Ephesians 6:20

Ephesians 6:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
• New International Version (NIV)for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Context of Ephesians 6:20

18With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. 19Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak. 21Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing. 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

Ephesians 6:20 word by word

ὑπὲρ οὗ πρεσβεύω ἐν ἁλύσει, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ παρρησιάσωμαι ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I am an ambassadorπρεσβεύωpresbeuō · be ambassadorG4243
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• bondsἅλυσιςhalusis · chainG254
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ·αὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• I may speak boldlyπαρρησιάζομαιparrhēsiazomai · to preach boldlyG3955
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980

Cross-references for Ephesians 6:20

• Proverbs 13:17An unreliable messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
• Isaiah 33:7Look, ambassadors cry out in the streets; messengers sent to make peace weep bitterly.
• 2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”
• Ephesians 3:1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –
• Ephesians 4:1I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called,
• 2 Samuel 10:2David said, “I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal to me.” So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father’s death. When David’s servants entered the land of the Ammonites,
• Acts 26:29Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”
• Acts 28:20So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.”
• Philippians 1:7For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me.
• 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.
• 2 Timothy 2:9for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned!
• Philemon 1:10I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,
• Ephesians 6:19Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
• Isaiah 58:1“Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet! Yell as loud as a trumpet! Confront my people with their rebellious deeds; confront Jacob’s family with their sin!
• Jeremiah 1:7The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you.
• Ezekiel 2:4The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’

Commentaries on Ephesians 6:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20An ambassador in bonds - An ambassador being the representative of his king, his person was in all civilized countries held sacred. Contrary to the rights of nations, this ambassador of the King of heaven was put in chains! He had however the opportunity of defending himself, and of vindicating the honor of his Master. See above. As I ought to speak - As becomes the dignity and the importance of the subject.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For which I am an ambassador in bonds - In chains (see the margin); or in confinement. There is something especially touching in this. He was “an ambassador” - sent to proclaim peace to a lost world. But he was now in chains. An ambassador is a sacred character. No greater affront can be given to a nation than to put its ambassadors to death, or even to throw them into prison. But Paul says here that the unusual spectacle was witnessed of an ambassador…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-24Verses 19-24 The gospel was a mystery till made known by Divine revelation; and it is the work of Christ's ministers to declare it. The best and most eminent ministers need the prayers of believers. Those particularly should be prayed for, who are exposed to great hardships and perils in their work. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith. By peace, understand all manner of peace; peace with God, peace of conscience, peace among themselves. And the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20Paul's mission was to help non-Jews (Gentiles) understand they are now accepted by God and welcomed into God's church. the mystery of the gospel: See study notes on 1:8–10; 3:3. I am an ambassador in chains: Although writing as a prisoner (see 3:1; 4:1), Paul knew his role as God's ambassador was to continue speaking boldly for God (compare 2 Corinthians 5:20) .Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. For--Greek, as in Ep 6:19, "On behalf of which." an ambassador in bonds--a paradox. Ambassadors were held inviolable by the law of nations, and could not, without outrage to every sacred right, be put in chains. Yet Christ's "ambassador is in a chain!" The Greek is singular. The Romans used to bind a prisoner to a soldier by a single chain, in a kind of free custody. So Ac 28:16, 20, "I am bound with this chain." The term, "bonds" (plural), on the…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 6:20

• Ambassadors
• Gospel
• Intercession
• Minister, Christian
• Wisdom
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Ambassador
• Chain
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Nurture
• Obey
• Provoke
• Wrestle
• Chain; Chains
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• Justification

Commentaries on Ephesians 6

• 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
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings