Acts 20:32

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

And 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 who are sanctified.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
"Now I am putting you in God's care. I am depending on the message about his grace to make you strong. That message is able to give you the blessings that God gives to all his holy people.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And now brethren I comende you to God and to the worde of his grace which is able to bylde further and to geve you an inheritaunce amoge all them which are sanctified.

Hebrew Names Version
Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

International Standard Version
"I am now entrusting you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.Acts 9:31; 26:18; Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:12; 3:24; Hebrews 9:15; 13:9; 1 Peter 1:4;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
"And now I entrust 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.

New Century Version
"Now I am putting you in the care of God and the message about his grace. It is able to give you strength, and it will give you the blessings God has for all his holy people.

Update Bible Version
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 that are sanctified.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 who are sanctified.

English Standard Version
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.

World English Bible
Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified.

Weymouth's New Testament
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace. He is able to build you up and to give you your inheritance among His people.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And now Y bitake you to God and to the word of his grace, that is myyti to edifie and yyue eritage in alle that ben maad hooli.

English Revised Version
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 them that are sanctified.

Contemporary English Version
I now place you in God's care. Remember the message about his great kindness! This message can help you and give you what belongs to you as God's people.

Amplified Bible
"And now I commend you to God [placing you in His protective, loving care] and [I commend you] to the word of His grace [the counsel and promises of His unmerited favor]. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the [rightful] inheritance among all those who are sanctified [that is, among those who are set apart for God's purpose—all believers].

American Standard Version
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 them that are sanctified.

Bible in Basic English
And now, I give you into the care of God and the word of his grace, which is able to make you strong and to give you your heritage among all the saints.

Complete Jewish Bible
"And now I entrust you to the care of the Lord and to the message of his love and kindness, for it can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who have been set apart for God.

Darby Translation
And now I commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build [you] up and give [to you] an inheritance among all the sanctified.

Etheridge Translation
And now I commend you to Aloha, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance with all the saints.

Murdock Translation
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 an inheritance among all the saints.

King James Version (1611)
And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you vp, and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

New Living Translation
"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.

New Life Bible
"And now, my brothers, I give you over to God and to the word of His love. It is able to make you strong and to give you what you are to have, along with all those who are set apart for God.

New Revised Standard
And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And nowe brethren, I commend you to God, and to the worde of his grace, which is able to build further, and to giue you an inheritance, among all them, which are sanctified.

George Lamsa Translation
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 an inheritance among all the saints.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, therefore, I commend you unto the Lord, and unto his word of favour, - which is able to build up and give the inheritance among all the hallowed ones.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified.

Revised Standard Version
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.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And nowe brethren I commende you to God, and to the worde of his grace, which is able to buylde further, and to geue you an inheritaunce among all the which are sanctified.

Good News Translation
"And now I commend you to the care of God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the blessings God has for all his people.

Christian Standard Bible®
“And now I commit 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 who are sanctified.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
"And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Literal Translation
And now, brothers, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build up and to give you inheritance among all those being sanctified.

Young's Literal Translation
and now, I commend you, brethren, to God, and to the word of His grace, that is able to build up, and to give you an inheritance among all those sanctified.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And now brethren I commende you vnto God, and to ye worde of his grace, which is mightie to edifye you, and to geue you the enheritaunce amoge all them that are sanctified.

Mace New Testament (1729)
and now, my brethren, I recommend you to God, and to his gracious dispensation, which is able to improve you, and secure to you the inheritance with those who are sanctify'd.

THE MESSAGE
"Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

New English Translation
And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

New King James Version
"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.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"And now I'm turning y'all loose on your own to follow God. He will take great care of you and make you into the cowboys you could never become on your own. He's going to make y'all strong, and to the strong, he will give an inheritance that cannot be measured. This is the reward to all those who faithfully served him.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"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.

