Acts 20 · Verse 32

Acts 20:32

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.
Acts 20:32, King James Version

Acts 20:32 in other translations

BSBAnd 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.
WEBNow, 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.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTand 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.
DARBYAnd 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.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Acts 20:32 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 20:32-35
32-35. I commend you to God--the almighty Conservator of His people. and to the word of his grace--that message of His pure grace (Ac 20:24) by the faith of which He keeps us (1Pe 1:5). which--that is, God. is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance, &c.--Observe how salvation--not only in its initial stages of pardon and regeneration, but in all its subsequent stages of "up-building," even to its consummation in the final inheritance--is here ascribed to the "ability" of God to bestow it, as in Ro 16:25; Ep 3:20; particularly Jude 24; and compare 2Ti 1:12, where the same thing is ascribed to Christ. among all them which are sanctified--Sanctification is here viewed as the final character and condition of the heirs of glory, regarded as one saved company.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 32. 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 παρατιθεμαι in his hands, and under his protection. Acts 14:23.

And to the word of his grace. That is, to his gracious word; to his merciful promise. To his doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ, which has been conferred on us by grace. 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. τωδυναμενω. Which word, or gospel, has power to build you up. Heb 4:12: "For the word of God is quick, [living, life-giving, ζων,] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword," etc. Comp. Isa 49:2, Jer 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; and 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 fitted by infinite wisdom to secure the renovation and salvation of man. Comp. Rom 1:16; 1Cor 1:18, 2Cor 10:4.

To build you up. The word used here is properly applied to a house, which is reared 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. It here means that the word of God was able to confirm and establish them in the hopes of the gospel, 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, Mt 19:29; Mt 25:34, Mk 10:17, Heb 6:12, Rev 21:7, Eph 1:11, 5:5, Col 1:12, 3:24 Rom 8:17, Gal 3:29.

Among all them which are sanctified. With all who are holy; with all the saints. Jn 10:36. Those who shall be saved are made holy. They who receive a part in the inheritance beyond the grave, shall 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.

(a) "which is able" Jn 17:17 (b) "inheritance among" Acts 26:18, Col 1:12, Heb 9:15, 1Pet 1:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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, etc., 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 20:28-38

If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is…

Read the full comment on Acts 20:28-38 →

Acts 20:32 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
τὰta<the>G3588
νῦνnunnowG3568
παρατίθεμαιparatithemaiI commitG3908
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἀδελφοίadelphoibrothersG80
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷtheōto GodG2316
καὶkaiandG2532
τῷtōto theG3588
λόγῳlogōwordG3056
τῆςtēsof theG3588
χάριτοςcharitosgraceG5485
αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,G846
τῷtōwhoG3588
δυναμένῳdunamenōis being ableG1410
οἰκοδομῆσαιoikodomēsaito build [it]G3618
καὶkaiandG2532
δοῦναιdounaito giveG1325
κληρονομίανklēronomianinheritanceG2817
ἐνenamongG1722
τοῖςtoisthoseG3588
ἡγιασμένοιςhēgiasmenoissanctifiedG37
πᾶσιν.pasinall.G3956

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

Cross references for Acts 20:32

  • Colossians 1:12

    Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

  • Ephesians 1:14

    Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

  • Acts 26:18

    To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  • Colossians 3:24

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

  • Ephesians 1:18

    The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

  • Hebrews 9:15

    And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

  • Colossians 2:7

    Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

  • Jeremiah 3:19

    But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

  • Jude 1:24-25

    Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

  • 1 Peter 1:4-5

    To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

  • Ephesians 5:5

    For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

  • Hebrews 13:9

    Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I commend.
14:23,26; 15:40; Ge 50:24; Jer 49:11; Jude 1:24,25
and to the.
24; Heb 13:9
to build.
9:31; Joh 15:3; 17:17; 1Co 3:9,10; Eph 2:20-22; 4:12,16; Col 2:7
Jude 1:20
and to give.
26:18; Jer 3:19; Eph 1:18; Col 1:12; 3:24; Heb 9:15; 1Pe 1:4,5
which are.
1Co 1:2; 6:11; Heb 2:11; 10:14; Jude 1:1

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

Context

  • Acts 20:31

    Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

  • Acts 20:32

    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.

  • Acts 20:33

    I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

Read all of Acts 20

Acts 20:32 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ahora, hermanos, os encomiendo á Dios, y á la palabra de su gracia: el cual es poderoso para sobreedificar, y daros heredad con todos los santificados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et maintenant je vous recommande à Dieu, et à la parole de sa grâce, qui a la puissance d’édifier et de vous donner un héritage avec tous les sanctifiés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und nun befehle ich euch Gott und dem Worte seiner Gnade, welches vermag aufzuerbauen und euch ein Erbe zu geben unter allen Geheiligten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et nunc commendo vos Deo, et verbo gratiæ ipsius, qui potens est ædificare, et dare hæreditatem in sanctificatis omnibus.