Acts 20:23
in Acts 20I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
KJV
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
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This verse in Acts 20
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Save 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 Act 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 trials were to be his portion.
This site's exposition
compelled by the Spirit
on Acts 20:22-24
The Spirit compels Paul to Jerusalem while warning in town after town that chains and afflictions await him. He counts his life of no value if only he may finish his course. He answers the disciples at Caesarea in chapter 21 the same way.
This site's exposition
in town after town
Luke records two of these warnings in the next chapter, through the disciples at Tyre in 21:4 and through Agabus at Caesarea in 21:11. Agabus bound his own feet and hands with Paul's belt. The chains of this verse are acted out there.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Ammonius of AlexandriaCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.22 · Written before 300.
proposed
It must be noted that the prophets do not know everything but only what the Holy Spirit reveals to them. So see how Paul, like a prophet, foretells "that chains and afflictions await me," and that the Ephesians will never see him again and that …
To what end, then, sayest thou these things? to what end dost thou put them in mind of them? What has come of it? hast thou anything to lay to their charge? Having first alarmed their feeling, then he adds, "And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." Wherefore says he this? By way of preparing them to be always ready to meet dangers, whether seen or unseen, and in all things to obey the Spirit. He shows that it is for great objects that he is led away from them. "Save that the Holy Ghost," he says, me, "in every city witnesseth to me saying"-to show that he departs willingly; that you may not imagine it any bond or necessity, when he says, "bound in the Spirit-that in every city bonds and afflictions await me."
"Not knowing," he says, "the things that shall befall me." Then is this why thou departest? By no means; on the contrary (I know that), "bonds and afflictions await me." That (there are) trials, I know, but of what kind I know not: which was more grievous.
The Medieval Church2 voices
"Bonds and afflictions await me." That afflictions await me, this I know, but what kind of afflictions, that I do not know, because this was harder.
Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city. When he says through the cities, he clearly shows that what was to come for him, he knew not through himself but revealed by others about himself. Among these was the prophet Agabus, and …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Saying, that bonds and tribulations await me in Jerusalem. So that where he once persecuted the Church, he now fights for the peace of the Church.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,....
Now it is worth while to enquire how he bore it. He was flesh and blood as well as other men; he was so, and yet by the grace of God he was enabled to go on with his work, and to look with a gracious and generous contempt upon all the difficulties and discouragements he met with in it.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, &c.--by prophetic utterances from city to city, as in Ac 11:4; Analogous premonitions of coming events are not unknown to the general method of God's providence.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πλὴν | plen | except | G4133 → | 31 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἅγιον | hagion | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| κατὰ | kata | in every | G2596 → | 468 times |
| πόλιν | polin | city | G4172 → | 163 times |
| διαμαρτύρεταί | diamarturetai | fully testifies | G1263 → | 15 times |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| λέγον | legon | saying | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| δεσμὰ | desma | chains | G1199 → | 17 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| θλίψεις | thlipseis | tribulations | G2347 → | 44 times |
| με | me | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| μένουσιν. | menousin | await. | G3306 → | 118 times |
πλὴνexcept
plenG4133 →31 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεῦμαSpirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἅγιονHoly
hagionG40 →220 times
κατὰin every
kataG2596 →468 times
πόλινcity
polinG4172 →163 times
διαμαρτύρεταίfully testifies
diamarturetaiG1263 →15 times
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
λέγονsaying
legonG3004 →1325 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
δεσμὰchains
desmaG1199 →17 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
θλίψειςtribulations
thlipseisG2347 →44 times
μεme
meG3165 →1936 times
μένουσιν.await.
menousinG3306 →118 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 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
it leads to
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2–4
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
- John 16:33
Through
Acts 9:16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
it leads to
- Acts 21:11
Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3
so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
- Acts 21:11
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:3so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
it leads to
- Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Acts 14:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Ammonius of Alexandria, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.22; 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 44; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.