Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 20:24
Verse 24. None of these things move me] oudenov logon poioumai; I consider them as nothing; I value them not a straw; they weigh not with me. Neither count I my life dear] I am not my own; my life and being are the Lord's; he requires me to employ them in his service; I act under his direction, and am not anxious about the issue.
Finish my course with joy] ton dromon mou, My ministerial function.
We have already met with this word in application to the same subject, chap. xiii. 25, where see the note. And the apostle here adds, by way of explanation, kai thn diakonian, even that ministry which I have received of the Lord. The words meta carav, with joy, are omitted by ABD, some others; the Syriac, Erpen, Coptic, Sahidic, AEthiopic, Vulgate, and some of the fathers. If we consider them as genuine they may imply thus much: that the apostle wished to fulfill his ministry in such a way as might meet with the Divine approbation; for nothing could give him joy that did not please and glorify God.
To testify] diamarturasqai, Earnestly, solemnly, and strenuously to assert, vindicate, and prove the Gospel of the grace of God, not only to be in itself what it professes to be, but to be also the power of God for salvation to every one that believes.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 24. But none of these things move me , etc.] From the hope of the Gospel, nor from the ministry of the word, nor from his journey to Jerusalem; they did not shake his faith, nor inject fear into him, nor cause him to alter his purpose and design: neither count I my life dear unto myself : life is a very valuable thing, no outward or temporal enjoyment can be dearer to a man than life; all that he has he will give for his life: this therefore must not be understood in an absolute sense, as if the apostle despised his life, and esteemed of it meanly, when it was the gift of God, and had been not only so eminently preserved in providence, but had been so useful in a way of grace to so many valuable purposes; but it must be taken in a comparative sense, with respect to Christ and his Gospel, and when it should be called for to be laid down for him; and that, in such circumstances, and under such considerations, he made no account of it at all, but preferred Christ and his Gospel to it: this sense appears by what follows, so that I might finish my course with joy ; the course and race of his life, ending it by suffering cheerfully and joyfully for Christ; or his Christian course and race, which began at his conversion, ending that with a joyful prospect of being with Christ in an endless eternity; or else the course of his ministry, sealing that with his blood, and rejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ, and so he did finish his course, ( 2 Timothy 4:7) and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus ; which seems to be explanative of the former, or of what is meant by his course, namely his ministry, the ministry of the Gospel: Bezas ancient copy, and the Vulgate Latin version read, the ministry of the word; this he had received from Christ, both the Gospel which he ministered, and gifts qualifying him for it, and a mission and commission to minister it; and which he was desirous of fulfilling in such a manner, as to give up his account with joy to him from whom he had received it, and to whom he was accountable; namely, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God ; to profess and preach it, to bear a constant and public testimony to it at death, as in life, and faithfully to declare it, and assert it to the last; which he calls not only the Gospel, or good news of salvation by Christ; but the Gospel of the grace of God: which brings the account of the free grace, love, and mercy of God, displayed in the scheme of salvation of the grace of God the Father, in pitching his love upon any of the sons of men; not because they were better and more deserving of his favour, than others, but because of his sovereign will and pleasure, who will be gracious to whom he will be gracious; and in choosing them in Christ unto salvation, before they had done good or evil, and without any consideration or foresight of, or motive from good works hereafter done by them; in drawing the scheme and model of their salvation in Christ, appointing him to be the author of it; and in making a covenant of grace with him, stored with all the blessings and promises of grace; and in sending him, in the fulness of time, to suffer and die for them, not sparing him, but delivering him up for them all, and giving all things freely with him; and in accepting the sacrifice, satisfaction, and righteousness of his Son on their account, as if done by themselves. It also gives an account of the grace of Christ in undertaking the salvation of men; in assuming their nature, and becoming mean and low in it; in dying for their sins; in his intercession for them at the right hand of God; and in the care he takes of them in this world, until he has brought them safe home to himself.
