American Standard Version
Acts 18:21
21but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.
Acts 18:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
- New International Version (NIV)But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.
- New King James Version (NKJV)but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
Context of Acts 18:21
19And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20And when they asked him to abide a longer time, he consented not; but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you if God will, he set sail from Ephesus. 22And when he had landed at Cæsarea, he went up and saluted the church, and went down to Antioch. 23And having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
Read all of Acts 18Acts 18:21 word by word
ἀλλ᾽ ἀποταξάμενος καὶ εἰπών πάλιν ἀνακάμψω πρὸς ὑμᾶς τοῦ θεοῦ θέλοντος, ἀνήχθη ἀπὸ τῆς Ἐφέσου.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Acts 18:21
- Acts 15:29that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.
- Luke 9:61And another also said, I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house.
- 2 Corinthians 13:11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
- Acts 20:16For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
- Deuteronomy 16:1Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Jehovah thy God; for in the month of Abib Jehovah thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
- Acts 19:21Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
- Acts 21:14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
- Matthew 26:39And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
- Romans 1:10making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you.
- Romans 15:32that I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest.
- 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.
- Philippians 2:19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
- Hebrews 6:3And this will we do, if God permit.
- James 4:15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.
Commentaries on Acts 18:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I must - keep this feast - Most likely the passover, at which he wished to attend for the purpose of seeing many of his friends, and having the most favorable opportunity to preach the Gospel to thousands who would attend at Jerusalem on that occasion. The whole of this clause, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem, is wanting in ABE, six others; with the Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, and Vulgate. Griesbach leaves it in the text, with…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Keep this feast - Probably the Passover is here referred to. Why he was so anxious to celebrate that feast at Jerusalem, the historian has not informed us. It is probable, however, that he wished to meet as many of his countrymen as possible, and to remove, if practicable, the prejudices which had everywhere been raised against him, Acts 21:20-21. Perhaps, also, he supposed that there would be many Christian converts present, whom he might meet also. But…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 While Paul found he laboured not in vain, he continued labouring. Our times are in God's hand; we purpose, but he disposes; therefore we must make all promises with submission to the will of God; not only if providence permits, but if God does not otherwise direct our motions. A very good refreshment it is to a faithful minister, to have for awhile the society of his brethren. Disciples are compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21“I will come back to you”: Paul spent a lot of time in Ephesus during his third mission journey (19:1–20:1; see 19:8, 10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. I must ... keep this feast--probably Pentecost, presenting a noble opportunity of preaching the Gospel. but I will return--the fulfilment of which promise is recorded in Ac 19:1.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 18:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries