📖 Introduction
One of the most powerful passages that affirm both the divinity of Christ and the authority of the Catholic Church is found in Acts 20:28. This verse not only proclaims that the Church belongs to God, but also that it was purchased by His own blood, a direct reference to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.
Many sects, such as the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), deny the divinity of Christ and claim that He is a mere man. Likewise, Protestant groups often reject the Catholic Church’s authority, teaching instead that the Bible alone is sufficient (sola scriptura). Yet Acts 20:28 presents a challenge to both claims.
📜 The Biblical Text: Acts 20:28
“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God which He obtained with His own blood.” (RSV-CE)
Key Points in the Verse
-
“The Holy Spirit made you overseers” → Apostolic succession is divinely instituted.
-
“To shepherd the Church of God” → The Church is not man-made; it belongs to God.
-
“Purchased with His own blood” → God Himself shed blood, proving that Christ is God.
✝️ Evidence of Christ’s Divinity
The phrase “the Church of God, which He obtained with His own blood” leaves no room for doubt:
-
God has no blood as pure spirit, but Christ, who is true God and true man, shed His blood on the Cross.
-
Therefore, Christ is not just man but God Incarnate.
Supporting Scriptures
-
John 1:1, 14 – “The Word was God… and the Word became flesh.”
-
Colossians 1:15-20 – Christ is the image of the invisible God, in whom all things hold together.
-
John 20:28 – Thomas declares to Jesus: “My Lord and my God.”
This is contrary to the INC teaching that Christ is only a human being. Acts 20:28 clearly states that the blood shed on Calvary is the blood of God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
⛪ Apostolic Authority and the Church
Paul addresses the elders/bishops of Ephesus, reminding them that the Holy Spirit has appointed them as shepherds of the Church. This reveals the structure of early Church governance:
-
The Church is not independent local assemblies, but one flock under divinely instituted shepherds.
-
Authority comes from the Holy Spirit, not from personal interpretation.
CCC References
-
CCC 874 – Christ instituted the Church’s ministry for shepherding His people.
-
CCC 1558 – Bishops, as successors of the apostles, are entrusted with the task of shepherding the Church.
-
CCC 816 – The one Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church governed by the successor of Peter.
🏛 Witness of the Early Church Fathers
The Fathers consistently affirm both Christ’s divinity and the authority of the Church:
-
St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 AD): “Be eager to do everything in godly harmony, with the bishop presiding in the place of God, and the presbyters in the place of the apostles.” (Letter to the Magnesians, 6)
-
St. Augustine (354–430 AD): “See whose blood was given for it: value how great a price was paid. The blood of Christ is the price of the Church.” (Sermon 214)
-
St. Irenaeus (c. 180 AD): “Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church.” (Against Heresies, 3:24:1)
📌 Refuting INC and Protestant Claims
Against INC (Denying Christ’s Divinity)
-
If Christ were not God, Scripture could not say the Church was purchased with “God’s own blood.”
-
Denying Christ’s divinity contradicts not only Acts 20:28 but also the entire apostolic witness.
Against Protestantism (Rejecting Apostolic Authority)
-
Acts 20:28 shows bishops as Spirit-appointed shepherds. Authority is not based on private interpretation of Scripture, but on apostolic succession.
-
Without bishops in apostolic line, one cannot truly claim to shepherd the flock of God.
📊 Comparative Chart: Acts 20:28 and Its Interpretation
| Doctrine | Catholic Church | Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) | Protestantism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christ’s Identity | Jesus is true God and true man (CCC 464–469). Acts 20:28 affirms divinity: the Church is purchased with “God’s own blood.” | Christ is only a man, not God. INC denies His divinity and interprets Acts 20:28 as “church of Christ” purchased by a man’s blood. | Most accept Christ’s divinity, but differ on its implications for Church authority. |
| Church Ownership | The Church belongs to God; it was purchased by Christ’s blood. The one, true Church subsists in the Catholic Church (CCC 816). | The Church of Christ (INC) claims to be the only true church, rejecting historical Christianity. | The “true church” is invisible, made of all believers; local churches are independent or denominational. |
| Church Leadership | Bishops are appointed by the Holy Spirit as successors of the apostles (CCC 1558). Apostolic succession guarantees unity and authority. | Leadership is institutional, but without apostolic succession. Authority is derived from Manalo’s teachings. | Pastors/elders lead based on interpretation of Scripture; no apostolic succession. |
| Authority Source | Authority is divine, passed on through apostolic succession and safeguarded by the Magisterium. | Authority comes from Felix Manalo and INC hierarchy, not from apostolic succession. | Authority comes from Scripture alone (sola scriptura), not an institutional magisterium. |
| Interpretation of Acts 20:28 | Direct proof of Christ’s divinity and the Spirit-given authority of bishops. | Misinterpreted to deny Christ’s divinity, altering “Church of God” to “Church of Christ.” | Acknowledges Christ’s divinity, but ignores apostolic authority implied in the text. |
