Acts 21:4 kjv
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 nkjv
And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:4 niv
We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:4 esv
And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:4 nlt
We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem.
Acts 21 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 14:22 | strengthen the souls of the disciples, urging them to continue in the faith | Encouragement of believers |
| 1 Corinthians 1:10 | that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together | Unity in the church |
| Galatians 5:22 | love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness | Fruit of the Spirit |
| Philippians 2:3 | regard one another as more important than yourselves | Humility and consideration of others |
| Romans 12:10 | love one another with brotherly affection. Ahead of you put one another first | Mutual love and respect |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins | The primacy of love |
| John 13:35 | By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another | Marks of discipleship |
| Acts 15:36 | let us go again to visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord | Re-visiting and encouraging churches |
| 2 Corinthians 2:13 | had no rest for my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus | Concern for fellow workers |
| Colossians 1:24 | I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church | Sufferings for the church |
| Romans 1:11 | For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you | Desire to impart spiritual gifts |
| 1 Thessalonians 3:11 | Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you | Prayer for guidance in ministry |
| 1 Thessalonians 3:2 | sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and exhort you in your faith | Establishing and exhorting believers |
| Ephesians 4:11-12 | to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ | Building up the body of Christ |
| Acts 18:27 | If he had wanted to go, he would have gone with them | Disciples returning to the church |
| Acts 20:38 | and they were sorrowing most of all because of the words he had spoken, that they would not see his face again | Grief at parting |
| Acts 21:13 | Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." | Willingness to suffer for Christ |
| 1 Corinthians 15:31 | I declare by that boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. | Daily surrender and commitment |
| Romans 9:2-3 | that I have great distress and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen by birth. | Deep concern for his countrymen |
| Genesis 42:16 | let one of your brothers be held; the rest may go and carry grain for the famine of your households | Joseph's brothers showing concern for one another |
Acts 21 verses
Acts 21 4 Meaning
They found him, and implored him to turn back with them. Paul, demonstrating his deep love for the brethren and commitment to the unity of the church, considered their pleas. This act reveals his concern for reconciliation and building up the community of believers.
Acts 21 4 Context
Following Paul's journey and his encounters in various cities, he arrives in Tyre where disciples urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. The specific plea in verse 4 highlights a moment where his friends and fellow believers expressed their deep concern for his safety, anticipating the dangers he would face in Jerusalem. This takes place during Paul's final journey to Jerusalem before his arrest, a journey undertaken at the urging of the Holy Spirit and for the sake of bearing witness to Christ. The disciples in Tyre, likely moved by the Spirit, foresaw the tribulations awaiting Paul there, urging him to alter his plans for his own preservation. This moment underscores the emotional toll of missionary work and the interconnectedness of believers who deeply cared for one another's well-being.
Acts 21 4 Word analysis
καὶ (kai): Conjunction, meaning "and," connecting this action to the previous one, showing the progression of events.
εὑρόντες (heurontes): Participle from εὑρίσκω (heuriskō), meaning "to find." This implies they actively searched for him, indicating earnestness in their appeal.
αὐτὸν (auton): Pronoun, "him," referring directly to Paul.
παρεκάλουν (parekaloun): Imperfect tense of παρακαλέω (parakaleō), meaning "to call to one's side," "to urge," "to implore," or "to comfort." The imperfect tense suggests a continuous or repeated action of beseeching.
ἐπιστρέψαι (epistrepsai): Aorist infinitive of ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō), meaning "to turn back," "to return," or "to turn around."
σὺν (syn): Preposition, meaning "with."
αὐτοῖς (autois): Dative plural pronoun, "them," referring to the disciples in Tyre.
Finding him and imploring him: The phrase emphasizes the active seeking out of Paul and the earnestness of their request. They did not merely happen upon him; they went to find him specifically to convey their plea.
To turn back with them: This implies a desire for him to return to their company and abandon his perilous journey to Jerusalem. It highlights their deep affection and concern for his safety, wishing for him to remain with them.
Acts 21 4 Bonus section
The disciples' plea reflects the human element in obedience. While Paul was determined, he also clearly felt the emotional weight of their concern, as evidenced by his response later in Acts 21:13. This interaction showcases the authentic relationships and mutual care within the nascent Christian community, where fellowship and shared burdens were paramount. It also foreshadows the conflict Paul would face in Jerusalem, where opposition and betrayal awaited him, reinforcing the prophetic warnings about his impending suffering. Their "turning back" was a desire for his protection, a sentiment rooted in the Old Testament principle of familial concern, as seen in passages involving Joseph and his brothers, who ultimately returned to care for their family's needs.
Acts 21 4 Commentary
The disciples in Tyre displayed genuine love and foresight by beseeching Paul to reconsider his journey to Jerusalem. Their plea was not a condemnation of his mission but an expression of their loving concern for his safety, anticipating the hardships and potential dangers he would face. Paul, deeply rooted in his divine calling, balanced this human affection with obedience to the Spirit. His mission in Jerusalem was divinely ordained, even amidst the prophesied sufferings. This passage illustrates the tension between human wisdom and divine guidance, and the emotional bonds within the early church where believers felt a profound responsibility for one another. The brethren's urgency reflected the deep love they had for Paul, a sentiment echoed throughout the New Testament concerning the care believers are to have for one another.