'And now I commend you to God, and to That word of His favour' (Acts

The fact that these words were addressed to Ephesians, were said in

view of a new dispensation, and that this new dispensation is one 'of grace'

lends some colour to this rendering.  On the other hand we must not allow

ourselves to be blind to the fact that in Acts 14:3 the selfsame words are

used of the apostle's opening ministry in Galatia.  The fact is that Paul had

no other message or ministry than 'the Word of His grace' whether under the

dispensation of the New Covenant (Galatians, Hebrews, Romans) or under

the dispensation of the Mystery (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians).  He was

committing the Ephesian believers to something already tried and proved.

There is a division of opinion among commentators as to the reference

of the relative pronoun 'which'; some say it refers to 'The Word of His

grace', others that it refers to 'God'.  Nothing can be decided by the

wording of the original, for the words Theos and logos are the same gender

and declension and look alike in all their grammatical forms.  It has been

offered as a deciding factor that we cannot say that 'The Word of His grace'

gives believers 'an inheritance', but that God alone can do that.  We have

however observed that 'God alone' is not a Scriptural way of expressing the

truth.  God, using His Word as an effective instrument seems nearer to the

facts as revealed.

The effectual Word, therefore, is once again before us.  In the absence

of the personal ministry of the apostle, both the Ephesian believers and we

who live today who have neither apostles nor supernatural gifts, are

abundantly provided for.  We have been committed to God and to the Word of

His grace, and the work of salvation and growth that has already begun, can

be supported and encouraged so that upon the foundation once laid, growth or

upbuilding may go on apace, until the inheritance is attained.

Epoikodomeo 'to build up' is used by Paul seven times.  Once in Acts

20:32, and in six passages in 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and Colossians.  It is

used elsewhere by Jude once.  The word is used both actively and passively.

It may mean building Upon, as on a foundation; it may be building Up, in the

sense of growth.  It may mean 'being built up' by some external power.  This

latter meaning is intended in Acts 20:32.  The saint is conceived as being

already upon the great Foundation, Christ Himself, and now, the Foundation

having been once laid by the ministry of the apostle, the upbuilding will go

on in his absence by the effectual working of the Word of grace.

Here, therefore, is another piece of gracious work, that the effectual

Word is set apart to accomplish.  There is nothing mechanical, however, about

this upbuilding; we have already seen that the Word must be received with

meekness, and accompanied by the laying aside of the overflowing of

wickedness.  So in Acts 20:32, the address is not to all and sundry, it is to

those who will find their inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Here we have something parallel with the word of Ephesians 1:18 'His

inheritance in the saints'.  This building up of the Word can be hindered and

checked by any failure on the part of the believer, for Paul insists in

Ephesians 5:3 -5, that no unclean person, covetous man or idolater 'hath any

inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God'.  The Word of grace builds

up, but it cannot build on the sacred Foundation of Christ that which is

unholy and untrue.  We ourselves may erect upon that one Foundation much that

will not stand the test of that day (1 Cor. 3:10 -15) and all that is not

built up by the Word of grace will most certainly pass away in smoke.  What