After 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.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Now 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.”
- KJV After these things were ended, Paul purposed 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.
- NKJV When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed 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.”
- NASB Now after these things were finished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
- NLT Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!”
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 resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem, and then to see Rome.
Overview
This sets the trajectory for the rest of Acts, as Paul's eyes turn toward Jerusalem and ultimately Rome (Acts 23:11; 28). His mention of Rome anticipates the gospel reaching the empire's heart. The plan, formed in the Spirit, reflects how God directed Paul's steps toward His larger redemptive purposes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- Acts 20:22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
- 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.
- Acts 23:11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
- Acts 18:21But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
- Rom 1:13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
- Gal 2:1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
- 1 Cor 16:5After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia.
- 1 Th 1:7As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
- Acts 28:30–31Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.
- Acts 20:1–6When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
- Acts 21:11–15Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
- Acts 16:6–10After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
- Acts 28:16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
- Acts 24:17–18After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
- Rom 15:23–29But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,
- Acts 18:12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.
- Phil 1:12–14Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
- 2 Cor 1:15–18Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing.
- Acts 27:1When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.
- Acts 21:17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.
- Lam 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- Rom 1:15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
- Acts 21:4We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
- Acts 27:24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
- Acts 25:10–12Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.
How Acts 19:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.