Legacy Standard Bible
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 have been sanctified.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. ¹⁸When they came to him, he said, "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. ¹⁹I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, and in the trials I faced through the plots of the Jews. ²⁰I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, ²¹testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus. ²²And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me. ²⁴But I consider my life of no value to myself, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus-the ministry of testifying to the good news of God's grace. ²⁵Now I know that none of you among whom I have preached the kingdom will see my face again. ²⁶Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I commend: Acts 14:23, Acts 14:26, Acts 15:40, Genesis 50:24, Jeremiah 49:11, Jude 1:24, Jude 1:25

and to the: Acts 20:24, Hebrews 13:9

to build: Acts 9:31, John 15:3, John 17:17, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 3:10, Ephesians 2:20-22, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 4:16, Colossians 2:7, Jude 1:20

and to give: Acts 26:18, Jeremiah 3:19, Ephesians 1:18, Colossians 1:12, Colossians 3:24, Hebrews 9:15, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Peter 1:5

which are: 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 10:14, Jude 1:1

Reciprocal: Acts 14:3 - the word Romans 15:16 - being Romans 16:25 - to him Ephesians 1:11 - we 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - your 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - sanctify 1 Peter 1:2 - sanctification

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And now brethren,.... So the apostle calls the elders of the church at Ephesus; though they had not the same gifts, and were not in the same high office as he was, yet he puts himself upon a level with them, as if he and they were fellow elders, as Peter calls himself, 1 Peter 5:1 which is an instance of the apostle's humility and affection:

I commend you to God; to God the Father; to his grace, to supply all their need; to his wisdom, to direct them in all their affairs; and to his power, to keep them from the sins and corruptions of the times, and from the errors and heresies now broaching, or to be broached.

And to the word of his grace: either the Gospel, before called the Gospel of the grace of God, Acts 20:24 This is sometimes called "the word", the word of faith, of truth, of righteousness, of reconciliation and salvation; and is "his" word, the word of God, and not of man; it comes from him, is concerning him, and is succeeded by him; and it is the word of "his grace", since it publishes his free grace and mercy in Christ Jesus, and declares salvation to, be wholly of the grace of God; to which this church is commended by the apostle as a rule of faith and practice, to attend unto, and abide by, and as a preservative from those errors and heresies which he had observed would spring up among them, and which would be for their instruction, comfort, and establishment: or else the Lord Jesus is intended, who is the eternal and essential word of God; who, as the word, inwardly conceived, is the image of the mind, equal to it, and yet distinct from it, so Christ is the image of the invisible God, equal to him, and yet a distinct person from him; and as the word expressed is the interpreter of the mind, so Christ the word, who was in the beginning with God, and lay in his bosom, has spoke all things from him, declared his mind, and explained his will: besides, he is the word who in the everlasting council and covenant spoke on the behalf of all his people, asked for every blessing for them, and engaged to be the surety of them; and is the word, who, in the beginning of time, spoke all things out of nothing; and now is the advocate, and speaks for the saints in heaven, as well as he has been the word spoken of by all the holy prophets from the beginning of the world: and he may be thought the rather to be designed, since the saints never commend themselves, or others, either in life, or in death, to any but to a divine person; nor is any but a divine person capable of taking the care and charge of the saints, and of making it good; nor will they trust any other; nor are the saints ever said to be committed or commended to the Gospel, but on the other hand, that is said to be committed to them: the written word is committed to the care and keeping of the saints, but not the saints to the care and keeping of that; nor does it appear so agreeable to put the written word upon a level with the divine Being; a commendation of the saints, equally to the written word, as to God himself, seems to be a lessening of the glory of the divine Being, and an ascribing too much to the word, but suits well with Christ the essential word: and who may be called the word of his grace, because the grace of God is greatly displayed in him; and because all fulness of grace dwells in him; and he is the author, donor, and object of all grace, and so a proper person to be commended to; and what follows is very applicable to him:

which is able to build you up: in faith and holiness, and on himself, the sure foundation; for though the Gospel is an instrument in the hands of the Spirit of God, in building up saints on their most holy faith, yet Christ is the master builder; it is he that builds the temple, the church, and every particular believer, and must bear the glory. The saints, though they are built on Christ the foundation, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail, and so are safe; yet they stand in need of building up, or of edification; and a church may be said to be built up, or edified, when additions are made unto it of such as shall be saved; and particular members are built up, when additions are made to their grace, or they grow in the exercise of it; when their spiritual strength increases, when their understandings are more enlightened, their judgments better informed, and their memories filled with divine truths and Gospel doctrines; when they are more and more confirmed in the faith of Christ, both as a grace, and as a doctrine; and their wills are brought to a greater resignation to the will of God, as well as their afflictions are set upon things in heaven, and their souls are more seeking after them: and now this is what God is able to do, and does do; for except he builds, in vain do the builders build; he causes all grace to abound; and so does his word, his essential word; he is the author and finisher of faith, and gives both grace and glory, as it follows:

