Paul isn't just saying he didn't steal; he's emphasizing that he never even desired his listeners' possessions. This wasn't a mere lack of bad behavior, but an active choice to be free from any hint of greed, demonstrating that his ministry wasn't driven by personal gain, but by genuine care for them.
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. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Paul bids farewell to the elders of Ephesus, he reminds them of his selfless ministry, contrasting his motives with those of false teachers who exploit people for personal gain. He stresses that he never sought their wealth, instead laboring with his own hands to provide for himself and his companions. Paul urges them to follow his example by working hard and helping the weak, always remembering Jesus’ teaching that giving is more blessed than receiving.
Paul is at the end of his ministry in Ephesus, delivering a powerful farewell speech. He makes a bold declaration about his own motives. What does this reveal about the nature of true ministry?
As Paul stands before the Ephesian elders, he doesn't just impart wisdom; he holds up his own life as a living example. He declares, "I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel." This isn't a humblebrag; it's a stark contrast to the false teachers and impostors who often preyed on communities for personal gain.
Why This Matters:
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When Paul mentions 'silver, or gold, or apparel,' we might think of simple clothing. But in the ancient world, 'apparel' represented something much more significant. What did it truly signify?
The mention of 'apparel' alongside silver and gold isn't just about clothing in the way we might casually think of it. For ancient peoples, particularly in the East, fine garments were a major component of wealth.
Understanding Ancient Wealth:
Paul's explicit mention of 'apparel' makes his declaration even more comprehensive, showing he was disinterested in all forms of material wealth that could be gained from his ministry.
Paul didn't just refuse to take from people; he actively worked with his own hands to provide. How does this connect to Jesus' teaching about giving?
Paul’s declaration that he "coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel" is powerfully reinforced by his subsequent actions and teachings. He immediately points to his own labor: "These hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me" (Acts 20:34).
The Example of Work and Giving:
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.
astheneō · Greek Adjective (Participle)
Those lacking strength, whether physically, financially, or spiritually; in the church context, it often refers to those needing support, protection, or patience.
makarios · Greek Adjective
Possessing the joy, favor, and spiritual approval of God; a state of supreme happiness that comes from living in alignment with God's will.
Paul's declaration in Acts 20:33 isn't a casual boast, but a direct defense against accusations common in his ministry. By pointing to his hands that worked for his own needs, he contrasts himself with false teachers who exploited people for personal gain, a recurring theme throughout his letters.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
During Paul's extended stay in Corinth, he supported himself through his trade as a tentmaker, deliberately avoiding financial dependence on the church. This period is crucial for understanding his emphasis on self-support and disinterestedness.
c. AD 55
Writing 1 Corinthians
In this letter, Paul defends his apostolic authority and discusses financial support for ministers. He contrasts his own self-sacrificing approach with the practices of 'super-apostles' who exploited the Corinthians for financial gain.
c. AD 55-56
Writing 2 Corinthians
Paul further addresses the issue of false apostles who were financially exploiting the Corinthian church. He emphasizes his own integrity, stating he did not exploit them and sought 'not your possessions, but you' (2 Corinthians 12:14).
c. AD 56
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
For roughly three years, Paul ministered in Ephesus, a major commercial hub. He faced significant opposition but continued to preach the gospel and build the church, likely practicing self-support during this time.
c. AD 57— this verse
Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
At Miletus, Paul delivers a poignant farewell address to the elders from Ephesus. He recounts his ministry among them, stressing his unwavering commitment to God's Word and his personal integrity, including not seeking personal financial gain.
c. AD 57
Imitation of Samuel's Appeal
Paul's appeal echoes that of the prophet Samuel before Israel, who likewise called upon the people to testify to his integrity and lack of personal enrichment during his leadership, highlighting a shared pattern of godly leadership.
Similar to Paul's appeal, the prophet Samuel challenged the Israelites to testify if he had ever taken anything from them, highlighting a shared theme of integrity and selfless leadership.
1 Corinthians 9:12Paul directly addresses his right to financial support but explains he forgave this claim, reinforcing the principle he lived by in Acts 20:33 to avoid hindering the gospel.
2 Corinthians 12:17-18Paul defends himself against accusations of deceit, pointing to his consistent behavior and the actions of others who worked alongside him as evidence of his genuine motives, mirroring his self-defense in Acts.
1 Timothy 6:10This passage warns against the love of money being a root of all kinds of evil, providing the contrasting negative example to Paul's positive declaration in Acts 20:33 about his own lack of covetousness.
Matthew 6:19-20Jesus instructs his followers not to lay up treasures on earth where they can be corrupted, a principle that underpins Paul's practical, earth-shunning example of living by his own hands.
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 emphasizing that he never even desired his listeners' possessions. This wasn't a mere lack of bad behavior, but an active choice to be free from any hint of greed, demonstrating that his ministry wasn't driven by personal gain, but by genuine care for them.
As Paul bids farewell to the elders of Ephesus, he reminds them of his selfless ministry, contrasting his motives with those of false teachers who exploit people for personal gain. He stresses that he never sought their wealth, instead laboring with his own hands to provide for himself and his companions. Paul urges them to follow his example by working hard and helping the weak, always remembering Jesus’ teaching that giving is more blessed than receiving.
As Paul bids farewell to the elders of Ephesus, he reminds them of his selfless ministry, contrasting his motives with those of false teachers who exploit people for personal gain. He stresses that he never sought their wealth, instead laboring with his own hands to provide for himself and his companions. Paul urges them to follow his example by working hard and helping the weak, always remembering Jesus’ teaching that giving is more blessed than receiving.
"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. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and rememb…" — Paul isn't just saying he didn't steal; he's emphasizing that he never even desired his listeners' possessions. This wasn't a mere lack of bad behavior, but an active choice to be free from any hin…
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Last reviewed October 2026
