Act 20:28, Eph 1:7, Heb 9:12, 1Pe 1:18-19 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 28. Take heed therefore . Attend to; be on your guard against the dangers which beset you, and seek to discharge your duty with fidelity. To yourselves . To your own piety, opinions, and mode of life. This is the first duty of a minister; for, without this, all his preaching will be vain. Compare . Ministers are beset with peculiar dangers and temptations, and against them they should be on their guard. In addition to the temptations which they have in common with other men, they are exposed to those peculiar to their office-- arising from flattery, and ambition, and despondency, and worldly- mindedness. And just in proportion to the importance of their office, is the importance of the injunction of Paul, to take heed to themselves. And to all the flock . The church; the charge entrusted to them. The church of Christ is often compared to a flock . ; and ; also ; and . The word flock here refers particularly to the church , and not to the congregation in general, for it is represented to be that which was purchased with the blood of the atonement. The command here is, (1.) to take heed to the church; i.e., to instruct, teach, and guide it; to guard it from enemies, and to make it their special object to promote its welfare. (2.) To take heed to ALL the flock--the rich and the poor, the bond and the free, the old and the young. It is the duty of ministers to seek to promote the welfare of each individual of their charge--not to pass by the poor because they are poor; and not to be afraid of the rich because they are rich. A shepherd regards the interest of the tenderest of the fold as much as the strongest; and a faithful minister will seek to advance the interest of all . To do this, he should know all his people; should be acquainted, as far as possible, with their peculiar wants, character, and dangers, and should devote himself to their welfare as his first and main employment. Over the which the Holy Ghost . Though they had been appointed, doubtless, by the church, or by the apostles, yet it is here represented as having been done by the Holy Ghost. It is by him, (1.) because he had called and qualified them for their work; and, (2.) because they had been set apart in accordance with his direction and will. Overseers . επισκοπους. Bishops. The word properly denotes those who are appointed to oversee, or inspect anything. This passage proves that the name was applicable to elders; and that in the time of the apostles, the name bishop and presbyter , or elder , was given to the same class of officers, and, of course, that there was no distinction between them. One term was originally used to denote office , the other age , and both were applied to the same persons in the church. The same thing occurs in , where those who in are called elders, are in called bishops. See also . To feed . ποιμαινειν. This word is properly applied to the care which a shepherd exercises over his flock. . It applies not only to the act of feeding a flock, but also to that of protecting, guiding, and guarding it. It here denotes not merely the duty of properly instructing the church, but also of governing it; of securing it from enemies, and of directing its affairs so as to promote its edification and peace. The Church of God . This is one of the three passages in the New Testament, in regard to which there has been a long controversy among critics, which is not yet determined. The controversy is, whether this is the correct and genuine reading. The other two passages are, . The Mss. and versions exhibit three readings: the church of GOD, τουθεου; the church OF THE LORD, τουκυριου; and the church of THE LORD and GOD, κυριουκαιθεου. The Latin vulgate reads it God ; the Syriac, the Lord ; the Arabic, the Lord God ; the Ethiopic, the Christian family of God . The reading which now occurs in our text is found in no ancient Mss., except the Vatican codex; and occurs nowhere among the writings of the fathers, except in Athanasius, in regard to whom also there is a various reading. It is retained, however, by Beza, Mill, and Whitby, as the genuine reading. The most ancient Mss. and the best, read the church of the Lord , and this probably was the genuine text. It has been adopted by Griesbach and Wetstein; and many important reasons may be given why it should be retained. See those reasons stated at length in Kuin�el, in loco; see also Griesbach and Wetstein. It may be remarked, that a change from Lord to God might easily be made in the transcribing, for in ancient MSS. the words are not written at length, but are abbreviated. Thus, the name Christ χριστος is written χοε; the name God θεος is written θοε; the name Lord κυριος is written κοε; and a mistake, therefore, of a single letter, would lead to the variations observable in the manuscripts. Compare in this place the Note of Mill in his Greek Testament, who thinks that the name God should be retained. The authority, however, is so doubtful, that it should not be used as a proof-text on the divinity of Christ; and is not necessary, as there are so many undisputed passages on that subject. Which he hath purchased . The word here used περιεποιησατο occurs but in one other place in the New Testament: , "For they that have used the office of deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith." The word properly means, to acquire or gain anything; or to make it ours . This may be done by a price, or by labour, etc. The noun περιποιησις derived from this verb, is several times used in the New Testament, and denotes acquisition. : "God hath appointed us to obtain [unto the obtaining or acquisition of] salvation." : "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." . In this place it means that Christ had acquired, gained, or procured the church for himself, by paying his own life as the price. The church is often represented as having thus been bought with a price, . With his own blood . With the sacrifice of his own life; for blood is often put for life, and to shed the blood is equivalent to taking the life. . The doctrines taught here are, (1.) that the death of Christ was an atoning sacrifice; that he offered himself to purchase a people to his own service. (2.) That the church is, therefore, of peculiar value-- a value to be estimated by the worth of the price paid for it. Comp. . (3.) That this fact should make the purity and salvation of the church an object of special solicitude with the ministers of the gospel. They should be deeply affected in view of that blood which has been shed for the church; and they should guard and defend it as having been bought with the highest price in the universe. The chief consideration that will make ministers faithful and self-denying is, that the church has been bought with a price. If the Lord Jesus so loved it--if he gave himself for it--they should be willing to deny themselves; to watch, and toil, and pray, that the great object of his death--the purity and the salvation of that church--may be obtained. (e) "heed" (f) "overseers" (g) "feed" (a) "purchased"

