John Calvin Commentary Acts 20:32

"And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build [you] up, and to give [you] the inheritance among all them that are sanctified." — Acts 20:32 (ASV)

I commend you to God. He uses a prayer which, in an oration intended to greatly move the hearers, should not be considered absurd. For he did not concern himself with dividing his sermon into parts as rhetoricians usually do, since no words were sufficient to express the vehemence of the emotions with which he was inflamed. He had already spoken of great and weighty matters, which far exceeded human ability.

Therefore, he turns himself to prayer, and gradually draws toward an end of his speech, though it is rather an expression of a desire than a direct prayer; as if he were saying that they are unable to bear so great a burden, but he wishes for them new help from heaven, in which they may trust and overcome all temptations. And it is not to be doubted, though he speaks to the pastors alone, that he also includes the whole Church.

First, he commends them to God; secondly, to the word of His grace. Nevertheless, it is all one commendation. Paul meant to express the means by which the Lord defends the salvation of His people, which (as Peter says) is kept by faith (1 Peter 1:5), and the means of this keeping depends upon the word, lest it come into danger amidst so many dangers. And it is very important for us to know how God will keep us. For because His majesty is hidden from us until we come to Him by His word, we look here and there, being in doubt.

Therefore, as soon as He receives us to be kept, He makes His word the instrument to keep our salvation. In this sense, he adds the adjunct “grace,” (for the genitive case, in the Hebrew manner, signifies an effect) so that the faithful might more safely rest in the word, where God shows forth His favor. This explanation is plain and fitting; for while some understand it as referring to Christ, it is too forced.

Who is able to build farther. The participle, δυναμενος, is to be referred to God, not to His word. And this consolation is added for this reason, lest they faint through the awareness of their weaknesses.

For as long as we are surrounded by the weaknesses of the flesh, we are like a house whose foundation is laid. All the godly must indeed be grounded in Christ, but their faith is far from being perfect. Yes, though the foundation remains stable and sure, yet some parts of the building are likely to fall and falter.

Therefore, there is great need both for continual building, and also now and then new props and supports are necessary. Nevertheless, Paul says that “we must not faint,” because the Lord will not leave His work unfinished, as he likewise teaches in the first chapter to the Philippians,

He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of the Lord (Philippians 1:6).

To which that of the Psalm (Psalms 138:8) answers: Thou wilt not forsake the work of our [thy] hands.

That which is added immediately concerning the inheritance of life pertains to the very enjoyment of life. As soon as Christ has appeared to us, we indeed pass from death to life, and faith is an entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Nor is the Spirit of adoption given to us in vain. But Paul promises in this place to the faithful a continual increase of grace until they see the possession of the inheritance to which they have been called, which is now laid up for them in heaven.

He calls it “the power of God,” not as we usually imagine it, without effect, but which is commonly called actual. For the faithful must so take hold of it that they may have it ready, like a shield or buckler, to hold up against all assaults of Satan.

As the Scripture teaches that we have sufficient aid in the power of God, so let us remember that none are strong in the Lord except those who, abandoning all hope and confidence in their own free will, trust and lean on Him, who, as Paul says very well, is able to build farther.