and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified: by the inheritance is meant the heavenly glory, which is a free grace gift and not obtained by the works of the law, or the industry of men. It is a distribution by lot, as the land of Canaan was, even by the lot of God's eternal purpose and decree: it is what belongs to children, to the children of God, and them only; and therefore bears this name, and comes unto them upon, and in consequence of the death of Christ the testator: it is his righteousness which entitles unto it; and it is the grace of God which makes meet for it; and the Spirit of God is the earnest of it: it is an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in the heavens, and is an eternal one; it lies in light, and among the saints there. God is able to give it; it is a gift of his grace, of his sovereign will, which he gives to whom he pleases; it is an inheritance of his preparing and disposing, which he calls unto, makes meet for, and bestows: and Christ, the word of his grace, is able to give it; it is in his hands, not only the promise of it, but that itself; he is in possession of it, and it is in his power to give it; and he does give it to all that the Father has given him, and who are here described from their sanctification; for this is only enjoyed by such, who are set apart by God the Father, whose sins are expiated by the blood of Christ, and to whom he is made sanctification, and who are sanctified by the blessed Spirit. Now though the Gospel, the written word, may be as a map, which shows where this inheritance lies, and which is the way to it; yet it is Christ, the living word, who gives the right unto it, the meetness for it, the earnest of it, and will put into the possession of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And now, brethren - About to leave them, probably to see them no more, he committed them to the faithful care and keeping of God Amidst all the dangers of the church, when human strength fails or is withdrawn, we may commit that church to the safe keeping and tender care of God.

I commend you - I commit you; I place you παρατίθεμαι paratithemai in his hands and under his protection. See the notes on Acts 14:23.

And to the word of his grace - That is, to his gracious word; to his merciful promise. Paul refers, doubtless, to the gospel, including its promises of support, its consoling truths, and its directions to seek all needful help and comfort in God.

Which is able - Which has power. Τῷ δυναμένῳ Tō dunamenō. Which word, or gospel, has power to build you up, Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is quick (living, life-giving, ζῶν zōn), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, etc.” Compare Isaiah 49:2; Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” It is implied here that the gospel is not a dead letter; that it has power to accomplish a great work; that it is adapted to the end in view, the conversion and sanctification of the soul. There is no danger in representing the gospel as mighty, and as suited by infinite wisdom to secure the renovation and salvation of man. Compare Romans 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 2 Corinthians 10:4.

To build you up - The word used here is properly applied to a house which is raised and completed by slow degrees, and by toil. It here means to establish, make firm, or permanent, and hence, to instruct, to establish in doctrine and in hope. The idea is, that the Word of God was able to confirm and establish them, amidst the dangers to which they would be exposed.

And to give you an inheritance - To make you heirs, or to make you joint partakers with the saints of the blessings in reserve for the children of God. Those blessings are often represented as an inheritance, or heirship, which God will confer on his adopted children, Matthew 19:29; Matthew 25:34; Mark 10:17; Hebrews 6:12; Revelation 21:7; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:24; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29.

Among all them which are sanctified - With all who are holy; with an the saints. See the notes on John 10:36. Those who shall be saved are made holy. They who receive a part in the inheritance beyond the grave will have it only among the sanctified and the pure. They must, therefore, be pure themselves, or they can have no part in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 32. I commend you to God — Instead of τῳ Θεῳ, to GOD, several MSS. have τῳ Κυριῳ, to the LORD; neither reading makes any difference in the sense.

And to the word of his grace — The doctrine of salvation by Christ Jesus.

Which is able to build you up — The foundation is Jesus Christ; God is the great master-builder; the doctrine of his grace, or mercy, points out the order and manner, as well as the extent, c., of this building. Let us observe the order of these things:

1. The soul of man, which was formerly the habitation of God, is now in a state of ruin.

2. The ruins of this soul must be repaired, that it may again become a habitation of God through the Spirit.

3. Jesus Christ is the only foundation on which this house can be rebuilded.

4. The doctrine of God's grace is the model, or plan, according to which the building can be raised.

5. When re-edified, each is to be a lively temple of the Lord, made inwardly pure and outwardly righteous, and thus prepared for a state of bliss.

6. Being made children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus, and sanctified by his Spirit, they have a right to the heavenly inheritance for only the children of the family can possess the celestial estate.

Thus we find they must be saved by grace, and be made thereby children of God; be sanctified by his Spirit; and, then, being prepared for, they are removed, in due time, into the heavenly inheritance.