They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
Parallel translations
- KJV And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
- BSB They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.
- NKJV Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
- NASB And they all began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,
- NLT They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye.
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
All the elders weep openly, embracing and kissing Paul. Their love for him pours out in this farewell.
Overview
The deep weeping and affectionate embraces reveal the bonds of love forged through years of shared gospel labor. Such tender emotion is no weakness but the fruit of true Christian fellowship. The scene shows how the gospel knits believers together in heartfelt, family-like love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 2 Tim 1:4longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;
- Rev 21:4He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
- Rom 16:16Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.
- 1 Cor 16:20All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
- Luke 15:20“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- 2 Cor 13:12Greet one another with a holy kiss.
- 1 Th 5:26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
- Gen 46:29Joseph prepared his chariot, and went up to meet Israel, his father, in Goshen. He presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
- Ezra 10:1Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before God’s house, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very bitterly.
- Rev 7:17for the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
- Gen 45:14He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
- 2 Sam 15:30David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
- 1 Sam 20:41As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another, and wept one with another, and David wept the most.
- Job 2:12When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn’t recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.
- Ps 126:5Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
- 2 Kgs 20:3“Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
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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.
How Acts 20:37 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
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