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

19When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews. 20When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent, but said farewell to them and added, “I will come back to you again if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus, 22and when he arrived at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem and then went down to Antioch. 23After he spent some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• badeἀποτάσσωapotassomai · to leaveG657
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• by all meansπάντωςpantōs · surelyG3843
• keepποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• this feastἑορτήheortē · festivalG1859
• that comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• JerusalemἹεροσόλυμαHierosoluma · JerusalemG2414
• butδέde · thenG1161
• I will returnἀνακάμπτωanakamptō · to returnG344
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• ifθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he sailedἀνάγωanagō · to leadG321
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• EphesusἜφεσοςEphesos · EphesusG2181

Cross-references for Acts 18:21

• Acts 15:29that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell.
• Luke 9:61Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, 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 as not to spend time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to arrive in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
• Deuteronomy 16:1Observe the month Abib and keep the Passover to the Lord your God, for in that month he brought you out of Egypt by night.
• Acts 19:21Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
• Acts 21:14Because he could not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
• Matthew 26:39Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
• Romans 1:10and I always ask in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God.
• Romans 15:32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
• 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.
• Philippians 2:19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.
• Hebrews 6:3And this is what we intend to do, if God permits.
• James 4:15You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will 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

• 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