Acts 20:32 So now, brothers, 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.
Interestingly, this passage appears in the context of when Paul was warning the Ephesian elders about the men among them who would arise, and like ravenous wolves would not spare the flock, but would selfishly seek to gain followers after themselves.
It would stand to reason that after hearing a word so sobering as to being actually warned of this soon to come event that a further word of encouragement might be needed to offset the apprehension created by the warning.
That word of encouragement is what we have here.
Paul by the Spirit commends these brothers to what? To God, for certain that must be, but he goes on to add something else to this exhortation. He says, and to His word of grace!
Whatever it is that is motivating these ravenous wolves, these fleecers of the sheep, these men who want followers of themselves and their own opinions, it will not be combated without being commended to God, and to the word of His grace.
The Holy Spirit could have chosen to say any number of things in an effort to prepare these leaders for the coming onslaught of opposition but He chose this specific exhortation.
We know what it means to be commended to God, but what does it mean to be commended to His word of grace?
I think it merits more consideration, how about you? Especially if the promise attached to it is that it will build us up and give us an inheritance among the sanctified.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
