Paul, Priscilla and Aquila Work Cloth in Corinthby Shazz90
20:34Acts 20:34
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Paul held up his own toilworn hands to the elders as proof they knew his life, that he had coveted no one's silver or gold and had not been chargeable to any person for his support. He earned his living by the trade of tentmaking learned in youth, and by that manual labor supplied his own necessities and those of his companions, at times even hungering himself to relieve others. Though as a planter of churches he had the right to be supported, he refused it lest he burden poor churches or give occasion to suspect he preached for gain. Such honorable work takes nothing from ministerial dignity or the force of eloquent preaching, for labor that benefits humanity is a blessing and not a disgrace. His course both gave him access to souls he could not otherwise reach and stands as an example that ministers should work with their hands as circumstances demand rather than live in idleness.
Paul's Self-Supporting Ministry
Paul was appealing to the elders' own knowledge of his manner of life, holding up his toilworn hands before them as living proof that he had coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel and had not been chargeable to any person for his support. Those hands testified with remarkable impressiveness that he had supplied his own needs and the needs of those who were with him by his own work. He was not speaking mysteries but pointing to what they themselves had seen of his faithful, self-supporting labors.
He earned his living by the humble trade of tentmaking, fashioning canvas, which he had learned in youth according to the Jewish custom that every child learn a useful trade by which to gain a livelihood if necessary. That custom rested on the conviction that indolence is a great sin and that labor is elevating, and that religion and business are to be combined. Though highly educated and eloquent, a rabbi of distinguished ability chosen as a member of the Sanhedrin, whose education was not complete without apprenticeship at a trade, he learned the trade in its higher and lower branches, rejoiced to support himself working with his hands, and resorted to it whenever his means were spent to advance the cause of Christ. He was a man of learning, able in the Scriptures, an orator and minister of Christ, yet he was not ashamed or afraid of work and did not treat manual labor as in any way lowering his work in the ministry.
He did this work at Corinth while living and laboring with Aquila and Priscilla and instructing them more perfectly in the truth, and at Ephesus during three years and six months of disputing and persuading concerning the kingdom of God. Though feeble in health he labored by day in the cause of Christ and then toiled a large share of the night, frequently all night, to make provision. He continued through incessant gospel work, continual opposition from unbelieving Jews, mob attacks with insult and abuse, weariness and painfulness from unceasing toil, disease that enfeebled him, constant danger, and at times depression of spirits, while guarding a church yet young in the faith and bearing the burden of all the churches.
By his own manual labor he ministered to his own necessities and to those who were with him, earning his daily bread as a tentmaker alongside his daily preaching of the gospel. At times he suffered hunger himself to relieve others, and by diligent work and careful economy he was able to help fellow workers and worthy poor people, seeking no personal gain from the believers. He shared his earnings with Luke and helped Timothy obtain equipment for his journey. His work supplied their necessities and enabled him to help fellow workers even when doing so meant personal hardship.
Though as a laborer in the gospel who had planted many churches he had the right to receive support, he refused to be supported and was willing to forego that right. He worked at his trade so as not to be burdensome to churches pressed with poverty. He feared his usefulness as a minister might be injured by suspicions that he was preaching the gospel for gain, and he labored to remove from enemies all occasion to misrepresent him and detract from his message.
He combined this labor with extensive gospel work, teaching Scripture in public and from house to house with tears while also working at his trade. He was a wise teacher whose letters to the churches are full of instructive lessons, carrying a heavy burden for the churches, striving to show them their errors that they might correct them, seeking earnestly to lead them in the right way, and helping them in their difficulties. He traveled constantly from country to country and city to city, establishing churches and caring for even the smallest afterward, countering error and interrupting his work at the call of duty to meet and silence violent opponents and then resuming his humble employment. Yet amid all this busy activity he allowed nothing to divert him from one great purpose, constrained by the sense of God's presence to look ever unto Jesus, to press on toward the prize of his high calling, and to win souls.
The verse belongs to the farewell address in Acts 20:19-38, which preaches law and gospel in perfect harmony, declaring that the law has no power to save the transgressor of the law and thus showing the necessity of a Redeemer.
