What Does Acts 20:24 Mean in the King James?
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Joy and favor share a Greek word family here: the course is finished with joy, and its message bears witness to God’s favor.
THE MEANING
Your life is not treated as a possession whose safety sets its worth; it is a life received, moving toward the end of its course. Joy belongs within that course, alongside the ministry received from the Lord Jesus: bearing witness to the good news of God’s favor. The verse names a costly refusal to let danger be the final measure of a life, without pretending the danger is unreal.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a life has value only when it is kept safe for oneself; here, a received life has a course and a testimony that may cost it.
THE ROOT
χαρά
chara
GROWS FROM
χαρ-
char-
The Greek word family links joy with favor and the granting of favor.
The Greek word for joy, χαρά (chara), and the word for favor, χάρις (charis), share the χαρ- (char-) word family. This verse places them together: the course is completed with joy, and the testimony carried along it is about God’s favor.
ALSO GROWS
charis: favor; also grace or thanks, depending on context
χάρις
This is the same word family as χαρά (chara, joy), and it names what the gospel testifies about God.
charizomai: to grant freely or show favor
χαρίζομαι
This verb grows from the same favor-family and makes the connection active: favor is something granted, not earned by finishing the course.
THE PATTERN
A life received from God can run its appointed course with joy, even when that course costs self-preservation.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:THE THREAD
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.Both verses use χαρά (chara, joy). Acts places that joy beside χάρις (charis, favor), while John describes joy as remaining and becoming full; the shared word opens the course as something carried with a received joy.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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