I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul isn't just saying he wasn't greedy; he's emphasizing that his ministry wasn't about profiting from people's possessions, even though ancient spiritual leaders often did. He highlights his own hard work and the fact that "apparel" was a significant part of wealth back then, showing he deliberately avoided any appearance of seeking personal gain from the very people he was serving.
I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Paul says goodbye to the elders of Ephesus, he calls them to a solemn account of his ministry, reminding them that he has always prioritized their spiritual well-being over personal gain. He emphasizes his selfless example, pointing out that he worked with his own hands to support himself and others, setting a precedent for them to follow rather than being a financial burden.
Paul stands on the brink of a painful farewell, and he points to his ministry not as a path to personal gain, but as proof of his devotion.
More Than Just Honesty
Paul's statement, "I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel," isn't just about not stealing. It's about a deep-seated inner disposition. "Covet" speaks to a desire, a longing for what belongs to others. Paul is testifying that his heart was never set on enriching himself from the people he served.
A Defense Against Accusations
In the ancient world, as now, religious leaders could be tempted by greed. False teachers often preyed on people's generosity for personal profit. Paul proactively addresses this, knowing that his integrity was a powerful defense against accusations and a testament to the genuine nature of his ministry.
A Pattern for Ministry
This wasn't just a personal quirk for Paul. He presents it as an example for the elders he's addressing, a standard for leadership within the church. His selflessness was a practical demonstration of the gospel he preached.
Paul didn't just not take, he actively gave. His own hands were his provision, a testament to self-sufficiency and a model for others.
Working with His Own Hands
Paul emphasizes his physical labor: "these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me" (Acts 20:34). This wasn't a passive waiting for support, but an active engagement in work to provide for himself and his companions. This demonstrated a commitment to not being a burden.
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The Principle of Giving
He links his self-supporting labor to a core teaching of Jesus: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Paul's life exemplified this principle. By working to meet his own needs, he was free to give – not just his time and energy to ministry, but also materially, and by setting an example of sacrificial generosity.
A Proof of Truth
This combination of selfless ministry, honest labor, and generous living served as a powerful, undeniable proof of the truth of his message. It showed that his motivation was pure and that he was not seeking personal gain but the eternal well-being of others.
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.
hypēreteō · Greek Verb
To serve, provide for, or support others, often implying manual labor or physical effort to meet needs.
Paul's declaration about not coveting silver, gold, or apparel wasn't just a personal boast; it was a direct refutation of accusations common in his day, proving his ministry was for God's glory, not personal wealth, much like ancient prophets like Samuel.
c. 49 BC
Paul's Early Ministry and Gentile Missions
Paul begins his extensive missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire, facing opposition and establishing numerous churches. He often supported himself through manual labor like tentmaking.
c. AD 55
First Corinthian Letter
Paul addresses issues in the Corinthian church, including financial impropriety and the conduct of ministers. He defends his apostolic authority and explains his right to financial support.
c. AD 57
Second Corinthian Letter
Paul further defends his ministry, addressing accusations that he was deceptive or seeking personal gain. He contrasts his own selfless service with that of 'super-apostles'.
c. AD 60
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
Paul spends a significant period in Ephesus, a major Roman city, where he faces strong opposition from both Jewish and pagan factions. He encounters false teachers who seek personal gain.
c. AD 62— this verse
Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
At Miletus, Paul delivers a poignant farewell to the elders of Ephesus. He recounts his ministry among them, emphasizing his integrity and selfless dedication.
This passage echoes Paul's statement, as Samuel also appeals to the Israelites about his integrity, challenging them to testify if he ever wronged them financially.
1 Corinthians 9:12Paul here explains his general principle of not exercising his right to financial support from the church, which is the same self-denial he exemplified in Acts 20:33.
2 Corinthians 11:9Paul mentions his financial self-sufficiency in Corinth, directly relating to his refusal to be a financial burden and his practical application of not coveting their resources.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse describes the love of money as a root of all kinds of evil, contrasting sharply with Paul's personal testimony of detachment from financial gain in his ministry.
Matthew 6:19-21Jesus teaches about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, a principle Paul lived out by not coveting earthly possessions like silver, gold, or apparel.
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 wasn't greedy; he's emphasizing that his ministry wasn't about profiting from people's possessions, even though ancient spiritual leaders often did. He highlights his own hard work and the fact that "apparel" was a significant part of wealth back then, showing he deliberately avoided any appearance of seeking personal gain from the very people he was serving.
As Paul says goodbye to the elders of Ephesus, he calls them to a solemn account of his ministry, reminding them that he has always prioritized their spiritual well-being over personal gain. He emphasizes his selfless example, pointing out that he worked with his own hands to support himself and others, setting a precedent for them to follow rather than being a financial burden.
As Paul says goodbye to the elders of Ephesus, he calls them to a solemn account of his ministry, reminding them that he has always prioritized their spiritual well-being over personal gain. He emphasizes his selfless example, pointing out that he worked with his own hands to support himself and others, setting a precedent for them to follow rather than being a financial burden.
"I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me." — Paul isn't just saying he wasn't greedy; he's emphasizing that his ministry wasn't about profiting from people's possessions, even though ancient spiritual leaders often did. He highlights his own…
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Last reviewed October 2026