but took leave of them and said, “I will return to you again if God wills,” 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.
- BSB But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail 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.
- 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 I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
- Jas 4:15For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.”
- Rom 1:10requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.
- Rom 15:32that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.
- Heb 6:3This will we do, if God permits.
- Acts 20:16For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
- Deut 16:1Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to Yahweh your God; for in the month of Abib Yahweh your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
- Phil 2:19–24But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.
- Acts 15:29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
- Acts 19:21Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
- 1 Pet 3:17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.
- 1 Cor 16:7For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
- Acts 21:14When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
- 2 Cor 13:11Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
- Matt 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
- Luke 9:61Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
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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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