Acts 20:28
What does Acts 20:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 20:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 20:28 means
Paul commands the elders to watch themselves and all the flock. The Holy Spirit made them overseers to shepherd the church of the Lord, which He purchased with His own blood. Leadership begins with self-watch, then vigilant care for the people. Their authority is Spirit-given and their charge is sacred because the flock was bought at infinite cost: the Lord’s own blood, a clear reference to Christ’s atoning death. This grounds pastoral diligence in Christ’s love and ownership of the church. Shepherds must feed, guard, and guide, always remembering whose flock it is and what price secured it.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give attention to yourselves, and to all the flock which the Holy Spirit has given into your care, to give food to the church of God, for which he gave his blood.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers, to shepherd the assembly ofGod, which he has purchased with the blood of his own.
Context
This is the heart of Paul’s charge. On the heels of his whole-counsel ministry (verse 27), he entrusts oversight to the elders under the weighty reality that the church belongs to the Lord who shed His blood. The next verses detail the dangers: savage wolves from outside (verse 29) and perverse teachers from within (verse 30). Then Paul urges watchfulness, recalling his own tearful vigilance (verse 31), and commends them to God and His gracious word (verse 32).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 5:9
And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,
- Matthew 2:6
And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 19:6
and said to the judges, Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah; and he is with you in the judgment.
- 1 Peter 1:18
knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;
- Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
- Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
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