Likewise it gives an account of the grace of the Spirit in regeneration and sanctification; in working faith in the hearts of men; in being a comforter to them, a witnesser of their adoption, the earnest of their inheritance, and the sealer of them unto the day of redemption. And the Gospel may be so called, because all the doctrines of it are doctrines of grace; it asserts election to be of grace, and not of works; and ascribes the justification of a sinner to the free grace of God, through the righteousness of Christ, imputed without works and received by faith, which faith is the gift of God, and it denies it to be of the deeds of the law; it represents the pardon of sin to be according to the riches of Gods grace, though it is through the blood of Christ, and not owing to humiliation, repentance, confession, and new obedience, as causes of it; it attributes regeneration and conversion to the abundant mercy, the free favour of God, and to the efficacy of his grace, and not to the will of the flesh, or the will of man; and in a word, as the great doctrine of it is salvation, whence it is called the Gospel of salvation, it declares that the whole of salvation, from first to last, is all of grace. And it may also bear this name, because it is a means of conveying grace unto, and implanting it in the hearts of men; regenerating grace comes this way; God begets men by the word of truth, they are born again of incorruptible seed by it; the Spirit of God, as a spirit of sanctification, is received through it, and faith comes by hearing it; and both that and hope, and every other grace, are quickened, encouraged, and drawn forth into exercise by it; all which is, when it is attended with the Spirit of God and power: and this being the nature and use of the Gospel, made it so precious and valuable to the apostle, and made him so intent upon testifying it, and fulfilling the ministry of it, and to prefer it to life and everything in this world; and it cannot but be highly valued and greatly desired by all those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Bezas ancient copy, and some others, read, to testify to Jews and Greeks the Gospel of the grace of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-27 - The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those wh would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one tha spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitabl preacher; one that aimed to inform their judgments, and reform their hearts and lives. He was a painful preacher, very industrious in his work. He was a faithful preacher; he did not keep back reproofs when necessary, nor keep back the preaching of the cross. He was a trul Christian, evangelical preacher; he did not preach notions or doubtfu matters; nor affairs of state or the civil government; but he preache faith and repentance. A better summary of these things, without whic there is no salvation, cannot be given: even repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, with their fruits and effects Without these no sinner can escape, and with these none will come shor of eternal life. Let them not think that Paul left Asia for fear of persecution; he was in full expectation of trouble, yet resolved to go on, well assured that it was by Divine direction. Thanks be to God tha we know not the things which shall befall us during the year, the week the day which has begun. It is enough for the child of God to know tha his strength shall be equal to his day. He knows not, he would no know, what the day before him shall bring forth. The powerfu influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true Christian to his duty. Eve when he expects persecution and affliction, the love of Chris constrains him to proceed. None of these things moved Paul from his work; they did not deprive him of his comfort. It is the business of our life to provide for a joyful death. Believing that this was the last time they should see him, he appeals concerning his integrity. He had preached to them the whole counsel of God. As he had preached to them the gospel purely, so he had preached it to them entire; he faithfully did his work, whether men would bear or forbear.
Greek Textus Receptus
αλλ 235 CONJ ουδενος 3762 A-GSN λογον 3056 N-ASM ποιουμαι 4160 5731 V-PMI-1S ουδε 3761 ADV εχω 2192 5719 V-PAI-1S την 3588 T-ASF ψυχην 5590 N-ASF μου 3450 P-1GS τιμιαν 5093 A-ASF εμαυτω 1683 F-1DSM ως 5613 ADV τελειωσαι 5048 5658 V-AAN τον 3588 T-ASM δρομον 1408 N-ASM μου 3450 P-1GS μετα 3326 PREP χαρας 5479 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF διακονιαν 1248 N-ASF ην 3739 R-ASF ελαβον 2983 5627 V-2AAI-1S παρα 3844 PREP του 3588 T-GSM κυριου 2962 N-GSM ιησου 2424 N-GSM διαμαρτυρασθαι 1263 5664 V-ADN το 3588 T-ASN ευαγγελιον 2098 N-ASN της 3588 T-GSF χαριτος 5485 N-GSF του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
24. But none of these things move me, neither count I, etc. The best texts omit neither count I, and render, I esteem my life of no account, as if it were precious to myself.Dear (timian). Of value; precious.
Course (dromon). A favorite metaphor of Paul, from the race-course. See 1 Cor. ix. 24-27; Philip. iii. 14; 2 Tim. iv. 7.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
20:24 {But I hold not my life of any account} (all' oudenos logou poioumai ten yucen). Neat Greek idiom, accusative yucen and genitive logou and qen Paul adds "dear unto myself" (timian emautwi) in apposition with yucen (really a combination of two constructions). {So that I may accomplish my course} (hws teleiwsw dromon mou). Rather, "In order that" (purpose, not result). Aleph and B read teleiwsw here (first aorist active subjunctive) rather than teleiwsai (first aorist active infinitive). It is the lone instance in the N.T. of hws as a final particle (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 987). Paul in #Ac 13:25 in his sermon at Antioch in Pisidia described John as fulfilling his course and in #2Ti 4:7 he will say: "I have finished my course" (ton dromon teteleka). He will run the race to the end. {Which I received from the Lord Jesus} (hen elabon para tou kuriou iesou). Of that fact he never had a doubt and it was a proud boast (#Gal 1:1; Ro 11:13). {The gospel of the grace of God} (to euaggelion tes caritos tou qeou). To Paul the gospel consisted in the grace of God. See this word "grace" (caris) in Romans and his other Epistles.
