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Acts 20:17-38
- Legacy builders build on what they do (Acts 20:17-27, 33-35)
- Live with integrity (Acts 20:17-19)
- Speak with conviction (Acts 20:20-21)
- Act conviction (Acts 20:22-27)
- Give with generosity (Acts 20:33-35)
- Legacy builders leave profitable wisdom (Acts 20:28-31)
- Exhort with wisdom
- Legacy builders recognize the real influence (Acts 2o:32)
- Pass off with grace
- Legacy builders love and are loved (Acts 20:36-38)
- Love with sincerity
(how-to guide for building your legacy)
Big Idea: Write your eulogy today.
“In light of your future hopes and dreams what is the wise thing to do.”
– Part of Andy Stanley’s Best Question Ever
Other Notes:
- In the early church it appears as if the 2 terms πρεσβύτερος (“presbuteros” – elder in v. 17) and ἐπίσκοπος (“episkopos” – overseer in v. 28) are used synonymously. In the second century with Ignatius and Iranaeus the church distinguished between the office of bishop (ἐπίσκοπος) and the office of priest (πρεσβύτερος). This began the hierarchical leadership structure that we see in the Catholic Church today: Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, etc. These offices were never intended by the apostles as evidence by these 2 terms being used synonymously. This is why LifeBridge is simply an elder (πρεσβύτερος and ἐπίσκοπος) led church.
- In v. 22 the word Spirit (πνεῦμα “pneuma”) could be referencing either the Holy Spirit or Paul’s spirit. The NKJV and the KJV translate it as spirit. The other major English translations (NIV, ESV, NLT, NASB, NRSV) all translate it as Spirit. I believe the later to be the correct translation due to the reference to the Holy Spirit immediately following in v. 23.
- Your Bible may have a footnote after God in v. 28 indicating a textual variant in the manuscript evidence. Some manuscripts read “church of the Lord” instead of, “church of God”.
- Manuscripts containing “church of God” – Two 4th century, one 10th c., one 12th, and one 13th c. among others
- Manuscripts containing “church of the Lord” – Four 5th c. and one 7th c., two 10th c., one 11th c., and one 14th c. among others
- Some manuscripts also contain “church of God and of the Lord”
- All major English translations (NIV, ESV, NLT, NASB, NRSV, NKJV, KJV) read “church of God”.
- “Church of God” is most likely the original wording because it is the most awkward. The next clause (“which he obtained with his blood”) is obviously in reference to Jesus. In this case it is easy to see how a scribe would have tried to clarify the meaning of the text and either add or substitute “of the Lord” for easier reading.
- For further reading on Paul’s decision to forgo his right to be provided for see 1 Corinthians 9:4-14 and Luke 10:7