Acts · Chapter 20
Acts 20:35 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”"
KJV · King James Version
"I have shewed5263 you5213 all things3956, how that3754 so3779 labouring2872 ye ought1163 to support482 the weak770, and5037 to remember3421 the words3056 of the Lord2962 Jesus2424, how3754 he846 said2036, It is2076 more3123 blessed3107 to give1325 than2228 to receive2983."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses have, shewed, how, labouring, while the WEB renders these as gave, example, laboring, help. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Acts 20:35 in Acts 20
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Acts 20:35 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Acts 20. Read the full chapter →
- v.33 I coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or clothing.
- v.34 You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.
- v.35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- v.36 When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
- v.37 They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
Book background
About the Book of Acts
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Church history
- Author
- Luke
- Date written
- c. 62 AD
- Audience
- Theophilus and the early church
- Chapters
- 28
Acts traces the gospel's spread from Jerusalem to Rome — from Pentecost (chapter 2) through the apostolic ministry of Peter and the missionary journeys of Paul. It is the Holy Spirit's book as much as the apostles' — the Spirit is the active agent in nearly every chapter. The book ends mid-action: Paul preaching in Rome, "with all boldness, unhindered."
Setting: A history of the church's first three decades — Jerusalem to Rome.
Key themes: Holy Spirit · mission · witness · church growth · persecution
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Acts 20:35
Acts 20:35 contains 39 words in 5 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
In all things I gave you an example
IATIGY
- 2
that so laboring you ought to help the weak
TSLYOT
- 3
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus
ATRTWO
- 4
that he himself said
THHS
- 5
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
IIMBTG
Frequently asked
FAQ about Acts 20:35
What does Acts 20:35 say?
Acts 20:35 reads: "In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”" — from the New Testament, Acts (Church history). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Acts 20:35 in?
Acts 20:35 is in the book of Acts, traditionally attributed to Luke and written around c. 62 AD. Acts is church history in the New Testament, originally addressed to Theophilus and the early church. Best known for Pentecost and the missionary journeys of Paul.
What is the difference between Acts 20:35 in WEB and KJV?
Acts 20:35 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "I have shewed5263 you5213 all things3956, how that3754 so3779 labouring2872 ye ought1163 to support482 the weak770, and5037 to remember3421 the words3056 of the Lord2962 Jesus2424, how3754 he846 said2036, It is2076 more3123 blessed3107 to give1325 than2228 to receive2983.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Acts 20:35?
Acts 20:35 is 39 words in the WEB translation (195 characters), broken into 5 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 12 seconds.
How can I memorise Acts 20:35?
To memorise Acts 20:35, split it into its 5 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Acts 20:35 matter in Acts?
Acts traces the gospel's spread from Jerusalem to Rome — from Pentecost (chapter 2) through the apostolic ministry of Peter and the missionary journeys of Paul. It is the Holy Spirit's book as much as the apostles' — the Spirit is the active agent in nearly every chapter. The book ends mid-action: Paul preaching in Rome, "with all boldness, unhindered." Acts 20:35 sits within this larger story — Acts as a whole emphasises Holy Spirit, mission, witness.
How can I apply Acts 20:35 today?
Many readers use Acts 20:35 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Acts 20:35 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
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