Acts 20:34

Ye yourselves know. Paul’s contact with the Ephesian believers had been of such intimacy and duration that they knew that what he was saying concerning himself was true.

These hands have ministered. This expression points to Paul’s custom of working to support himself, and is introduced as part of his defense against the charge of covetousness. Paul had worked at his trade of tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth (ch. 18:1-3). He had previously labored at Ephesus (1 Cor. 4:12) and at Thessalonica (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8). The present verse gives evidence that he had labored thus at Ephesus. Paul had worked not only to provide for himself but also to provide for some who were with him and who needed his help. Perhaps Timothy, with his “often infirmities” (1 Tim. 5:23), was one of these. Paul did not feel that it was in the least to his discredit that he should work to meet his expenses while preaching the gospel, when the church had not yet learned to support its ministers.

Necessities. Gr. chreiai, “needs,” “necessities.” As Paul and his companions went from place to place they were content when their bare needs had been met, the while they ministered the riches of divine grace to others. For the luxuries this world had to offer they had no desire.