Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Greek, 'Let the stealing person (whether a bandit, a thief, or one more covert in dishonesty) steal no more.' Bandits frequented the mountains near Ephesus.
But rather. It is not enough to cease from a sin; you must do its opposite. The stealer, when repentant, should labour more than he would be called on to do if he had never stolen.
Let him labour. Theft and idleness go together.
With his hands - in contrast with his former thievish use of his hands. "His" [A Delta G 'Aleph (') g read idiais (G2398), 'his own']: opposed to his past living on the labours of others' hands. B, Vulgate, omit it.
The thing which is good - in contrast with the thing which was evil in his past character. That he may have to give - `that he may have wherewith to impart.' He who has stolen should exercise liberality beyond restoring what he has taken. Christians should make not selfish gain their aim in industry, but honest independence and the acquisition of means of greater usefulness to their fellow-men. So Paul himself (Acts 20:35; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:8).