Dignity and Duty of Labor
Honorable manual labor is nothing to be ashamed of or afraid of, and does not in any way lower the work of the ministry, take away ministerial dignity, or lessen influence. Toilworn, toil-hardened hands take nothing from the force of sensible, intelligent, eloquent appeals as a Christian minister, and such work does not make a person coarse, rough, uncourteous, discourteous, discontented, nor is it degrading or inconsistent with true greatness and elevation of human and Christian character. The verse is an appeal to the elders' own knowledge of his manner of life, not mysteries, holding up those hands as proof that he coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel and was not chargeable to any man for his support while teaching Scripture and supplying his own needs and the needs of those with him. He did this though a man of learning, able in the Scriptures, an orator and minister of Christ, living and laboring with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth while instructing them more perfectly in the truth, proving that becoming a Christian does not require ceasing temporal pursuits. Any labor that benefits humanity or advances the cause of God is honorable, bread thus earned is justly earned, idleness is sin, and men and women must work, for labor is a blessing rather than a curse, disgrace, or time lost.
Skill in ordinary work, in the common arts and trades, is a gift from God, and He is to be honored even in everyday toil. As Christ Himself worked with His hands, believers are not to spend time in idle contemplation, for manual work can be joined with communion with God, thinking of God and heaven and taking the Saviour to the work, knowing He is at the right hand ready to help in every time of need. Every man must be a worker with brains and muscle and sinew, dedicated without reserve to the service of God, bearing the taxation of physical powers without counting the work belittling or degrading and without discontent, while at the same time exerting the mind to advance in spiritual knowledge and practicing the lessons taught. Working at his trade of tentmaking, learned in its higher and lower branches and often practiced during his ministry, gave Paul access to a class of people he could not otherwise have reached and opportunity to instruct fellow workers in the way of salvation. This physical toil did not weaken his ministry nor lessen the power of his appeals.
His course dignifies and honors industry and gives an example to the Christian ministry and to young ministers, presenting the highest type of Christianity and the character of a faithful, all-round Christian minister, a Christian gentleman of the highest type. Christians and ministers should as there is opportunity exercise physical as well as mental powers in earnest industrious labor rather than idleness, working with their hands and willingly practicing a trade as opportunity and circumstances demand, yet remaining ready to interrupt secular work at the call of duty to meet opposition or take a special opportunity to win souls and then resume humble employment. It is not obligatory upon ministers to do in all respects as Paul did. His zeal and industry rebuke indolence, selfish ease, and neglect of available work to help sustain themselves and avoid hindering ministry, and reprove ministers who feel they suffer hardship and privation.
Those who are able but are not specially called of God and set apart by God and the brethren by the Holy Spirit to devote their whole time to teaching the truth and carrying the message to new places should labor with their hands at what is good and supply their own necessities rather than throw themselves on the church for support. They should not spend time visiting from church to church or state to state without a special message or errand, for the churches are just as well off without that visiting unless they have a special message to deliver, nor be hurried into the field by encouragement before enduring hardships, suffering severe trials, obtaining experience, and being fitted and qualified. They can still assist in their own place, do errands for the Lord, be useful where they are, and when ministers are absent baptize and administer ordinances, but must be careful of time and when not on a special errand for God labor with their hands. Those truly called give unmistakable evidence by bearing the burden and weight of the message to new places where truth has not been preached to bring individuals into the truth, and those who have strength to work and preach at the same time do not need to depend on the influence and means of others but gain better success in convincing souls.
Such useful physical labor exercises and strengthens the body to endure the hardships of gospel service, establishes health and physical strength and keeps all parts of the body in working order. Diligence in business does not quench fervency of spirit in service for the Lord. Laboring with the hands to obtain something for the necessity of God's servants and to assist hungry souls starving for present truth, even by staying diligent in affairs at home and depriving oneself of the privilege of attending meetings abroad, is a sacrifice of personal inclinations and desires that glorifies God rather than worldly-mindedness or gratifying self, and God notices all such work by those who know the truth and are established in it.
