Acts 18 21

Acts 18:21 kjv

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Acts 18:21 nkjv

but took leave of them, saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from Ephesus.

Acts 18:21 niv

But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.

Acts 18:21 esv

But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.

Acts 18:21 nlt

As he left, however, he said, "I will come back later, God willing." Then he set sail from Ephesus.

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 21 Meaning

Acts 18:21 records the Apostle Paul's departure from Ephesus with a conditional promise: "I will return to you again if God wills it." This statement embodies a profound theological truth regarding human planning and divine sovereignty, signifying Paul's humble submission and dependence on God's overarching purpose for his ministry and movements. It acknowledges that while humans can make plans, their fulfillment ultimately rests in God's will and permission, reinforcing a stance of faithful submission and trust. It also implies a future intent for continued ministry with the Ephesian believers, subject to divine leading. Some ancient manuscripts add a phrase about Paul needing to keep a feast in Jerusalem, which if present, also indicates Paul's continued connection to Jewish tradition and a likely desire to report back to the mother church.

Acts 18 21 Context

Acts 18:21 is spoken by Paul as he concludes his nearly eighteen-month-long successful ministry in Corinth and briefly touches down in Ephesus. Having strengthened the fledgling church in Corinth (including teaching from Aquila and Priscilla, who later accompany him), Paul decides to sail towards Syria. He leaves Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, promising a return to the growing community there. This verse is nestled within Paul's second missionary journey, a period marked by significant church planting and expansion into new territories in the Greco-Roman world. His declaration reflects not a tentative scheduling but a deeply ingrained theological conviction of absolute reliance on divine providence. The potential visit to Jerusalem (mentioned in some textual traditions) would signify his desire to reconnect with the mother church, report on his ministry, and maintain a spiritual accountability, while the primary focus of his expressed intent in this verse is a future return to Ephesus.

Acts 18 21 Word analysis

• But (ἀλλά, alla): A strong conjunction introducing a contrast or shift in narrative, here distinguishing Paul's farewell from previous events and initiating his new plans.
• taking leave (ἀποταξάμενος, apotaxamenos): An aorist participle, indicating a decisive act of bidding farewell. It signifies a respectful and official departure, not a clandestine one.
• them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Refers to the believers in Ephesus with whom Paul had been ministering, especially those from the synagogue who had listened to his preaching, and implicitly the nascent Christian community there.
• having said (εἰπών, eipōn): An aorist participle meaning "having spoken" or "after he said." It introduces the direct speech that follows.
• I will return (πάλιν ἀνακάμψω, palin anakampsō): A clear, definite statement of future intention. Anakampsō (ἀνακάμψω) means "I will turn back" or "I will return." The adverb palin (πάλιν), meaning "again," reinforces the commitment to a subsequent visit.
• to you (πρὸς ὑμᾶς, pros hymas): Specifies the recipients of his promise – the Ephesian community, indicating his ongoing concern and future ministerial goals for them.
• again (πάλιν, palin): Already included within "I will return," this emphasizes a repeated action.
• if God wills it (ἐὰν ὁ Θεὸς θέλῃ, ean ho Theos thelē): This is the theological lynchpin of the verse.
  • if (ἐὰν, ean): A conditional particle, meaning "if" or "in case." It introduces a real but not necessarily certain condition for his return.
  • God (ὁ Θεὸς, ho Theos): The definite article "ho" points to the singular, sovereign God. It's a statement of monotheistic conviction and divine agency.
  • wills it (θέλῃ, thelē): From the verb thelō (θέλω), meaning "to will, wish, desire, intend." In the context of God, it denotes His sovereign plan, decree, and purpose. The subjunctive mood indicates contingency and possibility, acknowledging divine prerogative. This phrase stands in direct opposition to self-assured planning devoid of God's leading, as criticized in James 4:13-15.
• he set sail (ἀνήχθη, anēchthē): An aorist passive indicative (used intransitively), "he was taken up," meaning he put out to sea, started sailing. It describes the action of his physical departure.
• from Ephesus (ἀπὸ τῆς Ἐφέσου, apo tēs Ephesou): Clearly states the starting point of his journey. Ephesus was a vital Roman port city.

