And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “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.”
- KJV And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord 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.”
- 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 you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
- Matt 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
- Matt 26:42Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”
- Matt 6:10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
- 2 Sam 15:25–26The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favor in Yahweh’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation;
- 2 Kgs 20:19Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “Isn’t it so, if peace and truth will be in my days?”
- 1 Sam 3:18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”
- Gen 43:14May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
- Luke 11:2He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
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
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