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,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul 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 everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then 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 20:41After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
• 2 Samuel 15:30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.
• 2 Kings 20:3“Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
• Ezra 10:1While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.
• Job 2:12When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.
• Psalms 126:5Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
• 2 Timothy 1:4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
• Revelation 7:17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
• Revelation 21:4‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
• Genesis 45:14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
• Genesis 46:29Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.
• Romans 16:16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
• 1 Corinthians 16:20All the brothers and sisters here 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 God’s people 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