Home › Bible verses › Acts 20:35

Acts 20:35

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35, King James Version (KJV)

“In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””

World English Bible (WEB)

Read Acts 20:35 in the NIV, ESV and 13 more Bibles, with study notes and the original Greek, in the Path & Light app.

Acts 20 (KJV)

  1. 1And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
  2. 2And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
  3. 3And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
  4. 4And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
  5. 5These going before tarried for us at Troas.
  6. 6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
  7. 7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
  8. 8And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
  9. 9And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
  10. 10And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
  11. 11When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
  12. 12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
  13. 13And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
  14. 14And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
  15. 15And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
  16. 16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
  17. 17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
  18. 18And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
  19. 19Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
  20. 20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
  21. 21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
  22. 22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
  23. 23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
  24. 24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
  25. 25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
  26. 26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
  27. 27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
  28. 28Take 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.
  29. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
  30. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
  31. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
  32. 32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
  33. 33I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
  34. 34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
  35. 35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
  36. 36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
  37. 37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
  38. 38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

Related verses

Passages that readers often connect with Acts 20:35, in the King James Version.

  • Hebrews 13:16

    But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:6–12

    But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. …

  • Proverbs 19:17

    He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

  • Luke 14:12–14

    Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. …

  • Matthew 10:8

    Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

More verses about generosity

Study Acts 20:35 in the app

Read it in the NIV, ESV and 13 more Bibles, see every related verse, and ask what it means. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you once, at launch.

Read our Privacy Policy for how we handle your email. One message at launch, nothing else.

1769 standardized text (eBible.org eng-kjv). Public domain outside the United Kingdom. Text courtesy of the Crosswire Bible Society and eBible.org. World English Bible Protestant Edition (eBible engwebp, 2026-09-15 snapshot). Public domain. World English Bible is a trademark of eBible.org. Text unmodified; footnotes and formatting omitted. Related verses: OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0), from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.