Acts 20:23

Acts 20:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
• New International Version (NIV)I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

Context of Acts 20:23

21I have taught the same things both to Jewish people and to Gentiles. I have said clearly to them all, “You must stop doing wrong things. Change the way that you live and turn to God. Believe in our Lord Jesus.” 22Now I am going to Jerusalem. God's Holy Spirit has shown me that I must go there. I do not know what will happen to me there. But I do know that much trouble will come to me. The Holy Spirit has told me about that. He said to me, “People will put you in prison and they will hurt you.” 24But even if people kill me, this is not important to me. The Lord Jesus gave me some work to do. It is important that I finish his work. I must tell people the good news about how kind and good God is. 25I have lived among you and I have taught you all about the kingdom of God. But now I know that none of you will see me again.

Acts 20:23 word by word

πλὴν ὅτι τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον κατὰ πόλιν διαμαρτύρεταί μοι λέγον ὅτι δεσμὰ καὶ θλίψεις με μένουσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Saveπλήνplēn · but/howeverG4133
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• witnessethδιαμαρτύρομαιdiamarturomai · to testify solemnlyG1263
• inκατάkata · according toG2596
• every cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• bondsδεσμόςdesmon desmos · chainG1199
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• afflictionsθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• abideμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for Acts 20:23

• Acts 9:16I myself will tell him about the many troubles that he will have. He will have much pain on my behalf.’
• Acts 14:22In all these towns, they taught the believers to be strong. They said to them, ‘Continue to trust in the Lord Jesus! All believers will have trouble at different times. That will continue to happen in our lives. But one day we will go into the kingdom of God where he rules.’
• Acts 21:4We found some believers in the city. So we stayed with them for a week. The Holy Spirit showed these believers that trouble would come to Paul in Jerusalem. So they said to him, ‘Paul, you should not to go to Jerusalem.’
• John 16:33I have told you these things so that you will have peace. You will be like that because you live together with me. In this world, you will have trouble. But be brave! I have destroyed the power of this world.’
• 1 Thessalonians 3:3You are receiving many troubles. We did not want anyone among you to turn away from Christ because of that. You already know that we who are believers must receive troubles like that.
• 2 Timothy 2:12If we continue to be strong during troubles here, we will also rule with him there in heaven. But if we say that we do not know Christ, he will also say that he does not know us.

Commentaries on Acts 20:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Save that - Except that. This was all that he knew, that bonds and afflictions were to be his portion. The Holy Ghost witnesseth - Either by direct revelation to him, or by the predictions of inspired men whom Paul might meet. An instance of the latter mode occurs in Acts 21:11. It is probable that the meaning here is that the Holy Spirit had deeply impressed the mind of Paul by his direct influences, and by his experience in every city, that bonds and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-27Verses 17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23the Holy Spirit warns me: See, for example, 21:10–12.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. And now, behold, I--"I" is emphatic here. bound in the spirit--compare Ac 19:21. This internal pressure, unattended with any knowledge of "what was to befall him there," was the result of that higher guidance which shaped all his movements.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 20:23

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Character
• Courage
• Ephesus
• Joy
• Miletus
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Prudence
• Self-Denial
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Holy Ghost
• Abide
• Appoint
• Bind
• Bishop
• Counsel
• Count
• Course
• Determine
• Draw

Commentaries on Acts 20

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings