Acts 21:22
in Acts 21What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
What is it therefore? they will certainly hear that thou art come.
KJV
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
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This verse in Acts 21
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThe multitude must needs come together - Whether this refers to a regular convocation of the Church, or to a tumult that would infallibly take place when it was heard that the apostle was come, we cannot pretend to say; but it is evident that James and the elders wished some prudent steps to be taken, in order to prevent an evil that they had too much reason to fear.
This site's exposition
They will certainly hear
on Acts 21:22-24
Four men had taken a vow, likely a Nazirite vow. Paul is to purify himself with them and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee:" they say these things as advising, not as commanding. "We have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them." Make thy defence in act, not in word - "that they may shave themselves," it says, "and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law:" they say not, "teachest," but, of superabundance, "that thou thyself also keepest the law." For of course not this was the matter of chief interest, whether he did not teach others, but, that he did himself observe the law.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
What is it therefore - What is to be done? The multitude must needs come together - They will certainly gather together in a tumultuous manner, unless they be some way pacified.
What is it therefore?....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
they glorified the Lord, &c.--constrained to justify his course, notwithstanding the Jewish complexion of the Christianity of Jerusalem.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
What is it therefore? - What is to be done? What is it proper to do to avoid the effects of the evil report which has been circulated? What they deemed it proper to do is suggested in the following verses. The multitude - The multitude of Jews. Must needs come together - There will be inevitably a tumultuous assemblage. It will be impossible to prevent that. The reasons were, because the minds of the Jews were exceedingly agitated that one of their own countrymen had, as they understood, been advising apostasy from the religion of their fathers; because this had been extensively done in many parts of the world, and with great success; and because Paul, having, as they believed, himself apostatized from the national religion, had become very conspicuous, and his very presence in Jerusalem, as in other places, would be likely to excite a tumult. It was, therefore, the part of friendship to him and to the cause to devise some proper plan to prevent, if possible, the anticipated excitement.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τί | ti | What | G5101 → | 563 times |
| οὖν | oun | then | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἐστιν; | estin | is it? | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| πάντως | pantos | Certainly | G3843 → | |
| ἀκούσονται | akousontai | they will hear | G191 → | 425 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐλήλυθας. | eleluthas | you have come. | G2064 → | 628 times |
τίWhat
tiG5101 →563 times
οὖνthen
ounG3767 →497 times
ἐστιν;is it?
estinG1510 →2333 times
πάντωςCertainly
pantosG3843 →
ἀκούσονταιthey will hear
akousontaiG191 →425 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐλήλυθας.you have come.
eleluthasG2064 →628 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 15:22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among…
it leads to
- Acts 15:27
Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
- Acts 15:40
but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
- Acts 1:23
So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
- Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
- Acts 15:32
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
- Acts 15:27
Through
Acts 19:32Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there.
it leads to
- Acts 21:34
Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.
- Acts 21:34
Through
Acts 15:12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
it leads to
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
- Acts 15:4
On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
- Acts 14:27
Where this verse is studied
About Acts

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 46; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.