Paul held up his own toilworn hands to the elders as proof they knew his life, that he had coveted no one's silver or gold and had not been chargeable to any person for his support. He earned his living by the trade of tentmaking learned in youth, and by that manual labor supplied his own necessities and those of his companions, at times even hungering himself to relieve others. Though as a planter of churches he had the right to be supported, he refused it lest he burden poor churches or give occasion to suspect he preached for gain. Such honorable work takes nothing from ministerial dignity or the force of eloquent preaching, for labor that benefits humanity is a blessing and not a disgrace. His course both gave him access to souls he could not otherwise reach and stands as an example that ministers should work with their hands as circumstances demand rather than live in idleness.
Paul's Self-Supporting Ministry
Paul was appealing to the elders' own knowledge of his manner of life, holding up his toilworn hands before them as living proof that he had coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel and had not been chargeable to any person for his support. Those hands testified with remarkable impressiveness that he had supplied his own needs and the needs of those who were with him by his own work. He was not speaking mysteries but pointing to what they themselves had seen of his faithful, self-supporting labors.
He earned his living by the humble trade of tentmaking, fashioning canvas, which he had learned in youth according to the Jewish custom that every child learn a useful trade by which to gain a livelihood if necessary. That custom rested on the conviction that indolence is a great sin and that labor is elevating, and that religion and business are to be combined. Though highly educated and eloquent, a rabbi of distinguished ability chosen as a member of the Sanhedrin, whose education was not complete without apprenticeship at a trade, he learned the trade in its higher and lower branches, rejoiced to support himself working with his hands, and resorted to it whenever his means were spent to advance the cause of Christ. He was a man of learning, able in the Scriptures, an orator and minister of Christ, yet he was not ashamed or afraid of work and did not treat manual labor as in any way lowering his work in the ministry.
He did this work at Corinth while living and laboring with Aquila and Priscilla and instructing them more perfectly in the truth, and at Ephesus during three years and six months of disputing and persuading concerning the kingdom of God. Though feeble in health he labored by day in the cause of Christ and then toiled a large share of the night, frequently all night, to make provision. He continued through incessant gospel work, continual opposition from unbelieving Jews, mob attacks with insult and abuse, weariness and painfulness from unceasing toil, disease that enfeebled him, constant danger, and at times depression of spirits, while guarding a church yet young in the faith and bearing the burden of all the churches.
By his own manual labor he ministered to his own necessities and to those who were with him, earning his daily bread as a tentmaker alongside his daily preaching of the gospel. At times he suffered hunger himself to relieve others, and by diligent work and careful economy he was able to help fellow workers and worthy poor people, seeking no personal gain from the believers. He shared his earnings with Luke and helped Timothy obtain equipment for his journey. His work supplied their necessities and enabled him to help fellow workers even when doing so meant personal hardship.
Though as a laborer in the gospel who had planted many churches he had the right to receive support, he refused to be supported and was willing to forego that right. He worked at his trade so as not to be burdensome to churches pressed with poverty. He feared his usefulness as a minister might be injured by suspicions that he was preaching the gospel for gain, and he labored to remove from enemies all occasion to misrepresent him and detract from his message.
He combined this labor with extensive gospel work, teaching Scripture in public and from house to house with tears while also working at his trade. He was a wise teacher whose letters to the churches are full of instructive lessons, carrying a heavy burden for the churches, striving to show them their errors that they might correct them, seeking earnestly to lead them in the right way, and helping them in their difficulties. He traveled constantly from country to country and city to city, establishing churches and caring for even the smallest afterward, countering error and interrupting his work at the call of duty to meet and silence violent opponents and then resuming his humble employment. Yet amid all this busy activity he allowed nothing to divert him from one great purpose, constrained by the sense of God's presence to look ever unto Jesus, to press on toward the prize of his high calling, and to win souls.
The verse belongs to the farewell address in Acts 20:19-38, which preaches law and gospel in perfect harmony, declaring that the law has no power to save the transgressor of the law and thus showing the necessity of a Redeemer.