Acts 20:28

Verse 28. Take heed therefore. Attend to; be on your guard against the dangers which beset you, and seek to discharge your duty with fidelity.

To yourselves. To your own piety, opinions, and mode of life. This is the first duty of a minister; for, without this, all his preaching will be vain. Compare Col 4:17, 1Timm 4:14. Ministers are beset with peculiar dangers and temptations, and against them they should be on their guard. In addition to the temptations which they have in common with other men, they are exposed to those peculiar to their office-- arising from flattery, and ambition, and despondency, and worldly- mindedness. And just in proportion to the importance of their office, is the importance of the injunction of Paul, to take heed to themselves.

And to all the flock. The church; the charge entrusted to them. The church of Christ is often compared to a flock. Jn 10:1; and Jn 10:2-20; also Jn 21:16; and Jn 21:17.

The word flock here refers particularly to the church, and not to the congregation in general, for it is represented to be that which was purchased with the blood of the atonement. The command here is,

(1.) to take heed to the church; i.e., to instruct, teach, and guide it; to guard it from enemies, Acts 20:29 and to make it their special object to promote its welfare.

(2.) To take heed to ALL the flock--the rich and the poor, the bond and the free, the old and the young. It is the duty of ministers to seek to promote the welfare of each individual of their charge--not to pass by the poor because they are poor; and not to be afraid of the rich because they are rich. A shepherd regards the interest of the tenderest of the fold as much as the strongest; and a faithful minister will seek to advance the interest of all. To do this, he should know all his people; should be acquainted, as far as possible, with their peculiar wants, character, and dangers, and should devote himself to their welfare as his first and main employment.

Over the which the Holy Ghost. Though they had been appointed, doubtless, by the church, or by the apostles, yet it is here represented as having been done by the Holy Ghost. It is by him,

(1.) because he had called and qualified them for their work; and,

(2.) because they had been set apart in accordance with his direction and will.

Overseers. επισκοπους. Bishops. The word properly denotes those who are appointed to oversee, or inspect anything. This passage proves that the name was applicable to elders; and that in the time of the apostles, the name bishop and presbyter, or elder, was given to the same class of officers, and, of course, that there was no distinction between them. One term was originally used to denote office, the other age, and both were applied to the same persons in the church. The same thing occurs in Tit 1:5-7, where those who in Acts 20:5 are called elders, are in Acts 20:7 called bishops. See also 1Timm 3:1-10, Php 1:1.

To feed. ποιμαινειν. This word is properly applied to the care which a shepherd exercises over his flock. Jn 21:15,16. It applies not only to the act of feeding a flock, but also to that of protecting, guiding, and guarding it. It here denotes not merely the duty of properly instructing the church, but also of governing it; of securing it from enemies, Acts 20:29 and of directing its affairs so as to promote its edification and peace.

