Acts 18:21

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

19They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch. 23And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Acts 18:21 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ἀποταξάμενος καὶ εἰπών πάλιν ἀνακάμψω πρὸς ὑμᾶς τοῦ θεοῦ θέλοντος, ἀνήχθη ἀπὸ τῆς Ἐφέσου.Read the interlinear

• takingἀποτάσσωapotassomai · to leaveG657
• of them and sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• I will returnἀνακάμπτωanakamptō · to returnG344
• to you againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• if Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• willsθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• he setἀνάγωanagō · to leadG321
• EphesusἜφεσοςEphesos · EphesusG2181

Cross-references for Acts 18:21

• Acts 15:29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
• Luke 9:61Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:11Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
• Acts 20:16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
• Deuteronomy 16:1“Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
• Acts 19:21Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
• Acts 21:14And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
• Matthew 26:39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
• Romans 1:10always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.
• Romans 15:32so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.
• 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power.
• Philippians 2:19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.
• Hebrews 6:3And this we will do, if God permits.
• James 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also 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

• Ephesus
• Feasts
• Jerusalem
• Paul
• Will

In the dictionaries

• Ephesus
• God
• Jerusalem
• Ephesus, Ephesian
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Baptism
• Bear
• Blood
• Clean
• Convince

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