Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 20:23
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
23. save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city ] The oldest MSS. add “unto me.” Rev. Ver. “testifieth unto me.” The Holy Ghost had called him to the work (Act 13:2) and moved the disciples (Act 21:4) and Agabus (Act 21:11) to warn him of the sufferings which were at hand. We may suppose too that such warnings came more frequently than St Luke has recorded them.
saying abide me ] The two nouns are combined in Php 1:16, “supposing to add affliction to my bonds,” where the sense is, as most likely here, mental grief in addition to bodily constraint. Such “afflictions” were harder to bear than the “bonds.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Save that – Except that. This was all that he knew, that bonds and afflictions were to be his portion.
The Holy Ghost witnesseth – Either by direct revelation to him, or by the predictions of inspired men whom Paul might meet. An instance of the latter mode occurs in Act 21:11. It is probable that the meaning here is that the Holy Spirit had deeply impressed the mind of Paul by his direct influences, and by his experience in every city, that bonds and trials were to be his portion. Such had been his experience in every city where he had preached the gospel by the direction of the Holy Spirit, that he regarded it as his certain portion that he was thus to be afflicted.
In every city – In almost every city where Paul had been, he had been subjected to these trials. He had been persecuted, stoned, and scourged. So uniform was this, so constant had been his experience in this way, that he regarded it as his certain portion to be thus afflicted, and he approached Jerusalem, and every other city, with a confident expectation that such trials awaited him there.
Saying – In his experience, by direct revelation, and by the mouth of prophets, Act 21:11. When Paul was called to the apostleship it was predicted that he would suffer much, Act 9:16.
Bonds – Chains. That I would be bound, as prisoners are who are confined.
Abide me – See the margin. They remain or wait for me; that is, I must expect to suffer them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1. Those that were endued with the Spirit of prophecy, in every city, foretold his sufferings; as Act 21:4,11.
2. He did suffer more or less in every city or place he came to; so great was the malice of the Jews against him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. Save that the Holy Ghostwitnesseth in every city, c.by prophetic utterances from cityto city, as in Act 11:4 Act 21:10;Act 21:11. Analogous premonitionsof coming events are not unknown to the general method of God’sprovidence. They would tend to season the apostle’s spirit.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,…. As he passed along, where there was a church, or any number of saints: in the churches of those times there were prophets who foretold things to come, and by these the Holy Ghost testified to the apostle, as he travelled along, and called upon the churches in every city, what would befall him when he came to Jerusalem; this sense the natural order of the words requires, unless there should be a transposition of them, thus, “save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me, or wait for me in every city”; that is, this in general was only made known to him by the Spirit of God, that wherever he came, affliction and persecution would attend him, and he must expect bonds and imprisonment; these were ready for him, and be must prepare for them, as he did: and therefore, whenever they came, he was not surprised at them, they were no other than what he looked for; but the other sense seems best, for such a transposition is not very easy, and, besides, can by no means be admitted, if the sense is, as the words are read in Beza’s ancient copy, and in others, and in the Vulgate Latin version, “that bonds and afflictions abide me at Jerusalem”; however, since the Holy Ghost testified before hand of the afflictions and bonds of the apostle, whether in every city or in Jerusalem, or both; it is no inconsiderable proof of the proper deity of the Spirit of God, and is an instance of his affectionate regard to the apostle, to give him previous notice of these things.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Save that ( ). The clause is really in the ablative case after , here a preposition as in Php 1:18, this idiom occasionally in ancient Greek.
In every city ( ). Singular here though plural in ‘ (verse 20).
Bonds and afflictions ( ). Both together as in Phil 1:17; 2Cor 1:8. Literal bonds and actual pressures.
