Act 20:28 | TNotes | STEP | 20:28 Paul refers to the church as God’s people and God’s flock (cp. 1 Pet 2:25 ; 5:2 , 4 ). Elsewhere the church is called the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27 ; Eph 1:23 ; 4:12 ; Col 1:24 ); the bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2 ; Rev 19:7 ; see Eph 5:25-32 ); the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16 ; 2 Cor 6:16 ); a chosen people , royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession (1 Pet 2:9 ); and God’s field , God’s building (1 Cor 3:9 ). • Paul expected the leaders to feed and shepherd the church over which the Holy Spirit had appointed them as leaders (see 1 Tim 3:1-7 ; Titus 1:5-7 ; 1 Pet 5:1-4 ; cp. Acts 6:2-4 ).

20:28 ^a Paul refers to the church as God’s people and God’s flock (cp. 1 Pet 2:25 ^b; 5:2 ^c, 4 ^d). Elsewhere the church is called the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27 ^e; Eph 1:23 ^f; 4:12 ^g; Col 1:24 ^h); the bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2 ⁱ; Rev 19:7 ^j; see Eph 5:25-32 ^k); the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16 ^l; 2 Cor 6:16 ^m); a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession (1 Pet 2:9 ⁿ); and God’s field, God’s building (1 Cor 3:9 ^o).

• Paul expected the leaders to feed and shepherd the church over which the Holy Spirit had appointed them as leaders (see 1 Tim 3:1-7 ^p; Titus 1:5-7 ^q; 1 Pet 5:1-4 ^r; cp. Acts 6:2-4 ^s).