Acts 21:16
in Acts 21Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And there went with us also certain of the disciples from Cæsarea, bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
KJV
There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
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This verse in Acts 21
Commentary
9 notes on this verseAnd brought with them one Mnason, etc. - It is not very likely that they would bring a man with them with whom they were to lodge in Jerusalem; therefore, the text should perhaps be read as Bp. Patrick proposes: There went with us certain of the disciples of Caesarea, bringing us to one Mnason, with whom we were to lodge. This is most likely, as the text will bear this translation.
This site's exposition
took up our carriages
on Acts 21:15-16
After those days they took up their carriages, an old word for baggage rather than any wheeled vehicle, and went up to Jerusalem, certain disciples of Caesarea going with them and bringing Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, to host them. Mnason’s introduction here, a Cypriot believer perhaps converted as early as the scattering after Stephen’s death, quietly answers the earlier fear that Paul would find no safe lodging in a hostile city. The bench reads the detail as Luke’s care for the ordinary logistics of hospitality that made the mission possible.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And after these days," it says, "having taken up our baggage" - i.e. having received the supplies necessary for the journey - "we went up to Jerusalem. And there went with us also certain of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing us to one with whom we should lodge, one Mnason, an ancient disciple of Cyprus." "Bringing us," it says, "to him with whom we should lodge" - not to the church: for on the former occasion, when they went up concerning the decrees, they lodged with the Church, but now with a certain "ancient disciple." The expression shows that the preaching had been going on a long time: whence it seems to me that this writer in the Acts epitomizes the events of many years, relating only the matters of chief importance. So unwilling were they to burthen the Church, when there was another to lodge them; and so little did they stand upon their dignity.
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
The disciples brought us to one Mnason, a Cyprian, an old disciple - He was a native of Cyprus, but an inhabitant of Jerusalem, and probably one of the first converts there.
There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea,.... Members of the church at Caesarea; of the church here; see Gill on Act 10:
However it was, it seems he had been long a Christian, and was now in years. Note, It is an honourable thing to be an old disciple of Jesus Christ, to have been enabled by the grace of God to continue long in a course of duty, stedfast in the faith, and growing more and more prudent and experienced to a good old age.
His compliance with the persuasions of the brethren there, who advised him so far to compliment the Jews as to go and purify that it might appear he was no such enemy to the Mosaic rites and ceremonies as he was reported to be,
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Hence we find him asking the Roman Christians to wrestle with him in prayer, "for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that he might be delivered from them that believed not in Judea," as well as "that his service which he had for Jerusalem (the great collection for the poor saints there) might be accepted of the saints" (Ro 15:30, 31).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
One Mnason of Cyprus - The original in this place would be better translated, “And brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple,” etc. It is evident that, though Mnason was originally of Cyprus, yet he was now an inhabitant of Jerusalem, and was well known to the disciples at Caesarea. It is possible that he might have been at Caesarea, and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem; but the more correct interpretation of the passage is, that Paul and his fellow-travelers were conducted to his house in Jerusalem, and that he was not with them in the journey. Of Cyprus - See the notes on Act 4:36. An old disciple - An early convert to Christianity - perhaps one who was converted before the crucifixion of the Saviour. With whom we should lodge - In whose house we were to take up our abode. The rites of hospitality were shown in a distinguished manner by the early Christians.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| συνῆλθον | sunelthon | Went | G4905 → | 30 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also [some] | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μαθητῶν | matheton | disciples | G3101 → | 260 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| Καισαρείας | kaisareias | Caesarea | G2542 → | 17 times |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| ἡμῖν, | hemin | us, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἄγοντες | agontes | bringing [one] | G71 → | 68 times |
| παρ᾽ | par᾽ | with | G3844 → | 192 times |
| ᾧ | ho | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ξενισθῶμεν, | xenisthomen | we may lodge, | G3579 → | 10 times |
| Μνάσωνί | mnasoni | Mnason | G3416 → | |
| τινι | tini | a certain | G5100 → | 528 times |
| Κυπρίῳ, | kuprio | Cypriot, | G2953 → | 3 times |
| ἀρχαίῳ | archaio | an early | G744 → | 11 times |
| μαθητῇ.¶ | mathetea | disciple. | G3101 → | 260 times |
συνῆλθονWent
sunelthonG4905 →30 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso [some]
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
μαθητῶνdisciples
mathetonG3101 →260 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
ΚαισαρείαςCaesarea
kaisareiasG2542 →17 times
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
ἡμῖν,us,
heminG3165 →1936 times
ἄγοντεςbringing [one]
agontesG71 →68 times
παρ᾽with
par᾽G3844 →192 times
ᾧwhom
hoG3739 →1405 times
ξενισθῶμεν,we may lodge,
xenisthomenG3579 →10 times
ΜνάσωνίMnason
mnasoniG3416 →
τινιa certain
tiniG5100 →528 times
Κυπρίῳ,Cypriot,
kuprioG2953 →3 times
ἀρχαίῳan early
archaioG744 →11 times
μαθητῇ.¶disciple.
matheteaG3101 →260 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
Psalms 92:14In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,
it leads to
- Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and…
- Psalms 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
- Jeremiah 17:8
He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not…
- John 15:2–5
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
- Philippians 1:11
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Isaiah 46:4
Through
Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
- Leviticus 19:32
You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 20:29
Through
Acts 21:8Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.
it leads to
- Acts 6:5
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to…
- Acts 6:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. A. Alexander, Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 45; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.