Abide me ( ). With the accusative as in verse 5 ( ) and nowhere else in the N.T.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,” (plen hoti to pneuma to hagion kata polin diamarturetai moi) “Except, or only, that in every city (where I go) the Holy Spirit solemnly witnesses to me,” leads me, bears witness with my spirit, helps me in my prayers and labors, Rom 8:14; Rom 8:16; Rom 8:26-27; 1Jn 4:13; Rom 5:5. Paul did not ask to see “the distant scene” “one step is enough for me,” for step by step, Paul was guided, as Joseph long ago, Gen 50:19-20.
2) “Saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” (legon hoti desma kai thlipseis me menousin) “Saying repeatedly that bonds or chains and afflictions (tribulations) await me,” or remain yet for me; Yes, step by step, on his pilgrimage journey, God’s Spirit warned and guided him, Act 21:4. The term rendered “tribulation” may refer to either or both physical illness, distress, and harm, as well as mental stress and distress, 2Co 1:8; Php_1:16-17,
The Holy Spirit bore this witness to the disciples, Act 21:4; and to Agabus, Act 21:11; and perhaps even more frequently than Luke recounted.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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23. But that the Holy Ghost. I do not understand this of secret oracles, but of those foretellings which he heard everywhere of the prophets. And this speech hath greater dignity to set forth the prophecies, than if the men themselves which spake were called and cited to be witnesses. For by this means the word of God hath his [its] authority, when we confess that the Spirit of God is the author thereof, though the ministers be men. Now, forasmuch as the same Spirit, which foretelleth Paul of bonds and tribulations, doth also hold him fast bound that he cannot refuse to submit himself unto him, by this we learn, that what dangers soever hang over our heads, we are not thereby acquitted, but that we must obey the commandments of God, and follow his calling. In vain, therefore, do those men flatter themselves, who will do good so long as they be free from molestation, and may make discommodities, damages, and dangers of death, sufficient excuses. −
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(23) The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city.This can hardly refer to mere internal previsions of the future, but implies, like the analogous phraseology of 1Ti. 4:1, predictions uttered by the mouth of prophets, such as that which was afterwards spoken by Agabus (Act. 21:11). In every city, Corinth, Bera, Thessalonica, Philippi, Troas, there had been like utterances, of which, though they are here implied, we have no separate record. There was a general dread as to the results of his journey, which led the disciples who loved him to dissuade him from attempting it. We may trace the influence of such predictions in the anxiety which he himself expresses when he asks for the prayers of his friends at Rome (Rom. 15:30-31) that he may be delivered from those that did not believe in Juda. The words are not without their value as throwing light on the nature and limits of inspiration. The prophets of whom St. Paul speaks were truly inspired, as far as their prevision of the future was concerned, and yet that inspiration did not make them infallible advisers, and the Apostle felt that he was right in acting on those convictions of his own in which he, too, recognised the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. Holy Ghost witnesseth The prophetic testimony of the Spirit within his own heart.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 20:23 . ] except that, only knowing that , Plat. Phaed . p. 57 B; Soph. El . 418.
] namely, by prophets (comp. Act 13:2 , Act 21:4 ; Act 21:11 ), who made this known to me. This explanation, and not any reference to an internal intimation of the Spirit, is required by ( city by city , at which I arrive on this journey). That Luke has not as yet mentioned any such communication, does not justify the supposition of an unhistorical prolepsis (Schneckenburger, p. 135), as he has related the journey, Act 20:14 ff., only in a very summary manner.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Ver. 23. Bonds and afflictions abide me ] Let no faithful minister dream of a delicacy, or think by any discretion to prevent affliction, but be ready, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, to suffer hardship. To preach is nothing else but to derive upon himself the hate and rage of graceless men, saith Luther.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
23. . .] Compare Rom 8:16 , .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 20:23 . : The collocation is found nowhere else in N.T. except in Phi 1:18 , only that (so Alford, Lightfoot, W.H [335] , see Lightfoot, l. c. , for parallels), i.e. , knowing one thing only, etc., “I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me,” so from step to step , on his journey, St. Paul was warned and guided, cf. Act 21:4 ; Act 21:11 . , Lucan-Pauline; used several times by Luke, alone amongst the synoptists, in his Gospel and in the Acts with this distributive force in connection with ; Luk 8:1 ; Luk 8:4 ; Luk 13:22 ; cf. Luk 15:21 ; in the text, as also in Tit 1:5 ; the only other passage in which the collocation occurs in N.T., the phrase is adopted by St. Paul. : in St. Luke; Luk 8:29 , Act 16:26 , but it is noticeable that the two nouns are found together in Phi 1:17 , and in 2Co 1:8 . is used of the affliction which befel the Apostle in Asia, including that of public danger, as well as illness and mental distress. On the variation between masculine and neuter in and in other nouns see Blass, Gram. , p. 28. : only twice in N.T., with accusative of the person, here and in Act 20:5 .
