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When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:12 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
  • KJV And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
  • NKJV Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
  • NASB When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
  • NLT When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

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

Hearing the prophecy, both Luke's company and the local believers beg Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Their love prompts an urgent plea.

Overview

The clear forewarning of binding moves everyone present to plead with Paul to turn back. Their entreaty springs from genuine affection, not unbelief. The scene shows the painful tension between the loving concern of friends and the obedience of one who knows he must follow God's call regardless of cost.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 3

  • Acts 20:22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
  • Matt 16:21–23From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
  • 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.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 21:12YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 21:12 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.