Words-group analysis

• "But taking leave of them": Highlights Paul's methodical and communal approach to ministry. He engages directly with the local church, building relationships that inform his future intentions, even upon departure.
• "I will return to you again if God wills it": This complete statement is a profound expression of apostolic humility and theological conviction. It marries human intention with divine permission. It implies that while Paul actively plans for ministry, he does so with open hands, recognizing God's ultimate control and direction. It models for all believers how to hold plans lightly, trusting in the wisdom and sovereignty of God over individual desires or schedules. This phrasing (often termed Deo volente) reflects a deep spiritual wisdom prevalent in early Christian thought and discourse, showing dependence, not presumption.
• Textual Variant: "I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem" (found in Textus Receptus and later manuscripts but absent from earliest/most reliable manuscripts like P74, Vaticanus, Sinaiticus): If included, this phrase would demonstrate Paul's continued reverence for Jewish tradition and likely his strategic desire to present his missionary report to the Jerusalem apostles during one of the major pilgrim feasts (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). This would further align his movements with the larger trajectory of the church. If omitted, it places less emphasis on his Jewish adherence in this specific instance and highlights his direct focus on return to the Ephesian Gentiles through general missionary activity. However, even without this phrase, Paul later actively goes to Jerusalem to keep Pentecost (Acts 20:16), indicating his continued observance in other instances.

Acts 18 21 Bonus section

• The phrase "if God wills it" (Deo volente in Latin) was not unique to Christianity but carried significant weight. It existed in pagan cultures to acknowledge fate or the gods, and in Jewish contexts as "Im Yirtzeh Hashem" (if God desires). However, Paul imbued it with the Christian understanding of a personal, loving, and sovereign God actively involved in believers' lives, directing paths according to His perfect plan. It distinguishes a living relationship with a providential God from a resigned acceptance of an impersonal fate.
• Paul's repeated use of this conditional statement across his letters (Rom 1:10; 1 Cor 4:19; 16:7; Phil 2:19) underscores that this was a fundamental principle guiding his entire ministry and not just an isolated comment. It speaks to a theology of divine guidance where the Holy Spirit actively directs movements, opens and closes doors, and aligns human efforts with God's mission, as vividly seen in Acts 16 when Paul's planned routes were explicitly rerouted by the Spirit.
• The inclusion of the phrase about keeping a feast in Jerusalem, while considered a later textual addition in many modern translations, highlights an important interpretive discussion. If original, it would imply Paul’s continued observance of Jewish law and customs within the framework of Christian liberty, perhaps strategically to build bridges with Jewish communities, as he became "as a Jew to Jews" (1 Cor 9:20). If an interpolation, it suggests early Christian scribes perceived Paul in this light and sought to emphasize this aspect of his life. Either way, it demonstrates the dynamic interplay between Jewish identity and nascent Christianity.
• This verse acts as a profound counterpoint to secular humanism, which often asserts absolute human autonomy over plans, or a form of passive religious determinism. Instead, it advocates for a responsible, proactive faith that nonetheless remains humble and ultimately submissive to a divine will, fostering an attitude of expectant trust rather than anxious control.

Acts 18 21 Commentary

Acts 18:21 provides a crucial insight into Paul's missionary strategy and spiritual disposition. His declaration, "I will return to you again if God wills it," serves as a cornerstone for Christian planning, teaching profound humility and unwavering trust in divine providence. Paul, an apostle divinely commissioned and supernaturally gifted, did not presume upon his authority or ability. Instead, every plan and future intention was consciously subjected to God's sovereign will. This "if God wills" (known as Deo volente) is not a mere colloquialism or a superstitious charm, but a deep theological statement. It asserts that human actions, no matter how noble or planned, operate within the boundaries of God's eternal purposes. This perspective combats both human arrogance and fatalism, advocating for an active faith that plans, prays, and then patiently trusts God to open or close doors. For believers, this verse encourages diligent planning in concert with earnest prayer, always yielding final outcomes to the omniscient and benevolent will of the Lord.