The Church of God. This is one of the three passages in the New Testament, in regard to which there has been a long controversy among critics, which is not yet determined. The controversy is, whether this is the correct and genuine reading. The other two passages are, 1Timm 3:16, 1Jn 5:7. The Mss. and versions exhibit three readings: the church of GOD, τουθεου; the church OF THE LORD, τουκυριου; and the church of THE LORD and GOD, κυριουκαιθεου. The Latin vulgate reads it God; the Syriac, the Lord; the Arabic, the Lord God; the Ethiopic, the Christian family of God. The reading which now occurs in our text is found in no ancient Mss., except the Vatican codex; and occurs nowhere among the writings of the fathers, except in Athanasius, in regard to whom also there is a various reading. It is retained, however, by Beza, Mill, and Whitby, as the genuine reading. The most ancient Mss. and the best, read the church of the Lord, and this probably was the genuine text. It has been adopted by Griesbach and Wetstein; and many important reasons may be given why it should be retained. See those reasons stated at length in Kuin�el, in loco; see also Griesbach and Wetstein. It may be remarked, that a change from Lord to God might easily be made in the transcribing, for in ancient MSS. the words are not written at length, but are abbreviated. Thus, the name Christ χριστος is written χοε; the name God θεος is written θοε; the name Lord κυριος is written κοε; and a mistake, therefore, of a single letter, would lead to the variations observable in the manuscripts. Compare in this place the Note of Mill in his Greek Testament, who thinks that the name God should be retained. The authority, however, is so doubtful, that it should not be used as a proof-text on the divinity of Christ; and is not necessary, as there are so many undisputed passages on that subject.

Which he hath purchased. The word here used περιεποιησατο occurs but in one other place in the New Testament: 1Timm 3:13, "For they that have used the office of deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith." The word properly means, to acquire or gain anything; or to make it ours. This may be done by a price, or by labour, etc. The noun περιποιησις derived from this verb, is several times used in the New Testament, and denotes acquisition. 1Thes 5:9: "God hath appointed us to obtain [unto the obtaining or acquisition of] salvation." 2Thes 2:14: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Pet 2:9, Tit 2:14, Eph 1:14. In this place it means that Christ had acquired, gained, or procured the church for himself, by paying his own life as the price. The church is often represented as having thus been bought with a price, 1Cor 6:20, 7:23, 2Pet 2:1.

With his own blood. With the sacrifice of his own life; for blood is often put for life, and to shed the blood is equivalent to taking the life. Rom 3:25. The doctrines taught here are,

(1.) that the death of Christ was an atoning sacrifice; that he offered himself to purchase a people to his own service.

(2.) That the church is, therefore, of peculiar value-- a value to be estimated by the worth of the price paid for it. Comp. 1Pet 1:18,19.

(3.) That this fact should make the purity and salvation of the church an object of special solicitude with the ministers of the gospel. They should be deeply affected in view of that blood which has been shed for the church; and they should guard and defend it as having been bought with the highest price in the universe. The chief consideration that will make ministers faithful and self-denying is, that the church has been bought with a price. If the Lord Jesus so loved it--if he gave himself for it--they should be willing to deny themselves; to watch, and toil, and pray, that the great object of his death--the purity and the salvation of that church--may be obtained.

(e) "heed" Col 4:17, 1Timm 4:16 (f) "overseers" Heb 13:17 (g) "feed" Prov 10:21, Jer 3:15, Jn 21:15-17, 1Pet 5:2,3 (a) "purchased" Eph 1:14, Col 1:14, Heb 9:12,14, 1Pet 1:18,19, Rev 5:9

Ephesians 1:7

Verse 7. In whom we have redemption. On the meaning of the word here rendered redemption-- (απολυτρωσις) -- Rom 3:24. The word here, as there, denotes that deliverance from sin, and from the evil consequences of sin, which has been procured by the atonement made by the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse is one of the passages which prove conclusively that the apostle here does not refer to nations and to national privileges. Of what nation could it be said, that it had "redemption through the blood of Jesus, even the forgiveness of sins?"

Through his blood. By means of the atonement which he has made. See this phrase fully explained in the Rom 3:25.

