Acts 20:32

Commend. Gr. paratithemi, “to place beside,” “to entrust,” here used in the sense of “commit” (cf. 1 Peter 4:19). So Paul has teachers “committing” to others the truth they have received (cf. 2 Tim. 1:14), which becomes a “commitment,” or “deposit” (paratheke) of faith (2 Tim. 1:12) against the day of Christ.

To God. Textual evidence maybe cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading “to the Lord.” The readings are equivalent in spiritual significance.

The word of his grace. This may be considered an adjectival phrase meaning “his gracious word.” A parallel expression is “the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3), or “his powerful word” — the word that has the power to uphold the universe. Similarly, “the word of his grace” is able to accomplish the salvation of those who believe on Him (Jude 24). The word “grace” (charis) is often closely connected with the word “power” (dunamis), as in 2 Cor. 12:9. The “word” (Logos) is not personalized here as meaning Jesus Christ; but when He speaks, His word is full of grace as well as power (cf. James 1:21; Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29). For a discussion of the word charis see on Rom. 3:24.

To build you up. God is the great Master Builder. The foundation is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). The gifts of the Holy Spirit working through men spiritually endowed are provided for this “edifying” or upbuilding (Eph. 2:20; 4:11-13). The result is the completion of the church or the assembly of the saints (1 Peter 2:5, 9, 10; Heb. 12:22-24; Eph. 5:27), and of the character of Christ in each one of those believing in Him (Phil. 3:8-14; Eph. 3:14-21; 2 Peter 1:3-8).

An inheritance. Rather, “the inheritance.” The figure refers to the apportionment of land among the Israelites (Joshua 14-19). But the people of God failed through lack of faith to occupy their land successfully (Judges 1; 2; Heb. 3; 4). The inheritance of the children of God is to be as definitely considered a possession as was that held out to the Hebrews, and it is to be claimed with certainty in Christ. Compare Paul’s development of the thought of inheritance in Ephesians. There is the “earnest of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14), which is the pledge of salvation brought by the Holy Spirit; the “inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18), the present spiritual possession of the Christian; the “inheritance in the kingdom” (Eph. 5:5), to be entered into at the second advent of Christ (Matt. 25:34; Luke 12:32). At the second advent the saints of God will enter heaven, and reign for 1,000 years (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 20:4, 5), then they will inhabit the earth made new (Rev. 21:1-4).

Them which are sanctified. Rather, “those who have been sanctified,” for the sanctification of the children of God is to be completed, in Christ, before the ultimate inheritance is entered upon. To be sanctified is to be a saint, a holy one (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1), and the expression is applied to the whole body of believers. “Sanctification is the work of a lifetime” (COL 65), but since no one knows what his life span will be, the work of sanctification should be in the believer’s experience a prompt and unhindered work. Sanctification is at the hand of God (Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 37:28; 1 Thess. 5:23; Jude 1), according to His will (Heb. 10:10), in Christ (1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Eph. 5:26; Heb. 13:12), by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 15:16), through the Word of God (John 17:17).