Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:4 in other translations
| BSB | We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. |
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| WEB | Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem. |
| ASV | And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem. |
| YLT | And having found out the disciples, we tarried there seven days, and they said to Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem; |
| DARBY | And having found out the disciples, we remained there seven days; who said to Paul by the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. |
| BBE | And meeting the disciples we were there for seven days: and they gave Paul orders through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. |
| Webster | And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. |
What does Acts 21:4 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 21:4-6
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Who said to Paul. Comp. Acts 21:12. Their deep interest in his welfare, and their apprehension of his danger, was the reason why they admonished him not to go.
Through the Spirit. There as some difficulty in understanding this. In solving this difficulty, we may remark,
(1.) that it is evident that the Holy Spirit is meant, and that Luke means to say that this was spoken by his inspiration. The Holy Spirit was bestowed on Christians at that time in large measures, and many appear to have been under his inspiring guidance.
(2.) It was not understood by Paul as a positive command that he should not go up to Jerusalem--for, had it been, it would not have been disobeyed. Paul evidently understood it as expressive of their earnest wish that he should not go, as apprizing him of danger, and as a kind expression in regard to his own welfare and safety. Comp. Acts 21:13. Paul was in better circumstances to understand this than we are, and his interpretation was doubtless correct.
(3.) It is to be understood, therefore, simply as an inspired prophetic warning, that if he went, he went at the risk of his life; a prophetic warning joined with their individual personal wishes, that he would not expose himself to this danger. The meaning evidently is, that they said by inspiration of the Spirit, that he should not go unless he was willing to encounter danger, and the hazard of life as a consequence, for they foresaw that the journey would be attended with this hazard. Grotius renders it, "that he should not go, unless he was willing to be bound." Michaelis and Stolzius, "They gave him prophetic warning, that he should not go to Jerusalem." Doddridge, "If he tendered his own liberty and safety, not to go up to Jerusalem, since it would certainly expose him to very great hazard." The inspiration in the case was that of admonition and warning, not of positive command. Paul was simply apprized of the danger; and then left to the free determination of his own will. He chose to encounter the danger of which he was thus apprized. He did not despise the intimations of the Spirit; but he judged that his duty to God called him thus to encounter the hazards of the journey. We may be apprized of danger in a certain course, either by our friends or by the word of God, and still it may be our duty to meet it. Our duty is not to be measured by the fact that we shall experience dangers, in whatever way that may be made known to us. It is in following the will of God; and encountering whatever trials may be in our way.
(d) "said to Paul" Acts 21:12
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 21:1-7
Providence must be acknowledged when our affairs go on well. Wherever Paul came, he inquired what disciples were there, and found them out. Foreseeing his troubles, from love to him, and concern for the church, they wrongly thought it would be most for the glory of God that he should continue at liberty; but their earnestness to dissuade him from it, renders his pious resolution the more illustrious. He has taught…
Acts 21:4 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Acts 21:4
- Acts 21:10-12
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
- Acts 20:22-23
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.
- Acts 20:6-7
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
- Matthew 10:11
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
- Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- Acts 19:1
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
- Acts 28:14
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
- Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
- 2 Timothy 1:17
But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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.
- Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
- Acts 21:5
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.
Acts 21:4 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y nos quedamos allí siete días, hallados los discípulos, los cuales decían á Pablo por Espíritu, que no subiese á Jerusalem. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et ayant trouvé les disciples, nous y sommes demeurés sept jours. Et ils dirent à Paul, par l’Esprit, de ne pas monter à Jérusalem. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und als wir die Jünger gefunden hatten, blieben wir daselbst sieben Tage; diese sagten dem Paulus durch den Geist, er möge nicht nach Jerusalem hinaufgehen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Inventis autem discipulis, mansimus ibi diebus septem: qui Paulo dicebant per Spiritum ne ascenderet Jerosolymam. |