Acts 20:16
in Acts 20Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
KJV
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
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This verse in Acts 20
Commentary
14 notes on this verseFor he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to observe the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. In Greek, it is written as the Day of Pentecost, that is, the fiftieth day. Therefore note that the time of Passover and Pentecost were also celebrated …
This site's exposition
over against Chios
on Acts 20:15-16
Island by island, over against Chios, then Samos, Trogyllium, and Miletus, the ship made its way down the coast, and Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus rather than land there, unwilling to spend the time in Asia that a stop in his own beloved church would surely cost. He hasted, if it were possible, to be at Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, the feast that had opened this book’s story and now draws its central figure back toward the city where his own sufferings wait. The choice cost him a face to face farewell with the Ephesian elders, so he sends for them instead, which opens the next scene.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
"For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem the day of Pentecost." Why this haste? Not for the sake of the feast, but of the multitude. At the same time, by this he conciliated the Jews, as being one that did honor the feasts, wishing to gain even his adversaries: at the same time also he delivers the word. Accordingly, see what great gain accrued, from all being present.
Wherefore does the writer say where they came, and where they went to? To show in the first place that he was making the voyage more leisurely-and this upon human grounds-and sailing past some: also for the same reason he tells where he made a stay, and what parts he sailed past; namely, "that he might not have to spend the time in Asia." Since had he come there, he could not have sailed by; he did not like to pain those who would have begged him to remain. "For he hasted," it says, "if it were possible for him to keep the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem:" and this was not possible if he stayed.
Observe, how he is also moved like other men. For therefore it is that all this is done, that we may not fancy that he was above human nature: therefore you see him desiring something, and hasting, and in many instances not obtaining his object: for those great and holy men were partakers of the same nature with us; it was in the will and purpose that they differed, and so it was that also they attracted upon themselves the great grace they did.
But that the interests of the people of Ephesus might not be neglected on that account, he managed for this in a different way.
The Medieval Church1 voice
For he was hastening if it were possible to be present at the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. Indeed, it was commanded by the law that all Jews should gather in Jerusalem three times a year, that is, at the time of Passover, Pentecost, and …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
You see, even with desire and effort Paul often did not achieve what he wanted, so that we would not think he was above human nature. The saints and great men were of one nature with us, but not of one will, and therefore they …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He aimed to be there by the feast of pentecost because it was a time of concourse, which would give him an opportunity of propagating the gospel among the Jews and proselytes, who came from all parts to worship at the feast: and the feast of pentecost had been particularly made famous among the Christians by the pouring out of the Spirit.
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus - Which lay on the other side of the bay. He hasted to be at Jerusalem on the day of pentecost - Because then was the greatest concourse of people.
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The words imply that there was considerable ground to doubt if he would attain this object--for more than three of the seven weeks from Passover to Pentecost had already expired--and they are inserted evidently to explain why he did not once more visit Ephesus.
To sail by Ephesus - Not to touch there at this time. To be at Jerusalem the day of pentecost - That he might have the opportunity of preaching the kingdom of God to multitudes of Jews from different places, who would come up to Jerusalem at that feast; and then he no doubt expected to see there a renewal of that day of pentecost in which the Spirit was poured out on the disciples, and in consequence of which so many were converted to God.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
To sail by Ephesus - The word “by” in our translation is ambiguous. We say to go by a place, meaning either to take it in our way and to go to it, or to go past it. Here it means the latter. He intended to sail past Ephesus without going to it. For he hasted ... - Had he gone to Ephesus, he would probably have been so delayed in his journey that he could not reach Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost - See the notes on Act 2:1.
The words behind it
28 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| κεκρίκει | kekrikei | Had decided | G2919 → | 114 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Παῦλος | paulos | Paul | G3972 → | 158 times |
| παραπλεῦσαι | parapleusai | to sail by | G3896 → | |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἔφεσον, | epheson | Ephesus, | G2181 → | 16 times |
| ὅπως | hopos | so that | G3704 → | 52 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| γένηται | genetai | it may happen | G1096 → | 667 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | to him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| χρονοτριβῆσαι | chronotribesai | to spend time | G5551 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἀσίᾳ· | asia | Asia; | G773 → | 17 times |
| ἔσπευδεν | espeuden | he was hastened | G4692 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δυνατὸν | dunaton | possible | G1415 → | 32 times |
| εἴη | eie | it would be | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | for him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τὴν | ten | on the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμέραν | hemeran | day | G2250 → | 389 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πεντηκοστῆς | pentekostes | of Pentecost | G4005 → | |
| γενέσθαι | genesthai | to be | G1096 → | 667 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ἱεροσόλυμα.¶ | hi'erosoluma | Jerusalem. | G2414 → | 62 times |
κεκρίκειHad decided
kekrikeiG2919 →114 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ΠαῦλοςPaul
paulosG3972 →158 times
παραπλεῦσαιto sail by
parapleusaiG3896 →
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
Ἔφεσον,Ephesus,
ephesonG2181 →16 times
ὅπωςso that
hoposG3704 →52 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
γένηταιit may happen
genetaiG1096 →667 times
αὐτῷto him
autoG846 →5565 times
χρονοτριβῆσαιto spend time
chronotribesaiG5551 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
Ἀσίᾳ·Asia;
asiaG773 →17 times
ἔσπευδενhe was hastened
espeudenG4692 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
δυνατὸνpossible
dunatonG1415 →32 times
εἴηit would be
eieG1510 →2333 times
αὐτῷfor him
autoG846 →5565 times
τὴνon the
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἡμέρανday
hemeranG2250 →389 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
πεντηκοστῆςof Pentecost
pentekostesG4005 →
γενέσθαιto be
genesthaiG1096 →667 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
Ἱεροσόλυμα.¶Jerusalem.
hi'erosolumaG2414 →62 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 2:1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
it leads to
- Romans 15:6
so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 2:2
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
- Acts 1:13–15
When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas…
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- 1 Corinthians 16:8
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
- Romans 15:6
Through
Acts 19:21After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as…
it leads to
- Acts 20:22
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
- Acts 20:22
Through
1 Corinthians 16:8But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
it leads to
- Acts 2:1
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
- Acts 2:1
Through
Acts 20:6And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
it leads to
- Acts 12:3
And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- Acts 12:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
- PlaceAsia MinorEphesusGreat harbor city of Asia, home of the Artemis temple; Paul's three-year base where the word grew mightily; addressed in Ephesians…
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 43; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.