[335] Westcott and Hort’s The New Testament in Greek: Critical Text and Notes.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Save = But only.
the Holy Ghost. App-101.
witnesseth. Same word as testify, Act 20:21. The texts add “to me”.
in every city. Greek. kata polin. Compare Act 15:21.
afflictions Greek. thlipsis. See note on Act 7:10.
abide = await or remain for. Greek. mino. See p. 1511.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
23. . .] Compare Rom 8:16, .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 20:23. [ , except that) In general terms, bonds and afflictions were indicated to Paul.-V. g.]- , in every city) It was for the good of all to know, and all profited in seeing the obedience of Paul, and in hearing him with the greater eagerness, as not being about to see him any more. Hence too was made evident the greatness of (his and their) afflictions. Those which appertained to Paul himself were indicated to Paul by others. [Comp. ch. Act 21:4; Act 21:11, Agabus prophecy, with the symbolical binding with Pauls girdle.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
the Holy Ghost: Act 9:16, Act 14:22, Act 21:4, Act 21:11, Joh 16:33, 1Th 3:3, 2Ti 2:12
abide me: or, wait for me
Reciprocal: Exo 17:5 – Go on Psa 119:51 – yet have Psa 119:157 – yet do I Pro 23:23 – sell Eze 3:25 – General Mat 10:28 – And Mat 16:25 – General Luk 4:31 – taught Luk 9:24 – General Luk 22:33 – I am Joh 16:4 – that when Joh 16:13 – he will show Joh 16:22 – and your Act 8:29 – General Act 13:4 – being Act 21:33 – be Rom 8:35 – shall tribulation 1Co 15:31 – die 2Co 4:17 – our 2Co 6:4 – afflictions 2Co 11:23 – in prisons Gal 6:14 – the world Phi 1:7 – as Phi 1:13 – General 1Th 2:8 – but 2Th 2:2 – shaken 2Ti 3:11 – Persecutions Heb 11:25 – Choosing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
Act 20:23. The Spirit did not give Paul the details of what was to come upon him, but he was told that he was to have a hard time. This “blanket” information really made a severer test of his faith than a minute statement might have been.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 20:23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. Such warnings as these here referred to as having happened in the past, do not seem to have been unfrequent in these early days of Christianity. The gift of prophecy appears to have been no uncommon possession in the days of the apostles. Like other miraculous powers, it gradually seems to have passed away from the Church. These powers were evidently of rare occurrence during the lives of the generation which immediately succeeded the men who had looked on the face of Jesus, and after a comparatively brief interval, contemporaneous history is silent altogether on the subjectthe power had passed away from men. For similar instances of such warning prophetic voices at Tyre and at Csarea, see Act 21:4; Act 21:10-11.
The voice of the Holy Ghost, which apparently came to the prophets of the Church of Antioch on the occasion of the dedication of Barnabas and Saul (Act 13:1-4), was another instance of this prophetic work on the part of the Holy Ghost. Paley (Horae Paulinae, Romans) calls attention to Rom 15:30, where the apostle beseeches the Roman Christians to strive together in their prayer for him, that he might be delivered from them who do not believe in Juda. Such a sorrowful foreboding was probably written down in Corinth after one of those prophetic intimations here referred to: The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 22