Acts 20 · Verse 19

Acts 20:19

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Acts 20:19, King James Version

Acts 20:19 in other translations

BSBI served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews.
WEBserving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
ASVserving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;
YLTserving the Lord with all humility, and many tears, and temptations, that befell me in the counsels of the Jews against me;
DARBYserving the Lord with all lowliness, and tears, and temptations, which happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
BBEDoing the Lord's work without pride, through all the sorrow and troubles which came on me because of the evil designs of the Jews:
WebsterServing the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

What does Acts 20:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Serving the Lord--Jesus. with all humility ... and many tears and temptations--Self-exaltation was unknown to him, and ease of mind: He "sowed in tears," from anxieties both on account of the converts from whom he "travailed in birth," and of the Jews, whose bitter hostility was perpetually plotting against him, interrupting his work and endangering his life.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Serving the Lord. In the discharge of the appropriate duties of his apostolic office, and in private life. To discharge aright our duties in any vocation is serving the Lord. Religion is often represented in the Bible as a service rendered to the Lord.

With all humility. Without arrogance, pride, or a spirit of dictation; without a desire to "lord it over God's heritage ;" without being elated with the authority of the apostolic office, the variety of the miracles which he was enabled to perform, or the success which attended his labours. What an admirable model for all who are in the ministry, for all who are endowed with talents and learning, and for all who meet with remarkable success in their work. The proper effect of such success, and of such talent, will be to produce true humility. Eminent success in the work of the ministry tends to produce lowliness and humbleness of mind; and the greatest endowments are usually connected with the most simple and childlike humility.

And with many tears. Paul not unfrequently gives evidence of the tenderness of his heart, and his regard for the souls of men, and his deep solicitude for the salvation of sinners, Acts 20:31; Php 3:18, 2Cor 2:4. The particular thing, however, here specified as producing weeping, was the opposition of the Jews. But it cannot be supposed that those tears were shed from an apprehension of personal danger. It was rather because the opposition of the Jews impeded his work, and retarded his progress in winning souls to Christ. A minister of the gospel will

(1.) feel, and deeply feel, for the salvation of his people. He will weep over their condition when he sees them going astray, and in danger of perishing, He will

(2.) be especially affected with opposition, because it will retard his work, and prevent the progress and the triumph of the gospel. It is not because it is a personal concern, but because it is the cause of his Master.

And temptations. Trials, arising from their opposition. We use the word temptation, in a more limited sense, to denote inducements offered to one to lead him into sin. The word in the Scriptures most commonly denotes trials of any kind.

Which befell me. Which happened to me; which I encountered.

By the lying in wait, etc. By their snares and plans were designed to blast his reputation, and to destroy his usefulness.

(e) "humility" 1Cor 15:9,10 (f) "many tears" Php 3:18 (g) "temptations" 2Cor 4:8-11 (&) "temptations" "trials"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Serving the Lord with all humility, etc. - This relates not only to his zealous and faithful performance of his apostolic functions, but also to his private walk as a Christian; and shows with what carefulness this apostle himself was obliged to walk, in order to have his calling and election, as a Christian, ratified and made firm.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 20:17-27

The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable…

Read the full comment on Acts 20:17-27 →

Acts 20:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

δουλεύωνdouleuōnservingG1398
τῷtōtheG3588
κυρίῳkuriōLordG2962
μετὰmetawithG3326
πάσηςpasēsallG3956
ταπεινοφροσύνηςtapeinophrosunēshumilityG5012
καὶkaiandG2532
πολλῶνpollōnmanyG4183
δακρύωνdakruōntearsG1144
καὶkaiandG2532
πειρασμῶνpeirasmōntrialsG3986
τῶνtōnthatG3588
συμβάντωνsumbantōnwere happeningG4819
μοιmoito meG3165
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
ἐπιβουλαῖςepiboulaisplotsG1917
τῶνtōnof theG3588
Ἰουδαίων·IoudaiōnJews;G2453

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 20:19

  • Colossians 3:24

    Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:4

    For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:7-11

    But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. …

  • Romans 12:11

    Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

  • Acts 20:3

    And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:5

    For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

    And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • Acts 14:19-20

    And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

  • Jeremiah 13:17

    But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:5

    Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

  • Philippians 3:18

    (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

  • James 1:2

    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Serving.
27:23; Joh 12:26; Ro 1:1,9; 12:11; Ga 1:10; Eph 6:7; Col 3:24
1Th 1:9; 2Pe 1:1; Re 7:15
with all.
1Co 15:9,10; 2Co 3:5; 7:5; 12:7-10; Ga 4:13,14
many.
31; Ps 119:136; Jer 9:1; 13:17; Lu 19:41; 2Co 2:4; Php 3:18; 2Ti 1:4
temptations.
1Co 4:9-13; 2Co 4:7-11; 11:23-30; Jas 1:2; 1Pe 1:6
by the.
3; 9:23-25; 13:50,51; 14:5,6,19,20; 17:5,13; 2Co 11:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 20:18

    And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

  • Acts 20:19

    Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

  • Acts 20:20

    And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

Read all of Acts 20

Acts 20:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sirviendo al Señor con toda humildad, y con muchas lágrimas, y tentaciones que me han venido por las asechanzas de los Judíos:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		servant le Seigneur en toute humilité, et avec des larmes, et des épreuves qui me sont arrivées par les embûches des Juifs;
German
Elberfelder 1871		dem Herrn dienend mit aller Demut und mit Tränen und Versuchungen, welche mir durch die Nachstellungen der Juden widerfuhren;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		serviens Domino cum omni humilitate, et lacrimis, et tentationibus, quæ mihi acciderunt ex insidiis Judæorum: