Acts 20 · Verse 3

Acts 20:3

And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
Acts 20:3, King James Version

Acts 20:3 in other translations

BSBwhere he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
WEBWhen he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
ASVAnd when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
YLThaving made also three months' stay --a counsel of the Jews having been against him--being about to set forth to Syria, there came to him a resolution of returning through Macedonia.
DARBYAnd having spent three months there, a treacherous plot against him having been set on foot by the Jews, as he was going to sail to Syria, the resolution was adopted of returning through Macedonia.
BBEAnd when he had been there three months, because the Jews had made a secret design against him when he was about to take ship for Syria, he made a decision to go back through Macedonia.
WebsterAnd there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

What does Acts 20:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. And there abode three months--Though the province only is here mentioned, it is the city of Corinth that is meant, as the province of "Macedonia" (Ac 20:1) meant the city of Philippi. Some rough work he anticipated on his arrival at Corinth (2Co 10:1-8, 11; 13:1-10) though he had reason to expect satisfaction on the whole; and as we know there were other churches in Achaia besides that at Corinth (2Co 1:1; 11:10), he would have time enough to pay them all a brief visit during the three months of his stay there. This period was rendered further memorable by the despatch of the Epistle to the Romans, written during his stay at Corinth and sent by "Phoebe, a servant [deaconess] of the Church at Cenchrea" (see on Ac 18:3), a lady apparently of some standing and substance, who was going thither on private business. (See on Ro 16:1 and see Introduction to Romans). And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria--He had intended to embark, probably at Cenchrea, the eastern harbor of the city, for Palestine, on his route to Jerusalem, the third part of his plan (Ac 19:21). But having detected some conspiracy against his life by his bitter Jewish enemies as at Damascus (Ac 9:22-25) and Jerusalem (Ac 9:29, 30), he changed his plan and determined "to return" as he had come, "through Macedonia." As he was never more to return to Corinth, so this route would bring him, for the last time, face to face with the attached disciples of Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. And there abode. Why he remained here is unknown. It is probable, that while in Greece he wrote the Epistle to the Romans. Comp. Rom 15:25-27.

Laid wait. There was a design formed against him by the Jews, which they sought to execute. Why they formed this purpose, the historian has not informed us.

As he was about to sail. It would seem from this, that the design of the Jews was to attack the ship in which he was about, to sail, or to arrest him on ship-board. This fact determined him to take a much more circuitous route by land, so that the churches Of Macedonia were favoured with another visit from him.

Into Syria. On his way to Jerusalem.

He purposed, etc. He resolved to avoid the snare which they had laid for him, and to return by the same way in which he had come into Greece.

(d) "wait" Acts 23:12, 25:3, 2Cor 11:26 (*) "purposed" "determined"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Abode three months - Partly, as we may suppose, at Corinth, at Athens, and in Achaia; from which place he is supposed to have sent his epistle to the Romans, because he continued longer here than at any other place, and mentions several of the Corinthians in his salutations to the believers of Rome. When the Jesus laid wait for him - Paul had determined to go by sea to Syria, and from thence to Jerusalem. This was the first object of his journey; and this was the readiest road he could take; but, hearing that the Jews had laid wait for him, probably to attack his ship on the voyage, seize his person, sell him for a slave, and take the money which he was carrying to the poor saints at Jerusalem, he resolved to go as much of the journey as he conveniently could, by land. Therefore, he returned through Macedonia, and from thence to Troas, where he embarked to sail for Syria, on his way to Jerusalem. The whole of his journey is detailed in this and the following chapter. See also the map.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 20:1-6

Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account.

Read the full comment on Acts 20:1-6 →

Acts 20:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ποιήσαςpoiēsasHaving continuedG4160
τεtethenG5037
μῆναςmēnasmonthsG3376
τρεῖς,treisthree,G5140
γενομένηςgenomenēshaving been madeG1096
ἐπιβουλῆςepiboulēsa plotG1917
αὐτῷautōagainst himG846
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τῶνtōntheG3588
ἸουδαίωνIoudaiōnJewsG2453
μέλλοντιmellontihe being aboutG3195
ἀνάγεσθαιanagesthaito sailG321
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
Συρίαν,SurianSyria,G4947
ἐγένετοegenetoaroseG1096
γνώμηςgnōmēsa purposeG1106
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ὑποστρέφεινhupostrepheinto returnG5290
διὰdiathroughG1223
Μακεδονίας.MakedoniasMacedonia.G3109

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 20:3

  • Acts 20:19

    Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

  • 2 Corinthians 11:26

    In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

  • Acts 9:23-24

    And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

  • Acts 25:3

    And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:5

    For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

  • Acts 18:18

    And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

  • Acts 19:21

    After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

  • Acts 23:12-15

    And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

  • Ezra 8:31

    Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.

  • Acts 21:3

    Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:15

    And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

  • Galatians 1:21

    Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Jews.
19; 9:23,24; 23:12-15; 25:3; Ezr 8:31; Pr 1:11; Jer 5:26; 2Co 7:5
2Co 11:26
sail.
18:18; 21:3; Ga 1:21
he purposed.
19:21; 2Co 1:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 20:2

    And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

  • Acts 20:3

    And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

  • Acts 20:4

    And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

Read all of Acts 20

Acts 20:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y después de haber estado allí tres meses, y habiendo de navegar á Siria, le fueron puestas asechanzas por los Judíos; y así tomó consejo de volverse por Macedonia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et après qu’il y eut séjourné trois mois, les Juifs lui ayant dressé des embûches comme il allait s’embarquer pour la Syrie, on fut d’avis de s’en retourner par la Macédoine.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und nachdem er sich drei Monate aufgehalten hatte und von den Juden ein Anschlag gegen ihn geschehen war, als er nach Syrien abfahren wollte, ward er des Sinnes, durch Macedonien zurückzukehren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ubi cum fecisset menses tres, factæ sunt illi insidiæ a Judæis navigaturo in Syriam: habuitque consilium ut reverteretur per Macedoniam.