How does Acts 20:28 connect with Jesus' teachings on shepherding in John 10? Shepherding in Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” • Paul addresses elders in Ephesus, calling them to a vigilant, loving guardianship. • The charge comes from the Holy Spirit, grounding their authority in God, not in human appointment. • The flock belongs to God and was bought “with His own blood,” linking shepherding directly to Christ’s sacrifice. The Heartbeat of John 10 • “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) • “The hired hand is not the shepherd and the sheep are not his own.” (John 10:12) • “I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” (John 10:14) • “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” (John 10:27-28) Key themes: sacrificial care, personal knowledge of the flock, ownership, and protective commitment that secures eternal life. Shared Threads Between the Passages • Ownership and Purchase – John 10 shows Jesus claiming the sheep as His own. – Acts 20:28 affirms the flock was “purchased with His own blood,” tying elders’ ministry to Christ’s redemptive work. • Sacrificial Leadership – John 10:11 highlights the Shepherd’s self-giving death. – Acts 20:28 calls elders to shepherd a blood-bought people, implying a similar readiness for costly service. • Vigilant Protection – John 10:12-13 contrasts the good shepherd with the hireling who flees from danger. – Acts 20:29 (immediately following v. 28) warns of “savage wolves” entering the flock. Paul echoes Jesus’ imagery, urging leaders to stand guard. • Intimate Knowledge – Jesus knows His sheep by name (John 10:3-4,14). – Elders must “keep watch over yourselves and the flock” (Acts 20:28), implying close, personal oversight. • Divine Commission – Jesus identifies Himself as the Shepherd sent by the Father (John 10:18). – The Holy Spirit installs overseers (Acts 20:28), showing that true shepherding is Spirit-empowered and God-ordained. Practical Implications for Today’s Elders and Believers • Ground every act of leadership in Christ’s sacrifice; remember the flock’s infinite worth. • Shepherds imitate the Good Shepherd: know the people, speak Christ’s words, protect against spiritual danger, and serve sacrificially (1 Peter 5:2-4). • Believers listen for the Shepherd’s voice in Scripture and follow faithfully, confident in His protection and eternal promise (John 10:27-28, Psalm 23:1-4). |