Acts 20:27

My Notes

What Does Acts 20:27 Mean?

Paul declares to the Ephesian elders that he has not shunned to declare unto them all the counsel of God. All — not the comfortable parts, not the popular parts, not the parts that pleased the audience. All the counsel of God — the complete, unedited, unabridged message.

"I have not shunned" (hupostello) means to draw back, to shrink from, to withhold. Paul did not shrink from any part of the message. The difficult doctrines, the confronting truths, the unpopular demands — none were withheld.

"All the counsel of God" (boule) means the whole plan, the complete purpose, the entire will of God. The counsel is not just theology. It is God's comprehensive plan — and Paul delivered every part of it.

The declaration is Paul's defense of his ministry: I gave you everything. I did not edit God's message to make it more palatable. I did not hold back the hard parts to keep your approval. You received the full counsel.

The verse establishes the standard for faithful ministry: declaring all the counsel of God, without shunning any part. The minister who edits God's message for audience approval has shunned what Paul refused to shun.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What does 'not shunning' to declare the full counsel mean for faithful teaching?
• 2.What parts of God's counsel are most commonly shunned or edited out today?
• 3.Are you receiving all the counsel of God — or only the comfortable portions?
• 4.If you teach or lead, what part of God's message have you been holding back?

Devotional

I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. All. Not most. Not the parts you wanted to hear. Not the crowd-pleasing portions. All the counsel of God — every uncomfortable, confronting, inconvenient truth.

Not shunned. Not drawn back. Not flinched. Paul did not look at a hard truth and decide: I will skip that one. They are not ready. They will not like it. He delivered it all.

All the counsel of God. God's full plan. His complete will. Every doctrine, every demand, every promise, every warning. The whole thing — unedited, uncensored, unabridged. Paul gave the Ephesians the full message.

This is the standard for every person who handles God's word: declare all of it. Not just the encouraging parts. Not just the grace passages. Not just the doctrines your audience agrees with. All the counsel — including the parts that make people shift in their seats.

The minister who edits God's message has shunned what Paul refused to shun. The teacher who avoids uncomfortable truths has drawn back from the full counsel. The church that only hears pleasant things has received a partial gospel.

Are you receiving all the counsel of God? Not just the parts you like. All of it. And if you teach, lead, or influence — are you declaring all of it? The shunning is easier. The declaring is faithful. And Paul, at the end of his ministry in Ephesus, could say: I held nothing back. Can you?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture