Acts 20:31
in Acts 20Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.
KJV
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
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This verse in Acts 20
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Therefore watch - Mat 24:42. In view of the dangers which beset yourselves Act 20:28, the danger from people not connected with the church Act 20:29, and the danger which will arise from the love of power among yourselves Act 20:30, be on your guard. Observe the approach of danger, and set yourselves against it. Remember - Recall my counsels and admonitions in reference to these dangers. By the space of three years - In Act 19:10, we are told that Paul spent two years in the school of Tyrannus.
This site's exposition
I never stopped warning
Paul sets his own labor as the measure of the elders' watching. For three years he warned each of them night and day with tears, the longest settled stay of his recorded missionary work. Tears mark his preaching here as they did at verse 19.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"How then? what comfort shall there be?" "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." See how many strong expressions are here: "with tears," and "night and day," and "every one." For it was not that if he saw many, then he came in (to the work), but even were it for a single soul, he was capable of doing everything (for that one soul). So it was, in fact, that he compacted them together (so firmly as he did). "Enough done on my part: three years have I remained:" they had establishing enough, he says; enough of roofing. "With tears," he says. Seest thou that the tears were on this account? The bad man grieves not: grieve thou: perhaps he will grieve also. As, when the sick man sees his physician partaking of food, he also is incited to do the same: so likewise here, when he sees thee weeping, he is softened: he will be a good and great man.
"Night and day," he says, "I cease not to warn with tears." This might well be said in our case also: and though the speech seems to refer peculiarly to the teachers, it is common also to the disciples. For what, though I speak and exhort and weep night and day, while the disciple obeys not? Therefore it is that he says, "I take you to record:" since also himself says, "I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have not shunned to declare unto you."
But because [Paul] said, "Night and day for three years I gave these teachings for your salvation," an allegory is revealed by this reckoning [of his]: he who utters three doctrines of the church rather often brings forth the historical and allegorical Book, proclaiming [also] …
The Medieval Church1 voice
For three years, night and day, I did not cease to admonish each one of you with tears. This is beautifully and succinctly explained by Arator: He who sings of the Church's three doctrines, often produces a Historical, moral-sounding, and typological volume; Hence Judea, lying …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Therefore watch,.... Meaning both over themselves, and the flock; to prevent, if possible, false teachers entering in, and to nip the buds of heresy and schism, as soon as they appear, and to preserve themselves, and the church, from being carried away with the error of the wicked.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
by the space of three years--speaking in round numbers; for it was nearer three than two years. I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears--What an appeal to be able to make! "And if this was an apostle's part, how much more a pastor's!" [BENGEL].
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Therefore watch, and remember - The only way to abide in the truth is to watch against evil, and for good; and to keep in mind the heavenly doctrines originally received. Unwatchfulness and forgetfulness are two grand inlets to apostasy. By the space of three years - Τριετιαν. The Greek word here does not necessarily mean three whole years: it may be months more or less. In Act 19:8, Act 19:10, we have an account of his spending two years and three months among them; probably this is all that is intended. One MS., perceiving that the time of three years was not completed, inserts διετιαν, the space of two years.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διὸ | dio | Therefore | G1352 → | 53 times |
| γρηγορεῖτε | gregoreite | do watch | G1127 → | |
| μνημονεύοντες | mnemoneuontes | remembering | G3421 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| τριετίαν | trietian | three years | G5148 → | |
| νύκτα | nukta | night | G3571 → | 61 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡμέραν | hemeran | day | G2250 → | 389 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐπαυσάμην | epausamen | I ceased | G3973 → | 15 times |
| μετὰ | meta | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| δακρύων | dakruon | tears | G1144 → | |
| νουθετῶν | noutheton | admonishing | G3560 → | |
| ἕνα | hena | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| ἕκαστον. | hekaston | each. | G1538 → | 81 times |
διὸTherefore
dioG1352 →53 times
γρηγορεῖτεdo watch
gregoreiteG1127 →
μνημονεύοντεςremembering
mnemoneuontesG3421 →
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
τριετίανthree years
trietianG5148 →
νύκταnight
nuktaG3571 →61 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡμέρανday
hemeranG2250 →389 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐπαυσάμηνI ceased
epausamenG3973 →15 times
μετὰwith
metaG3326 →461 times
δακρύωνtears
dakruonG1144 →
νουθετῶνadmonishing
nouthetonG3560 →
ἕναone
henaG1520 →343 times
ἕκαστον.each.
hekastonG1538 →81 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- 1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- 1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
Through
Colossians 1:28We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:27
and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
- Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
- Ephesians 4:11–13
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- Ephesians 5:27
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2; Bede, Commentary on Acts; J. A. Alexander, Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 44; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.