Acts 20 · Verse 33

Acts 20:33

I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Acts 20:33, King James Version

Acts 20:33 in other translations

BSBI have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
WEBI coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.
ASVI coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
YLT‘The silver or gold or garments of no one did I covet;
DARBYI have coveted the silver or gold or clothing of no one.
BBEI have had no desire for any man's silver or gold or clothing.
WebsterI have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

What does Acts 20:33 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…

Read the full comment on Acts 20:32-35 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 33. I have coveted. I have not desired. I have not made it an object of my living among you to obtain your property. Thus 2Cor 12:14 he says, "I seek not yours, but you." Paul had power to demand support in the ministry as the reward of his labour, 1Cor 9:13,14. Yet he did not choose to exercise it, lest it should bring the charge of avarice against the ministry, 1Cor 9:12,15. Paul also had power in another respect. He had a vast influence over the people. The early Christians were disposed to commit their property to the disposal of the apostles. See Acts 4:34,35,37. The heathen had been accustomed to devote their property to the support of religion. Of this propensity, if the object of Paul had been to make money, he might have availed himself, and have become enriched. Deceivers often thus impose on people for the purpose of amassing wealth; and one of the incidental but striking proofs of the Christian religion is here furnished, in the appeal which the apostle Paul made to his hearers, that this had not been his motive for action. If it had been, how easy would it have been for them to have contradicted him! and who, in such circumstances, would have dared to make such an appeal? The circumstances of the case, therefore, prove that the object of the apostle was not to amass wealth. And this fact is an important proof of the truth of the religion which he defended. What should have induced him to labour and toil in this manner, but a conviction of the truth of Christianity? And if he really believed it was true, it is, in his circumstances, a strong proof that this religion is from heaven. See this proof stated in Faber's "Difficulties of Infidelity," and in Lord Lyttleton's "Letter on the Conversion of St. Paul."

Or apparel. Raiment. Changes of raiment among the ancients, as at present among the orientals, constituted an important part of their property, Mt 6:19.

(c) "I have coveted" 1Sam 12:3, 1Cor 7:12.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 33 I have coveted no man's silver, etc. - And from this circumstance they would be able to discover the grievous wolves, and the perverters; for these had nothing but their own interests in view; whereas the genuine disciples of Christ neither coveted nor had worldly possessions. St. Paul's account of his own disinterestedness is very similar to that given by Samuel of his, 1Sam 12:3-5.

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…

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Acts 20:33 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.

ἀργυρίουarguriouSilverG694
ἢēorG2228
χρυσίουchrusiougoldG5553
ἢēorG2228
ἱματισμοῦhimatismouclothingG2441
οὐδενὸςoudenosof no [one]G3762
ἐπεθύμησα·epethumēsaI coveted;G1937

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

Cross references for Acts 20:33

  • 2 Corinthians 11:9

    And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:12

    If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:18

    What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:2

    Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:5

    For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

  • 1 Corinthians 9:15

    But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:14-17

    Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

  • Numbers 16:15

    And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

  • 1 Peter 5:2

    Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

  • 1 Samuel 12:3-5

    Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand. And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Nu 16:15; 1Sa 12:3-5; 1Co 9:12,15,18; 2Co 7:2; 11:9; 12:14,17
1Pe 5:2

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Acts 20:34

    Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

Read all of Acts 20

Acts 20:33 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La plata, ó el oro, ó el vestido de nadie he codiciado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je n’ai convoité ni l’argent, ni l’or, ni la robe de personne.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich habe niemandes Silber oder Gold oder Kleidung begehrt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Argentum, et aurum, aut vestem nullius concupivi, sicut