Acts 20:31 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Therefore they must watch, remembering Paul's example: three years of warning each one, night and day, with tears.
What Does Acts 20:31 Mean?
"Watch" is the shepherd's word — stay awake, like men guarding sheep through the night. And "remember": Paul's three Ephesian years gave them the pattern. The warning was ceaseless, night and day; personal, to every one; and tender, for it came with tears.
Tears are what keep warning from souring into scolding. Paul wept over the flock as his Lord wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), and that love is why severe words never became cruel ones. Vigilance and tenderness belong together in all care of souls — in a congregation, and just as much in a home. Truth guards people; tears tell them why we speak it.
Acts 20:31 in the Original Language
gregoreo (γρηγορέω), 'watch' -- to stay awake, keeping guard through the night.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 20:31
What does Acts 20:31 mean?
Therefore they must watch, remembering Paul's example: three years of warning each one, night and day, with tears.