Acts 20:28 Meaning and Explanation
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who lead God's people are to guard and feed a flock that cost Him His own blood.
The Context of Acts 20:28
Paul is giving his farewell charge to the elders of the church at Ephesus, gathered with him at Miletus (verses 17 to 18). He knows hard days are coming for them, with wolves that will not spare the flock (verse 29), and these are his parting instructions to the men who will shepherd the church after he is gone.
What Does Acts 20:28 Mean?
Paul leans on a picture as old as the prophets: God's people are a flock, and their leaders are shepherds. He tells the elders to take heed first to themselves, then to 'all the flock', because a shepherd cannot guard others while neglecting his own soul. He reminds them how they got the job. They did not appoint themselves; 'the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers'. Their work is to 'feed' the flock, to nourish and watch over the church the way a shepherd leads sheep to pasture and stands between them and danger. It is care, vigilance, and tenderness all at once.
Then Paul gives the weightiest reason of all to do this well. This flock is 'the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood'. The people in their care are not their own; they were bought at the highest price, the very life of God poured out for them. To see how precious the church is, look at what it cost. That is the heart of it: the flock matters this much because Jesus loved it this much. Every soul a shepherd tends is one Christ thought worth dying for, and that is what makes the work holy.
Acts 20:28 in the Original Language
poimaino (ποιμαίνω), 'feed' -- to shepherd, to tend a flock: to feed, lead, guard, and care for the sheep.
How to Apply Acts 20:28 Today
This verse shows us how God measures the worth of His people: by the price He paid for them, His own blood. Those who lead are asked to guard their own hearts first, then to feed and protect the flock with that costliness in view. Whether or not we lead, we can see one another as Christ does, as souls He counted worth dying for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 20:28
What does Acts 20:28 mean?
Those who lead God's people are to guard and feed a flock that cost Him His own blood.
What is the context of Acts 20:28?
Paul is giving his farewell charge to the elders of the church at Ephesus, gathered with him at Miletus (verses 17 to 18). He knows hard days are coming for them, with wolves that will not spare the flock (verse 29), and these are his parting instructions to the men who will shepherd the church after he is gone.
How can I apply Acts 20:28 today?
This verse shows us how God measures the worth of His people: by the price He paid for them, His own blood. Those who lead are asked to guard their own hearts first, then to feed and protect the flock with that costliness in view. Whether or not we lead, we can see one another as Christ does, as souls He counted worth dying for.