Acts 20:33 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. — Comp. the parallel of Samuel’s appeal to the people (1 Samuel 12:3). In each case there was a special reason for what might otherwise seem an uncalled-for boast. Samuel’s sons had been guilty of corrupt practices, taking bribes and the like (1 Samuel 8:3). Among the many calumnies against St. Paul, one was that he used his apostolic ministry “as a cloke of covetousness.” (Comp. 2 Corinthians 7:2; 2 Corinthians 12:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 2:5.) On “apparel,” as constituting a large part of the personal estate of the East, see Notes on Matthew 6:19; James 5:2.