Acts 20:23

Acts 20:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
• New International Version (NIV)I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

Context of Acts 20:23

21I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. 22“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 25“And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again.

Acts 20:23 word by word

πλὴν ὅτι τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον κατὰ πόλιν διαμαρτύρεταί μοι λέγον ὅτι δεσμὰ καὶ θλίψεις με μένουσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Saveπλήνplēn · but/howeverG4133
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• witnessethδιαμαρτύρομαιdiamarturomai · to testify solemnlyG1263
• inκατάkata · according toG2596
• every cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• bondsδεσμόςdesmon desmos · chainG1199
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• afflictionsθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• abideμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for Acts 20:23

• Acts 9:16And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
• Acts 14:22where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
• Acts 21:4We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem.
• John 16:33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
• 1 Thessalonians 3:3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.
• 2 Timothy 2:12If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

Commentaries on Acts 20:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Save that - Except that. This was all that he knew, that bonds and afflictions were to be his portion. The Holy Ghost witnesseth - Either by direct revelation to him, or by the predictions of inspired men whom Paul might meet. An instance of the latter mode occurs in Acts 21:11. It is probable that the meaning here is that the Holy Spirit had deeply impressed the mind of Paul by his direct influences, and by his experience in every city, that bonds and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-27Verses 17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23the Holy Spirit warns me: See, for example, 21:10–12.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. And now, behold, I--"I" is emphatic here. bound in the spirit--compare Ac 19:21. This internal pressure, unattended with any knowledge of "what was to befall him there," was the result of that higher guidance which shaped all his movements.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 20:23

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Character
• Courage
• Ephesus
• Joy
• Miletus
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Prudence
• Self-Denial
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Holy Ghost
• Abide
• Appoint
• Bind
• Bishop
• Counsel
• Count
• Course
• Determine
• Draw

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