Acts 18:21
in Acts 18But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.
KJV
But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
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This verse in Acts 18
Commentary
12 notes on this verseHe left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, he said, [and did this with good reason], as if they were teaching there. For since they had been associated with him for so long, they had learned very many things; yet he had not been able to …
This site's exposition
When they reached Ephesus
on Acts 18:19-21
At Ephesus Paul reasoned in the synagogue, a first short visit before the long ministry of chapter 19. Asked to stay longer, he declined but promised to come back if God is willing, and chapter 19 opens with his return.
This site's exposition
I will come back to you
Later manuscripts add a sentence here in which Paul says he must keep the coming feast in Jerusalem. The oldest manuscripts lack it, and the Berean follows them. Paul kept his word to Ephesus when he came back at 19:1.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And Paul departed from Ephesus and went down to Caesarea," etc. Walking out of there, Paul came down to Caesarea, where he saluted the congregation of the church. Then he left for Antioch and, after staying there for some time, traveled through the countries of …
"When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem." Therefore it was that he was hindered from coming into Asia, being impelled to what was of pressing moment. Thus observe him here, entreated (by them) to stay, but because he could not comply, being in haste to depart, "he bade them farewell." However, he did not leave them without more ado, but with promise (to return): "But I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus."
The Medieval Church2 voices
He departed from Ephesus, and descending, he went up to Caesarea and greeted the church. He says Caesarea, the metropolis of Cappadocia. For he had not yet come to Syria of Phoenicia. Formerly called Mosacha from Mosoc, the son of Japheth, later it received the …
"I will return to you again." Being a prophet and knowing that he was to return, Paul gave a promise to return again to Ephesus. And so that no one would do the same thing out of foolishness, giving a reckless promise to do this …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
I must by all means keep the feast at Jerusalem - This was not from any apprehension that he was obliged in conscience to keep the Jewish feasts; but to take the opportunity of meeting a great number of his countrymen to whom he might preach Christ, or whom he might farther instruct, or free from the prejudices they had imbibed against him.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But bade them farewell, saying,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Keep this feast - Probably the Passover is here referred to. Why he was so anxious to celebrate that feast at Jerusalem, the historian has not informed us. It is probable, however, that he wished to meet as many of his countrymen as possible, and to remove, if practicable, the prejudices which had everywhere been raised against him, Act 21:20-21. Perhaps, also, he supposed that there would be many Christian converts present, whom he might meet also. But I will return ... - This he did Act 19:1, and remained there three years, Act 20:31.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I must . . . keep this feast--probably Pentecost, presenting a noble opportunity of preaching the Gospel. but I will return--the fulfilment of which promise is recorded in Ac 19:1.
I must - keep this feast - Most likely the passover, at which he wished to attend for the purpose of seeing many of his friends, and having the most favorable opportunity to preach the Gospel to thousands who would attend at Jerusalem on that occasion. The whole of this clause, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem, is wanting in ABE, six others; with the Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, and Vulgate. Griesbach leaves it in the text, with the mark of doubtfulness; and Professor White, in his Crisews, says, probabiliter delenda. Without this clause the verse will read thus: But he bade them farewell, saying, I will return again unto you, if God will. And this he did before the expiration of that same year, Act 19:1, and spent three years with them, Act 20:31, extending and establishing the Church at that place.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἀποταξάμενος | apotaxamenos | having taken leave | G657 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰπών | eipon | having said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| πάλιν | palin | Again | G3825 → | 139 times |
| ἀνακάμψω | anakampso | I will return | G344 → | |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| θέλοντος, | thelontos | willing, | G2309 → | 208 times |
| ἀνήχθη | anechthe | he sailed | G321 → | 23 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἐφέσου. | ephesou | Ephesus. | G2181 → | 16 times |
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἀποταξάμενοςhaving taken leave
apotaxamenosG657 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰπώνhaving said
eiponG2036 →925 times
πάλινAgain
palinG3825 →139 times
ἀνακάμψωI will return
anakampsoG344 →
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦGod
theouG2316 →1312 times
θέλοντος,willing,
thelontosG2309 →208 times
ἀνήχθηhe sailed
anechtheG321 →23 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
Ἐφέσου.Ephesus.
ephesouG2181 →16 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
James 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
it leads to
- Hebrews 6:3
And this we will do, if God permits.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- 1 Corinthians 16:7
For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Lamentations 3:37
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- Romans 1:10
in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
- Hebrews 6:3
Through
Acts 20:16Paul 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.
it leads to
- Acts 19:21
After 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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 16:8
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
- Acts 19:21
Through
Romans 15:32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 13 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, Commentary on Acts; Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 40; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, Expositor's Greek Testament and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.