And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Parallel translations
- WEB When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
- BSB When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
- NKJV So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
- NASB And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
- NLT When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
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
Unable to dissuade Paul, the others fall silent, saying, "The Lord's will be done." They yield their wishes to God's sovereign purpose.
Overview
When Paul cannot be persuaded, his friends surrender their fears to God with words echoing the Lord's Prayer and Jesus' own submission in Gethsemane. Their response shows mature faith that trusts God's will above its own desires. True love ultimately rests not in protecting a loved one but in entrusting all to the sovereign goodness of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Luke 22:42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
- Matt 26:39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
- Matt 26:42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
- Matt 6:10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
- 2 Sam 15:25–26And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
- 2 Kgs 20:19Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
- 1 Sam 3:18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
- Gen 43:14And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
- Luke 11:2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
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 21:14 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.