Acts 21 · Verse 19

Acts 21:19

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Acts 21:19, King James Version

Acts 21:19 in other translations

BSBPaul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
WEBWhen he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.
ASVAnd when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.
YLTand having saluted them, he was declaring, one by one, each of the things God did among the nations through his ministration,
DARBYAnd having saluted them, he related one by one the things which God had wrought among the nations by his ministry.
BBEAnd when he had said how glad he was to see them, he gave them a detailed account of the things which God had done through his work among the Gentiles.
WebsterAnd when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

What does Acts 21:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 21:17-19

17-19. the brethren received us gladly--the disciples generally, as distinguished from the official reception recorded in Ac 21:18.

Read the full comment on Acts 21:17-19 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Had saluted them. With the usual tokens of respect and affection.

He declared particularly, etc. As an evidence that God had been with him. It is not improbable that there might have been some suspicion in regard to Paul among the disciples at Jerusalem, and he might have heard that they were prejudiced against him. This prejudice would be removed by his stating what had actually occurred under his ministry.

(e) "what things" Rom 15:18,19 (f) "by his ministry" Acts 20:24, 2Cor 12:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Declared particularly, etc. - He no doubt had heard that they were prejudiced against him; and, by declaring what God had done by him among the Gentiles, showed how groundless this prejudice was: for, were he a bad man, or doing any thing that he should not do, God would not have made him such a singular instrument of so much good.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 21:19-26
Paul ascribed all his success to God, and to God they gave the praise. God had honoured him more than any of the apostles, yet they did not envy him; but on the contrary, glorified the Lord. They could not do more to encourage Paul to go on cheerfully in his work. James and the elders of the church at Jerusalem, asked Paul to gratify the believing Jews, by some compliance with the ceremonial law. They thought it was prudent in him to conform thus far. It was great weakness to be so fond of the shadows, when the substance was come. The religion Paul preached, tended not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. He preached Christ, the end of the law for righteousness, and repentance and faith, in which we are to make great use of the law. The weakness and evil of the human heart strongly appear, when we consider how many, even of the disciples of Christ, had not due regard to the most eminent minister that even lived. Not the excellence of his character, nor the success with which God blessed his labours, could gain their esteem and affection, seeing that he did not render the same respect as themselves to mere ceremonial observances. How watchful should we be against prejudices! The apostles were not free from blame in all they did; and it would be hard to defend Paul from the charge of giving way too much in this matter. It is vain to attempt to court the favour of zealots, or bigots to a party. This compliance of Paul did not answer, for the very thing by which he hoped to pacify the Jews, provoked them, and brought him into trouble. But the all-wise God overruled both their advice and Paul's compliance with it, to serve a better purpose than was intended. It was in vain to think of pleasing men who would be pleased with nothing but the rooting out of Christianity. Integrity and uprightness will be more likely to preserve us than insincere compliances. And it should warn us not to press men to doing what is contrary to their own judgment to oblige us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 21:19 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἀσπασάμενοςaspasamenoshaving greetedG782
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
ἐξηγεῖτοexēgeitohe was relatingG1834
καθ᾽kath᾽byG2596
ἓνhenoneG1520
ἕκαστονhekastoneachG1538
ὧνhōnof the thingsG3739
ἐποίησενepoiēsendidG4160
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
ἐνenamongG1722
τοῖςtoistheG3588
ἔθνεσινethnesinGentilesG1484
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῆςtēstheG3588
διακονίαςdiakoniasministryG1248
αὐτοῦ.autouof him.G846

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

Cross references for Acts 21:19

  • Acts 14:27

    And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

  • Acts 1:17

    For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

  • Romans 15:18-19

    For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • Acts 20:24

    But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

  • Acts 15:4

    And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:12

    Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

  • Colossians 1:29

    Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

  • Acts 15:12

    Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

    Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. …

  • Acts 11:4-18

    But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. …

  • 2 Corinthians 6:1

    We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he declared.
11:4-18; 14:27; 15:4,12; Ro 15:18,19; 1Co 3:5-9; 15:10; 2Co 6:1
Col 1:29
by.
1:17; 20:24; 2Co 12:12

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

Context

  • Acts 21:18

    And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

  • Acts 21:19

    And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

  • Acts 21:20

    And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Read all of Acts 21

Acts 21:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A los cuales, como los hubo saludado, contó por menudo lo que Dios había hecho entre los Gentiles por su ministerio.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et après qu’il les eut embrassés, il raconta une à une les choses que Dieu avait faites parmi les nations par son service.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als er sie begrüßt hatte, erzählte er eines nach dem anderen, was Gott unter den Nationen durch seinen Dienst getan hatte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quos cum salutasset, narrabat per singula quæ Deus fecisset in gentibus per ministerium ipsius.