Acts 21 5

Acts 21:5 kjv

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 21:5 nkjv

When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.

Acts 21:5 niv

When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.

Acts 21:5 esv

When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed

Acts 21:5 nlt

When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed,

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 5 Meaning

The disciples and their families saw Paul off on his journey. Their parting was marked by emotional farewells, including prayer and tears, demonstrating the deep affection and shared experience they had during his stay in Tyre. This highlights the human element within the apostolic ministry and the strong bonds of fellowship formed through shared faith and mission.

Acts 21 5 Context

Paul and his companions were traveling by sea, having concluded their ministry in Tyre. The chapter sets the scene for Paul's eventual return to Jerusalem, a journey filled with foreboding prophecies and a clear sense of divine guidance. This specific verse captures a poignant moment of farewell between Paul and the believers in Tyre. The group's insistence that Paul not go to Jerusalem underscores their genuine concern for his safety, a concern that was well-founded given the opposition he faced. Despite their pleas and tears, Paul remained resolute in his commitment to obey the Holy Spirit's directive, demonstrating extraordinary courage and submission to God's will.

Acts 21 5 Word Analysis

• Ἀποταξάμενοι (apōtaxamenoi): "Having said farewell." This is the perfect passive participle of apotassō, meaning to bid farewell, to dismiss, to give up. It carries a sense of definitive parting. The perfect tense emphasizes the completed action of bidding farewell.

• τῇς τε (tēs te): "and also." A combination of the genitive article tēs and the enclitic particle te, meaning "and." It links the departure from the ship with the companions.

• σὺν (syn): "with." A preposition indicating accompaniment.

• αὐτοῖς (autois): "them." The dative plural masculine pronoun, referring to the disciples in Tyre.

• εἰς (eis): "unto." A preposition of motion, indicating direction.

• τὴν (tēn): "the." The feminine accusative article, referring to the destination.

• πόλιν (polin): "city." Accusative singular of polis, meaning city.

• οἱ δὲ (hoi de): "but they." The masculine plural nominative article hoi followed by the conjunction de, "but," "and." It introduces the actions of the disciples.

• σὺν (syn): "with." Again, indicating accompaniment.

• αὐτοῖς (autois): "them." Refers to Paul and his companions.

• γυναιξὶν (gunaixin): "women." The dative plural of gunē, meaning woman. This highlights that families were involved in the farewell, including women.

• καὶ (kai): "and." Conjunction.

• ἐπηυξάμεθα (epeuxametha): "we prayed." First person plural aorist middle indicative of epeuxomai, meaning to pray, to invoke. The middle voice suggests they prayed for themselves and for the others, or that the prayer was for their own benefit as well.

• παραλιπόντες (paralipontes): "having put away," "having left behind." The aorist active participle of paraleipō, meaning to leave behind, omit, neglect. Here, it implies they left everything else to accompany them.

• αὐτοὺς (autous): "them." Accusative plural masculine pronoun, referring to Paul and his companions.

• εἰς (eis): "unto." Preposition of motion.

• τὴν (tēn): "the." Feminine accusative article.

• θάλασσαν (thalassan): "sea." Accusative singular of thalassa, meaning sea. The farewell extended to the seashore, emphasizing the departure.

Word Group Analysis

• "καὶ ἀποταξάμενοι τοῖς μαθηταῖς" (kai apotaxamenoi tois mathētais): This phrase encapsulates the act of bidding farewell to the disciples in Tyre. The use of the perfect participle suggests the finality and completeness of this act of parting.

• "σὺν αὐτοῖς σὺν γυναιξὶν καὶ ἐπηυξάμεθα" (syn autois syn gunaixin kai epeuxametha): This demonstrates the emotional depth and community involvement in the farewell. The inclusion of "women" signifies that this was not just a male ministerial send-off but a familial and community act. The plural "we prayed" indicates shared supplication and commiseration.

• "παραλιπόντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν" (paralipontes autous eis tēn thalassan): This detail vividly paints the scene, showing how deeply the believers in Tyre felt about Paul's departure. They accompanied him all the way to the sea, indicating their unwillingness to let go and their desire to express their care until the very last moment before he embarked on his ship.

Acts 21 5 Bonus Section

The detailed itinerary described in Acts chapters 20 and 21 highlights a deliberate path chosen by Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, despite clear warnings of suffering (Acts 20:22-23). The farewell in Tyre is not just an emotional moment but also a crucial point in understanding the unified journey and shared purpose of the early church. The prophet Agabus's severe warning (Acts 21:10-11) further contextualizes the sorrow and the strong urging of the disciples for Paul to reconsider his journey. This verse underscores the interplay between divine sovereign guidance, human emotion, and the community's deep care for those engaged in gospel ministry, demonstrating a model of interdependent faith.

Acts 21 5 Commentary

This verse depicts a tender and emotional farewell scene, reflecting the strong bonds of Christian fellowship. The disciples in Tyre, knowing the dangers that lay ahead for Paul, could not bear to let him go without a deeply heartfelt goodbye. Their "much weeping" and prayers signify their genuine love and concern for him, and their insistence that he remain with them for seven days indicates a profound desire to savor every moment with him before his dangerous journey to Jerusalem. The inclusion of wives and children shows the inclusive nature of their community and the impact Paul's ministry had on families. Their accompanying him to the sea highlights their reluctance to part, an expression of deep affection and support that transcends simple polite farewells. It’s a testament to the power of the Gospel to forge such strong relationships, and a foreshadowing of the spiritual battles and afflictions Paul would soon face.