Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 20:28

28 ¶ Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock, over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Be mindful of your own salvation: For he that neglects his own, will not be careful of the salvation of another.

1: By his choosing and nominating of them, which was then by a special Instinct, or immediate Warrant from the Spirit, Chap. 1.24. Chap. 13.2. Or 2 Because they were constituted by the Apostles, who were filled with the Spirit, enabling of them to the choice of such persons, Chap. 14.23. But also 3. Whosoever is set apart to this Office, according to the Will of God, is made an Overseer by the Holy Ghost; God owning his Institutions, and concurring with them.

The same, who, ver. 17. are called Elders, they were certainly such as had the government and care of the Church committed unto them.

As a shepherd does (for the Apostle continues here the Metaphor): Ier. 23.4. Iohn 21.16, 17.

Our Saviour is so called; for the word was God, John 1.1.

Christ by his bloody Death hath redeemed his Church, and obtained power to gather it, to rule over it, to protect and preserve it, Isa. 53.10. Phil. 2.8, 9, 30.

The blood of Christ, called truly the blood of God, there being in Christ Two Natures in one Person, and a communion of the properties of each Nature. If Christ had not been Man, he could have had no blood to shed: Had he not been God, the blood which he shed could not have been a sufficient price of Redemption. Oh the depth of the Riches of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God, who found out such a Ransom; and the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the Love of Christ, who paid this Ransom for us! Rom. 11.33. Eph. 3.18, 19.

Marginal references: 1 Tim. 4.[illegible: 1 letter]6. 1 Peter 5.2.; Eph. 1.7. Col. 1.14. 1 Peter 1.19. Rev. 5▪9.