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Acts 20 · a question people ask

Paul says, "remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" (20:35). Where did Jesus say it?

In the text

The chapter doesn't say. Paul gives the words as "the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said" (20:35), and says nothing of when or where. No other verse in the WEB has these words, and none of the four Gospels gives them. These notes don't guess where Jesus said them. Favor's introduction to Acts says the same in Jesus, alive and speaking.

The verses

“In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””
Acts 20:35 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 20

Acts 20: The whole counsel of God

In Paul's words to the elders of Ephesus, testify is one Greek verb three times: he testified "both to Jews and to Greeks" (20:21), "the Holy Spirit testifies in every city" (20:23), and his ministry is "to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God" (20:24). And he tells them to remember words of the Lord Jesus that no Gospel gives: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (20:35).

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions