us have to learn to deny ourselves and follow him trusting he will supply our every need daily thinking only of today I myself am learning to do that especially as I now am single having lost my wife of 44 yrs. in july God Is faithfulll He is on the throne He will supply