And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
Parallel translations
- WEB They all wept a lot, 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 1:4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
- Rev 21:4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- Rom 16:16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
- 1 Cor 16:20All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
- Luke 15:20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- 2 Cor 13:12Greet one another with an holy kiss.
- 1 Th 5:26Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
- Gen 46:29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
- Ezra 10:1Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
- Rev 7:17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
- Gen 45:14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
- 2 Sam 15:30And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
- 1 Sam 20:41And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
- Job 2:12And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
- Ps 126:5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
- 2 Kgs 20:3I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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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