Acts 21 · Verse 9

Acts 21:9

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Acts 21:9, King James Version

Acts 21:9 in other translations

BSBHe had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
WEBNow this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
ASVNow this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.
YLTand this one had four daughters, virgins, prophesying.
DARBYNow this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
BBEAnd he had four daughters, virgins, who were prophets.
WebsterAnd the same man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.

What does Acts 21:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 21:8-10

8-10. next day we that were of Paul's company departed--(The words "the were of Paul's company" are omitted in the best manuscripts. They were probably added as the connecting words at the head of some church lessons). and came to Cæsarea--a run along the coast, southward, of some thirty miles. Philip the evangelist--a term answering apparently very much to our missionary [Howson], by whose ministry such joy had…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. Which did prophesy. That females sometimes partook of the prophetic influence, and foretold future events, is evident from various places in the New Testament. Acts 2:17; Acts 11:27.

(e) "did prophesy" Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy - Probably these were no more than teachers in the Church: for we have already seen that this is a frequent meaning of the word prophesy; and this is undoubtedly one thing intended by the prophecy of Joel, quoted Act 2:17, Act 2:18, of this book. If Philip's daughters might be prophetesses, why not teachers?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 21:8-18

Paul had express warning of his troubles, that when they came, they might be no surprise or terror to him. The general notice given us, that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God, should be of the same use to us. Their weeping began to weaken and slacken his resolution Has not our Master told us to take up our cross? It was a trouble to him, that they should so earnestly press him to do that…

Read the full comment on Acts 21:8-18 →

Acts 21:9 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.

τούτῳtoutōWith this [man]G3778
δὲdenowG1161
ἦσανēsanthere wereG1510
θυγατέρεςthugateresdaughtersG2364
τέσσαρεςtessaresfourG5064
παρθένοιparthenoivirginsG3933
προφητεύουσαι.¶prophēteuousaiprophesying.G4395

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

Cross references for Acts 21:9

  • Acts 2:17

    And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

  • Revelation 2:20

    Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

  • Exodus 15:20

    And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

  • Luke 2:36

    And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

  • Joel 2:28

    And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

  • Nehemiah 6:14

    My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

  • Judges 4:4

    And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

  • 2 Kings 22:14

    So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

  • Acts 13:1

    Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:4-5

    Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:38

    So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:25-34

    Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
virgins.
1Co 7:25-34,38
which.
2:17; Ex 15:20; Jud 4:4; 2Ki 22:14; Ne 6:14; Joe 2:28; 1Co 11:4,5
Re 2:20

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

Context

  • Acts 21:8

    And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

  • Acts 21:9

    And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

  • Acts 21:10

    And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

Read all of Acts 21

Acts 21:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y éste tenía cuatro hijas, doncellas, que profetizaban.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Or il avait quatre filles vierges qui prophétisaient.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Dieser aber hatte vier Töchter, Jungfrauen, welche weissagten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Huic autem erant quatuor filiæ virgines prophetantes.