Dignity and Duty of Labor
Honorable manual labor is nothing to be ashamed of or afraid of, and does not in any way lower the work of the ministry, take away ministerial dignity, or lessen influence. Toilworn, toil-hardened hands take nothing from the force of sensible, intelligent, eloquent appeals as a Christian minister, and such work does not make a person coarse, rough, uncourteous, discourteous, discontented, nor is it degrading or inconsistent with true greatness and elevation of human and Christian character. The verse is an appeal to the elders' own knowledge of his manner of life, not mysteries, holding up those hands as proof that he coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel and was not chargeable to any man for his support while teaching Scripture and supplying his own needs and the needs of those with him. He did this though a man of learning, able in the Scriptures, an orator and minister of Christ, living and laboring with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth while instructing them more perfectly in the truth, proving that becoming a Christian does not require ceasing temporal pursuits. Any labor that benefits humanity or advances the cause of God is honorable, bread thus earned is justly earned, idleness is sin, and men and women must work, for labor is a blessing rather than a curse, disgrace, or time lost.
Skill in ordinary work, in the common arts and trades, is a gift from God, and He is to be honored even in everyday toil. As Christ Himself worked with His hands, believers are not to spend time in idle contemplation, for manual work can be joined with communion with God, thinking of God and heaven and taking the Saviour to the work, knowing He is at the right hand ready to help in every time of need. Every man must be a worker with brains and muscle and sinew, dedicated without reserve to the service of God, bearing the taxation of physical powers without counting the work belittling or degrading and without discontent, while at the same time exerting the mind to advance in spiritual knowledge and practicing the lessons taught. Working at his trade of tentmaking, learned in its higher and lower branches and often practiced during his ministry, gave Paul access to a class of people he could not otherwise have reached and opportunity to instruct fellow workers in the way of salvation. This physical toil did not weaken his ministry nor lessen the power of his appeals.
His course dignifies and honors industry and gives an example to the Christian ministry and to young ministers, presenting the highest type of Christianity and the character of a faithful, all-round Christian minister, a Christian gentleman of the highest type. Christians and ministers should as there is opportunity exercise physical as well as mental powers in earnest industrious labor rather than idleness, working with their hands and willingly practicing a trade as opportunity and circumstances demand, yet remaining ready to interrupt secular work at the call of duty to meet opposition or take a special opportunity to win souls and then resume humble employment. It is not obligatory upon ministers to do in all respects as Paul did. His zeal and industry rebuke indolence, selfish ease, and neglect of available work to help sustain themselves and avoid hindering ministry, and reprove ministers who feel they suffer hardship and privation.
Those who are able but are not specially called of God and set apart by God and the brethren by the Holy Spirit to devote their whole time to teaching the truth and carrying the message to new places should labor with their hands at what is good and supply their own necessities rather than throw themselves on the church for support. They should not spend time visiting from church to church or state to state without a special message or errand, for the churches are just as well off without that visiting unless they have a special message to deliver, nor be hurried into the field by encouragement before enduring hardships, suffering severe trials, obtaining experience, and being fitted and qualified. They can still assist in their own place, do errands for the Lord, be useful where they are, and when ministers are absent baptize and administer ordinances, but must be careful of time and when not on a special errand for God labor with their hands. Those truly called give unmistakable evidence by bearing the burden and weight of the message to new places where truth has not been preached to bring individuals into the truth, and those who have strength to work and preach at the same time do not need to depend on the influence and means of others but gain better success in convincing souls.
Such useful physical labor exercises and strengthens the body to endure the hardships of gospel service, establishes health and physical strength and keeps all parts of the body in working order. Diligence in business does not quench fervency of spirit in service for the Lord. Laboring with the hands to obtain something for the necessity of God's servants and to assist hungry souls starving for present truth, even by staying diligent in affairs at home and depriving oneself of the privilege of attending meetings abroad, is a sacrifice of personal inclinations and desires that glorifies God rather than worldly-mindedness or gratifying self, and God notices all such work by those who know the truth and are established in it.