Acts 18 22

Acts 18:22 kjv

And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

Acts 18:22 nkjv

And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.

Acts 18:22 niv

When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

Acts 18:22 esv

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

Acts 18:22 nlt

The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch.

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 22 Meaning

This verse describes Paul's return to Caesarea after his time in Ephesus. He went up to Jerusalem to greet the church and then descended to Antioch. This travel demonstrates Paul's commitment to the Jerusalem church and his established connection with the believers in Antioch.

Acts 18 22 Context

This verse marks the end of a significant missionary journey for the Apostle Paul, primarily focusing on his extended stay and ministry in Ephesus. After leaving Ephesus, Paul intended to continue his journey. The mention of Caesarea signifies a stopping point, likely for maritime travel or to connect with other ministries. His subsequent visit to Jerusalem highlights his deep respect for the foundational church and his responsibility to report and interact with the believers there. The return to Antioch signifies his base of operations and the place where his missionary activities were often initiated and supported.

Acts 18 22 Word analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and". A conjunctive particle, linking this action to the preceding events or indicating a sequence of actions.

• ἐντῃ (entē): "in the". Dative singular feminine definite article. Used with the following noun.

• καισαρείᾳ (Kaisareia): "Caesarea". The accusative case of Caesarea, a major Roman port city on the coast of Judea. A stopping point in travel.

• ἀποθεάμενος (apotethamenos): "having greeted" or "having saluted". The aorist participle, middle voice, from ἀσπάζομαι (aspazomai). Implies a formal or affectionate greeting and showing regard.

• τὴν (tēn): "the". Accusative singular feminine definite article. Used with the following noun.

• ἐκκλησίαν (ekklēsian): "church". Accusative singular, referring to the collective body of believers in Jerusalem.

• εἰς (eis): "to" or "unto". Preposition indicating motion toward a place or a goal.

• Ιεροσόλυμα (Hierosolyma): "Jerusalem". Accusative plural, the holy city of Judaism, central to early Christianity.

• καὶ (kai): "and". Again, a conjunction indicating a further action.

• ἀναβὰς (anabas): "having gone up". The aorist participle, active voice, from ἀναβαίνω (anabainō). Lit. "to go up," referring to ascending from the coastal plain to the higher elevation of Jerusalem.

• κατέβη (katebē): "went down". The aorist indicative, active voice, from καταβαίνω (katabainō). Lit. "to go down," referring to descending from the higher ground of Jerusalem to the lower-lying region of Antioch.

• εἰς (eis): "to" or "unto". Preposition again indicating motion toward.

• αντιοχειαν (Antiochian): "Antioch". Accusative singular, the capital of Roman Syria, a vital center for the early church and a base for Paul's missions.

• Paul's movements: The specific geographical shifts (Caesarea to Jerusalem, Jerusalem to Antioch) are characteristic of Paul's itinerant ministry, connecting major Christian centers.

• Greeting the church: This act signifies accountability, fellowship, and a desire to maintain unity within the broader Christian body.

• "Going up" to Jerusalem: This phrase reflects both the literal elevation of Jerusalem and its spiritual significance as the historical center of God's redemptive plan.

• "Going down" to Antioch: This contrasts with the ascent to Jerusalem and signifies a return to his missionary base.

Acts 18 22 Bonus section

The geographical movement from the coast (Caesarea) up to the elevated city of Jerusalem, and then down to Antioch, is a significant topographical and symbolic representation. Jerusalem's elevation often symbolizes its spiritual importance and position as the heavenly city to which all nations would flow (Isaiah 2:2-3). Conversely, Antioch, being in a lower-lying region compared to Jerusalem, served as a pragmatic and dynamic base for outward expansion. Paul’s greetings to the church in Jerusalem connect his Gentile mission back to its Jewish roots, reinforcing the unified nature of the new covenant community across both Jewish and Gentile believers. This interaction also occurs within the broader context of the apostolic council decisions previously made regarding Gentile inclusion.

Acts 18 22 Commentary

Paul, concluding his stay in Ephesus, makes a purposeful journey. He first travels to Caesarea, a key Roman port, likely to arrange passage or gather information. From there, he makes the customary "ascent" to Jerusalem to greet the church, the mother church of believers. This action underscores Paul's respect for the apostolic foundation and his desire for fellowship and communion with the Jerusalem saints, likely to share news of his ministry and possibly for updated instruction or affirmation. Following this visit, he "descends" to Antioch, the strategic hub from which his major missionary ventures were launched. This circuitous travel demonstrates Paul's commitment to the wider body of Christ, bridging the major centers of his expanding ministry and reinforcing his connection to the Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem while operating from the Gentile-friendly center of Antioch.