When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,
Parallel translations
- KJV And 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,
- BSB When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.
- NKJV And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
- NASB And when they came to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
- NLT When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul reminds the elders how he conducted himself among them from his first day in Asia. He appeals to his known and consistent example.
Overview
Paul opens his farewell by pointing to his manner of life, which the elders themselves witnessed over years of ministry. His appeal is not to boast but to model faithful, transparent leadership they should imitate. Integrity of life that matches one's message is essential to gospel ministry, as Paul consistently taught and lived.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Th 1:5–6and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.
- Acts 19:1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.
- Acts 18:19He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
- Acts 19:10This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
- 2 Th 3:7–9For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
- 1 Th 2:1–10For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain,
- 2 Tim 3:10But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
- 2 Cor 6:3–11We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
- 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 20:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.