But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB but taking his leave of them, and saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB but took leave of them and said, “I will return to you again if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.
- NLT As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul took his leave, promising to return if God willed, and set sail from Ephesus.
Overview
His words, if God wills, express a humble submission to providence that marks all godly planning (cf. James 4:15). Paul's intention to keep the feast in Jerusalem reflects his continued reverence for Jewish worship. The promise to return would be fulfilled in his extended Ephesian ministry in the next chapter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 1 Cor 4:19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.
- Jas 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
- Rom 1:10in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
- Rom 15:32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
- Heb 6:3And this we will do, if God permits.
- Acts 20:16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
- Deut 16:1Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
- Phil 2:19–24Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.
- Acts 15:29You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
- Acts 19:21After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”
- 1 Pet 3:17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- 1 Cor 16:7For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
- Acts 21:14When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
- 2 Cor 13:11Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
- Matt 26:39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
- Luke 9:61Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
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Original language
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