This verse teaches the supreme blessing found in selfless generosity.
“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (v.35) In these words, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers of the importance of diligent effort and sacrificial generosity. At the time Paul spoke these words, he was in Miletus, a city located on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), around AD 57 near the end of his third missionary journey. Paul’s passionate exhortation underscores the calling of Christians to reach out to those in need rather than simply looking after their own interests. He explicitly ties this principle to Jesus Christ—who taught and modeled sacrificial giving during His earthly ministry in approximately AD 26-30—showing that giving ultimately glorifies God and aligns believers with the heart of Christ (Matthew 6:3-4).
Within this single verse, Paul also reveals a communal responsibility among believers when he says, “you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus” (v.35). By urging the church to support those who are frail or lacking resources, Paul follows the example of Jesus, who consistently extended compassion to the hurting. This empathy for others is not an optional endeavor; it is central to the Christian walk. Paul’s use of the words “working hard in this manner” (v.35) hints at spiritual diligence and practical service. The believer’s willingness to serve points back to Christ’s ultimate act of love—His self-sacrifice on the cross—teaching that true spiritual fruit is best evidenced through tangible acts of care (James 2:15-16).
Finally, by attributing the phrase “It is more blessed to give than to receive” to Jesus Himself (v.35), Paul emphasizes a profound kingdom principle. The culture of giving reflects the nature of God, who gives abundantly to His children (John 3:16). Even though not recorded directly in the Gospels, these words capture the core of Jesus’s teaching: a life oriented toward loving others. Generosity is a visible fruit of a maturing faith, bearing witness to a Savior who gave everything He had for humanity’s sake.
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Acts 20:35 meaning
“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (v.35) In these words, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers of the importance of diligent effort and sacrificial generosity. At the time Paul spoke these words, he was in Miletus, a city located on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), around AD 57 near the end of his third missionary journey. Paul’s passionate exhortation underscores the calling of Christians to reach out to those in need rather than simply looking after their own interests. He explicitly ties this principle to Jesus Christ—who taught and modeled sacrificial giving during His earthly ministry in approximately AD 26-30—showing that giving ultimately glorifies God and aligns believers with the heart of Christ (Matthew 6:3-4).
Within this single verse, Paul also reveals a communal responsibility among believers when he says, “you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus” (v.35). By urging the church to support those who are frail or lacking resources, Paul follows the example of Jesus, who consistently extended compassion to the hurting. This empathy for others is not an optional endeavor; it is central to the Christian walk. Paul’s use of the words “working hard in this manner” (v.35) hints at spiritual diligence and practical service. The believer’s willingness to serve points back to Christ’s ultimate act of love—His self-sacrifice on the cross—teaching that true spiritual fruit is best evidenced through tangible acts of care (James 2:15-16).
Finally, by attributing the phrase “It is more blessed to give than to receive” to Jesus Himself (v.35), Paul emphasizes a profound kingdom principle. The culture of giving reflects the nature of God, who gives abundantly to His children (John 3:16). Even though not recorded directly in the Gospels, these words capture the core of Jesus’s teaching: a life oriented toward loving others. Generosity is a visible fruit of a maturing faith, bearing witness to a Savior who gave everything He had for humanity’s sake.