The forgiveness of sins. We obtain through his blood, or through the atonement he has made, the forgiveness of sins. We are not to suppose that this is all the benefit which we receive from his death, or that this is all that constitutes redemption. It is the main, and perhaps the most important thing. But we also obtain the hope of heaven, the influences of the Holy Spirit, grace to guide us and to support us in trial, peace in death, and perhaps many more benefits. Still forgiveness is so prominent and important, and the apostle has mentioned that as if it were all.

According to the riches of his grace. According to his rich grace. See a similar phrase explained Rom 2:4. The word riches, in the form in which it is used here, occurs also in several other places in this epistle, Eph 1:18, 2:7, 3:8,16. It is what Paley (Horae Paul) calls "a cant phrase," and occurs often in the writings of Paul. See Rom 2:4, 9:23, 11:12,33, Php 4:19, Col 1:27, 2:2. It is not found in any of the other writings of the New Testament, except once, in a sense somewhat similar, in James, (Jas 2:5,) "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith"? and Dr. Paley from this fact has constructed an argument to prove that this epistle was written by Paul. It is peculiar to him, and marks his style in a manner which cannot be mistaken. An impostor or a forger of the epistle would not have thought of introducing it, and yet it is just such a phrase as would naturally be used by Paul.

Hebrews 9:12

Verse 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves. The Jewish sacrifice consisted of the shedding of the blood of animals. On the great day of attonement the high priest took with him into the most holy place

(1.) the blood of a young bullock, Lev 16:3,11, which is here called the blood of a "calf," which he offered for his own sin; and

(2.) the blood of a goat, as a sin-offering for others, Lev 16:9,15. It was by, or by means of δια blood thus sprinkled on the mercy-seat, that the high priest sought the forgiveness of his own sins and the sins of the people.

But by his own blood. That is, by his own blood shed for the remission of sins. The meaning is, that it was in virtue of his own blood, or by means of that, that, he sought the pardon of his people. That blood was not shed for himself--for he had no sin--and consequently there was a material difference between his offering and that of the Jewish high priest. The difference related to such points as these,

(1.) The offering which Christ made was wholly for others; that of the Jewish priest for himself as well as for them.

(2.) The blood offered by the Jewish priest was that of animals; that offered by the Saviour was his own.

(3.) That offered by the Jewish priest was only an emblem or type--for it could not take away sin; that offered by Christ had a real efficacy, and removes transgression from the soul.

He entered into the holy place. Heaven. The meaning is, that as the Jewish high priest bore the blood of the animal into the holy of holies, and sprinkled it there as the means of expiation, so the offering which Christ has to make in heaven, or the consideration on which he pleads for the pardon of his people, is the blood which he shed on Calvary. Having made the atonement, he now pleads the merit of it as a reason why sinners should be saved. It is not, of course, meant that he literally bore his own blood into heaven--as the high priest did the blood of the bullock and the goat into the sanctuary; or that he literally sprinkled it on the mercy-seat there; but that that blood, having been shed for sin, is now the ground of his pleading and intercession for the pardon of sin--as the sprinkled blood of the Jewish sacrifice was the ground of the pleading of the Jewish high priest for the pardon of himself and the people.

Having obtained eternal redemption for us. That is, by the shedding of his blood. On the meaning of the word redemption, Gal 3:13. The redemption which the Lord Jesus effected for his people is eternal. It will continue for ever. It is not a temporary deliverance leaving the redeemed in danger of falling into sin and ruin, but it makes salvation secure, and in its effects extends through eternity. Who can estimate the extent of that love which purchased for us such a redemption? Who can be sufficiently grateful that he is thus redeemed? The doctrine in this verse is, that the blood of Christ is the means of redemption, or atones for sin. In the following verses the apostle shows that it not only makes atonement for sin, but that it is the means of sanctifying or purifying the soul.

