I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul isn't just saying he didn't steal; he's highlighting that he never set his sights on taking from others. He deliberately didn't allow his ministry to become a means to acquire people's wealth, a stark contrast to those who exploit faith for personal gain. This was a deliberate choice to demonstrate the purity of his motives and the truth of the Gospel he preached.
I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Paul bids farewell to the Ephesian elders, he lays bare his ministry’s integrity, directly addressing potential accusations by pointing to his complete lack of personal financial gain. He contrasts his selfless example with the manipulative motives of false teachers, reminding them that he supported himself through honest labor and encouraged generosity. This assertion serves as a powerful testament to the genuine nature of his mission, highlighting that his sole focus was the spiritual well-being of the flock, not personal enrichment.
Why would Paul feel the need to declare he didn't covet people's stuff? It sounds a bit boastful, doesn't it? But the context reveals a powerful defense of his ministry.
Paul isn't just bragging; he's making a crucial point in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders. He knows that false teachers often use ministry as a cover for greed, seeking personal gain and enriching themselves at the expense of the flock.
Paul didn't just he wasn't greedy; he lived it out in a way that was visible to everyone. What does this practical example teach us?
Ask a follow-up
Paul's declaration goes beyond a simple denial of desire; it points to his active commitment to self-sufficiency and selfless service.
Understand the original words
epithymeō · Greek Verb
To desire or crave something intensely, often used in a negative sense of desiring what belongs to another or what is forbidden.
Paul's declaration about not coveting wealth was not an idle boast, but a direct defense against accusations of greed, a common tactic used by false teachers of his day.
c. 50-52 AD— this verse
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
During his extended stay in Corinth, Paul likely supported himself through his trade as a tentmaker, demonstrating his commitment to financial independence and avoiding any appearance of greed.
c. 53-57 AD
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
Paul spent over two years in Ephesus, a major Roman port city. During this time, he faced significant opposition from silversmiths who profited from idol worship, highlighting the economic and religious tensions of the era.
c. 57 AD
Paul's Letter to the Corinthians (Second)
In his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul defends his apostleship and ministry, contrasting his selfless labor with the deceptive practices of 'super-apostles' who sought financial gain.
c. 57-58 AD
Paul's Journey to Jerusalem
On his way to Jerusalem, Paul stopped in Miletus and called for the Ephesian elders. His farewell address, recorded in Acts 20, serves as a powerful testimony of his integrity and dedication.
This passage directly parallels Paul's appeal to his own integrity, mirroring Samuel's challenge to Israel regarding his service.
2 Corinthians 12:17Paul echoes this sentiment in his letter to the Corinthians, emphasizing that his ministry was not driven by financial gain, but by genuine concern for the people.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse highlights the danger of the love of money, which Paul actively contrasted with his own selfless example in Acts.
Philippians 4:12Paul's ability to be content in all circumstances, as described here, provides the underlying spiritual strength that enabled his disinterestedness mentioned in Acts.
Matthew 6:19Jesus' teaching about not storing up treasures on earth, but in heaven, sets the theological foundation for Paul's practical example of living without covetousness.
barnesActs 20:33: "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel."
I have coveted - I have not desired. I have not made it an object of my living among you to obtain your property. Thus, 2 Corinthians 12:14 he says, "I seek not yours, but you." Paul had power to demand support in the, ministry as the reward of his labor, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 . Yet he did not choose to exercise it, lest it should bring the charge of avarice against the ministry, 1 Corinthians 9:12 , 1 Corinthians 9:15 . He also…
bensonActs 20:33: "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel."
Acts 20:33-35 . I have coveted no man’s silver, &c. — Here the apostle begins another branch of his farewell discourse, in terms like those of old Samuel, taking his leave of the children of Israel, 1 Samuel 12:8 . As if he had said, I have a testimony in my own conscience and in yours, that I have not directed my ministry to any mercenary views of pleasing any, how distinguished soever their circumstances might be, nor sought b…
Paul isn't just saying he didn't steal; he's highlighting that he never set his sights on taking from others. He deliberately didn't allow his ministry to become a means to acquire people's wealth, a stark contrast to those who exploit faith for personal gain. This was a deliberate choice to demonstrate the purity of his motives and the truth of the Gospel he preached.
As Paul bids farewell to the Ephesian elders, he lays bare his ministry’s integrity, directly addressing potential accusations by pointing to his complete lack of personal financial gain. He contrasts his selfless example with the manipulative motives of false teachers, reminding them that he supported himself through honest labor and encouraged generosity. This assertion serves as a powerful testament to the genuine nature of his mission, highlighting that his sole focus was the spiritual well-being of the flock, not personal enrichment.
As Paul bids farewell to the Ephesian elders, he lays bare his ministry’s integrity, directly addressing potential accusations by pointing to his complete lack of personal financial gain. He contrasts his selfless example with the manipulative motives of false teachers, reminding them that he supported himself through honest labor and encouraged generosity. This assertion serves as a powerful testament to the genuine nature of his mission, highlighting that his sole focus was the spiritual well-being of the flock, not personal enrichment.
"I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel." — Paul isn't just saying he didn't steal; he's highlighting that he never set his sights on taking from others. He deliberately didn't allow his ministry to become a means to acquire people's wealth,…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026