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Acts 21:5

in Acts 21

But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell;

KJV

And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

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This verse in Acts 21

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts · Written before 735.

We set out, being escorted by wives and children, etc. The prophecy which sings of the Church is fulfilled: The daughters of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the rich among the people (Psalm XLIV), and the rest, up to the end of the …

This site's exposition

knelt down on the beach

on Acts 21:5-6

All the disciples, with their wives and children, walked the company out of Tyre and knelt down on the beach to pray. The public farewell repeats the prayer at Miletus, and the same pattern of parting closes both scenes.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 45 · Written before 407.

proposed

And there again they part from each other with prayer. "And when we had accomplished those days, we departed, and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again." See how great was the entreaty. And again they part with prayer. "But after we had accomplished the days," i.e. had fulfilled the appointed days, "we separated, and went on our way: they all bringing us on our way with wives and children." Also in Ptolemais they stay one day, but in Caesarea many.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

"Completed those days." The verb "completed" [ἐξαρτίσαι] is used in place of πληρῶσαι. For after the days had been completed, that is, after the days of unleavened bread, they came to Troas five days later. [CHRYSOSTOM]

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

We kneeled down on the shore and prayed. Paul prayed for himself, prayed for them, prayed for all the churches; as he was much in prayer so he was mighty in prayer. They prayed upon the shore, that their last farewell might be sanctified and sweetened with prayer.
And when we had accomplished those days,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Had accomplished those days - When those days were passed. They all brought us on our way - They attended us. See the Act 15:3 note; Rom 15:24 note; 1Co 16:6, 1Co 16:11 notes; 3Jn 1:6 note. This was an expression of tender attachment, and of a deep interest in the welfare of Paul and his fellow-travelers. We kneeled down - See the notes on Act 20:36. On the shore - Any place may be proper for prayer. See the notes on Joh 4:21-
3 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

finding disciples--finding out the disciples, implying some search. They would expect such, from what is recorded, Ac 11:19. Perhaps they were not many; yet there were gifted ones among them. who said to Paul . . . that he should not go up to Jerusalem--(See on Ac 20:23; also see on Ac 21:11-14).

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A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

they all brought us on our way with wives and children . . . and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed--(See on Ac 20:36). Observe here that the children of these Tyrian disciples not only were taken along with their parents, but must have joined in this act of solemn worship.

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A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

When we had accomplished those days - That is, the seven days mentioned in the preceding verse. And they all brought us on our way, with wives and children - It is not likely that Paul, Silas, Luke, etc., had either wives or children with them; and it is more natural to suppose that the brethren of Tyre, with their wives and children are those that are meant; these, through affection to the apostles, accompanied them from their homes to the ship; and the coming out of the husbands, wives, and children, shows what a general and affectionate interest the preaching and private conversation of these holy men had excited. Kneeled down on the shore, and prayed - As God fills heaven and earth, so he may be worshipped every where; as well, when circumstances require it, on the seashore as in the temple. We have already seen, in the case of Lydia, that the Jews had proseuchas by the river sides, etc.; and an observation in Tertullian seems to intimate that they preferred such places, and in the open air offered their petitions to God by the seashore: Omissis templis, per omne littus, quocumque in aperto aliquando jam preces ad coelum mittunt. Tertul. de Jejunio.

The words behind it

28 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Psalms 95:6O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.10 worksEphesians 3:14... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,9 worksActs 20:36When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.6 worksActs 9:40Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.4 worksActs 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.4 worksActs 15:3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 20:38They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.3 worksActs 16:13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.3 works2 Corinthians 1:16I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you from Macedonia, and then to have you help me on my way to Judea.3 works2 Chronicles 6:13Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven,3 worksRomans 15:24I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.3 works1 Timothy 2:8Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.3 worksGenesis 18:16When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.3 worksEzra 9:5At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,3 worksDeuteronomy 29:11–12your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water—2 works2 Chronicles 20:13Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD.2 worksActs 17:10As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.2 works1 Kings 8:54Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD, he got up before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 95:6

    O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 2:10

      that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

    • Psalms 100:3

      Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

    • Ephesians 3:14

      ... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

    • Psalms 95:1

      Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation!

    • Daniel 6:10

      Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on…

  • Through

    Acts 9:40

    Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

    it leads to

    • Acts 7:60

      Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Matthew 9:25

      After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

  • Through

    Acts 20:38

    They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 16:11

      No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 21 →
This page draws on 9 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; Bede, On the Acts of the Apostles; 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); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 21 →