Acts 20:37

Acts 20:37 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
• New International Version (NIV)They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
• New Living Translation (NLT)They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye.

Context of Acts 20:37

35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 36And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Acts 20:37 word by word

ἱκανὸς δὲ κλαυθμὸς ἐγένετο πάντων, καὶ ἐπιπεσόντες ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον τοῦ Παύλου κατεφίλουν αὐτόν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• theyἱκανόςhikanos · sufficientG2425
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• wept soreγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• wept soreκλαυθμόςklauthmos · weepingG2805
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• fellἐπιπίπτωepipiptō · to fall/press uponG1968
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• Paul’sὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Paul’sΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
• and kissedκαταφιλέωkataphileō · to kissG2705
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Acts 20:37

• 1 Samuel 20:41And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.
• 2 Samuel 15:30But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.
• 2 Kings 20:3"Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
• Ezra 10:1While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.
• Job 2:12And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven.
• Psalms 126:5Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
• 2 Timothy 1:4As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
• Revelation 7:17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
• Revelation 21:4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
• Genesis 45:14Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
• Genesis 46:29Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.
• Romans 16:16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
• 1 Corinthians 16:20All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
• 2 Corinthians 13:12Greet one another with a holy kiss.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

Commentaries on Acts 20:37

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37Fell on Paul's neck - Leaned their heads against his shoulders, and kissed his neck. This was not an unusual custom in the east.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37Wept sore - Wept much. Greek: “There was a great weeping of all.” And fell on Paul‘s neck - Embraced him, as a token of tender affection. The same thing Joseph did when he met his aged father Jacob, Genesis 46:29. And kissed him - This was the common token of affection. See the Matthew 26:48 note; Luke 15:20 note; Romans 16:16 note; 1 Corinthians 16:20 note.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-38Verses 28-38 If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-38Paul’s message to the elders (leaders) of the church in Ephesus describes his life and work among them. He also calls these leaders to show the same kind of commitment as they continue the ministry. In this message, Paul points to his own life as an example. He shows his honesty and care for people (20:18–21, 26, 31). He also speaks about what will happen in the future (20:22–23, 25, 29–30). He warns them about false teachers (people who teach wrong ideas…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 36-3836-38. he kneeled down and prayed with them all, &c.--Nothing can be more touching than these three concluding verses, leaving an indelible impression of rare ministerial fidelity and affection on the apostle's part, and of warm admiration and attachment on the part of these Ephesian presbyters. Would to God that such scenes were more frequent in the Church!Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 20:37

• Ephesus
• Kiss
• Miletus
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• Bind
• Bishop
• Counsel
• Count
• Course
• Determine
• Draw
• Embrace
• Grievous

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