1 Peter 1:18-19

Verse 18. Forasmuch as ye know. This is an argument for a holy life, derived from the fact that they were redeemed, and from the manner in which their redemption had been effected. There is no more effectual way to induce true Christians to consecrate themselves entirely to God, than to refer them to the fact that they are not their own, but have been purchased by the blood of Christ. That ye were not redeemed. On the word rendered redeemed, (λυτροω lutroo,) Tit 2:14. The word occurs in the New Testament only in Lk 24:21, Tit 2:14, and in this place. The noun (λυτρον--lutron) is found in Mt 20:28, Mk 10:45, rendered ransom. For the meaning of the similar word, απολυτρωσις -- (apolutrosis,) Rom 3:24. This word occurs in Lk 21:28, Rom 3:24, 8:23, 1Cor 1:30, Eph 1:7,14, 4:30, Col 1:14; Heb 9:15, in all which places it is rendered redemption; and in Heb 11:35, where it is rendered deliverance. The word here means that they were rescued from sin and death by the blood of Christ, as the valuable consideration on account of which it was done; that is, the blood, or the life of Christ offered as a sacrifice, effected the same purpose in regard to justice and to the maintenance of the principles of moral government, which the punishment of the sinner himself would have done. It was that which God was pleased to accept in the place of the punishment of the sinner, as answering the same great ends in his administration. The principles of his truth and justice could as certainly be maintained in this way as by the punishment of the guilty themselves. If so, then there was no obstacle to their salvation; and they might, on repentance, be consistently pardoned and taken to heaven.

With corruptible things, as silver and gold. On the word corruptible, as applicable to gold, 1Pet 1:7. Silver and gold usually constitute the price or the valuable consideration paid for the redemption of captives. It is clear that the obligation of one who is redeemed, to love his benefactor, is in proportion to the price which is paid for his ransom. The idea here is, that a price far more valuable than any amount of silver or gold had been paid for the redemption of the people of God, and that they were under proportionate obligation to devote themselves to his service. They were redeemed by the life of the Son of God offered in their behalf; and between the value of that life and silver and gold there could be no comparison.

From your vain conversation. Your vain conduct, or manner of life. 1Pet 1:15. The word vain, applied to conduct, (ματαιας,) means properly empty, fruitless. It is a word often applied to the worship of idols, as being nothing, worthless, unable to help, (Acts 14:15, 1Kgs 16:13, 2Kgs 17:15, Jer 2:5,8,19); and is probably used in a similar sense in this place. The apostle refers to their former worship of idols, and to all the abominations connected with that service, as being vain and unprofitable; as the worship of nothing real, (comp. 1Cor 8:4), "We know that an idol is nothing in the world;" and as resulting in a course of life that answered none of the proper ends of living. From that they had been redeemed by the blood of Christ.

Received by tradition from your fathers. The mode of worship which had been handed down from father to son. The worship of idols depends on no better reason than that it is that which has been practised in ancient times; and it is kept up now in all lands, in a great degree, only by the fact that it has had the sanction of the venerated men of other generations.

(*) "from your fathers" "delivered down from" Verse 19. But with the precious blood of Christ. On the use of the word blood, and the reason why the efficacy of the atonement is said to be in the blood, Rom 3:25. The word precious (τιμιος,) is a word which would be applied to that which is worth much; which is costly. Comp. for the use of the noun (τιμη) in this sense, Mt 27:6, "The price of blood;" Acts 4:34, 5:2,3, 7:16. See also for the use of the adjective, (τιμιος,) Rev 17:4, "gold and precious stones." Rev 18:12, "vessels of most precious wood." Rev 21:11, "a stone most precious." The meaning here is, that the blood of Christ had a value above silver and gold; it was worth more, to wit,

(1.) in itself--being a more valuable thing and

(2.) in effecting our redemption.

It accomplished what silver and gold could not do. The universe had nothing more valuable to offer, of which we can conceive, than the blood of the Son of God.

As of a lamb. That is, of Christ regarded as a lamb offered for sacrifice. Jn 1:29. Without blemish and without spot. Such a lamb only was allowed to be offered in sacrifice, Lev 22:20-24, Mal 1:8. This was required,

(1.) because it was proper that man should offer that which was regarded as perfect in its kind; and,

(2.) because only that would be a proper symbol of the great sacrifice which was to be made by the Son of God. The idea was thus kept up from age to age that he, of whom all these victims were the emblems, would be perfectly pure.

(a) "lamb" Jn 1:29,36, Rev 13:8