Acts 21:22

King James Version

What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
What should we do? They will know soon enough you are here. And there's liable to be a squabble.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Legacy Standard Bible
What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Bible in Basic English
What then is the position? They will certainly get news that you have come.

Darby Translation
What is it then? a multitude must necessarily come together, for they will hear that thou art come.

New King James Version
What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will [fn] hear that you have come.

Christian Standard Bible®
So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you've come.

World English Bible
What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together; for they will hear that thou art come.

Weymouth's New Testament
What then ought you to do? They are sure to hear that you have come to Jerusalem;

King James Version (1611)
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will heare that thou art come.

Literal Translation
What then is it? At all events, a multitude must come together, for they will hear that you have come.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
What is it therfore? The multitude must nedes come together, for they shal heare that thou art come.

Mace New Testament (1729)
what then is to be done? they will necessarily be all assembled, for they can't but hear, you are come.

THE MESSAGE
"We're worried about what will happen when they discover you're in town. There's bound to be trouble. So here is what we want you to do: There are four men from our company who have taken a vow involving ritual purification, but have no money to pay the expenses. Join these men in their vows and pay their expenses. Then it will become obvious to everyone that there is nothing to the rumors going around about you and that you are in fact scrupulous in your reverence for the laws of Moses.

Amplified Bible
"What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived.

American Standard Version
What is it therefore? they will certainly hear that thou art come.

Revised Standard Version
What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
What is it therfore? The multitude must nedes come togeder. For they shall heare that thou arte come.

Update Bible Version
What is it therefore? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Webster's Bible Translation
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

Young's Literal Translation
what then is it? certainly the multitude it behoveth to come together, for they will hear that thou hast come.

New Century Version
What should we do? They will learn that you have come.

New English Translation
What then should we do? They will no doubt hear that you have come.

Berean Standard Bible
What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Contemporary English Version
What should we do now that our people have heard that you are here?

Complete Jewish Bible
"What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

English Standard Version
What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Geneva Bible (1587)
What is then to be done? the multitude must needes come together: for they shall heare that thou art come.

George Lamsa Translation
Now, therefore, they have heard that you have come here.

Hebrew Names Version
What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

International Standard Version
What is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Etheridge Translation
On this account, when they hear that thou art come hither, do that which we tell thee.

Murdock Translation
Now, because they have heard that thou hast arrived here,

New Living Translation
What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

New Life Bible
What should we do about it? They will hear that you have come.

English Revised Version
What is it therefore? they will certainly hear that thou art come.

New Revised Standard
What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
What, then, is it? at all events, they will hear that thou hast come.

Douay-Rheims Bible
What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

Lexham English Bible
What then is to be done? Doubtless they will all hear that you have come!

Bishop's Bible (1568)
What is it therefore? The multitude must needes come together: For they shall heare that thou art come.

Easy-to-Read Version
"What should we do? The Jewish believers here will learn that you have come.

New American Standard Bible
"So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Good News Translation
They are sure to hear that you have arrived. What should be done, then?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor what is? It bihoueth that the multitude come togidre; for thei schulen here, that thou art come.

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. ¹⁷ And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸ And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: ²¹ And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. ²² What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. ²³ Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; ²⁴ Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the multitude: Acts 15:12, Acts 15:22, Acts 19:32

Reciprocal: Acts 6:2 - the twelve Acts 15:30 - and

Cross-References

Genesis 20:2
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

Genesis 20:17
So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

Genesis 21:2
For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Genesis 21:3
And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Genesis 26:26
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

Genesis 26:28
And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

Genesis 28:15
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Genesis 30:27
And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.

Joshua 3:7
And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

2 Chronicles 1:1
And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

What is it therefore?.... Is it true or not? or what must be done in this case? what method must be taken to remove these objections, and reconcile the minds of the people? the multitude must needs come together; either the whole church at Jerusalem, or the great confluence of people, even of believing Jews, that were come from all parts thither; there is no hindering of their coming together, to see the apostle, and to hear what he has to say to the objections against him, and complaints of him;

for they will hear that thou art come: this can never be kept a secret, and as soon as they hear it, they will flock in great numbers; they will come open mouthed, and be loud in their complaints, and it will be difficult to pacify them; there is danger in the case, the consequence may be bad; and therefore something must be done, to remove the opinion they had formed of the apostle, and the prejudice they had entertained against him; and therefore what follows is advised to.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What is it therefore? - What is to be done? What is it proper to do to avoid the effects of the evil report which has been circulated? What they deemed it proper to do is suggested in the following verses.

The multitude - The multitude of Jews.

Must needs come together - There will be inevitably a tumultuous assemblage. It will be impossible to prevent that. The reasons were, because the minds of the Jews were exceedingly agitated that one of their own countrymen had, as they understood, been advising apostasy from the religion of their fathers; because this had been extensively done in many parts of the world, and with great success; and because Paul, having, as they believed, himself apostatized from the national religion, had become very conspicuous, and his very presence in Jerusalem, as in other places, would be likely to excite a tumult. It was, therefore, the part of friendship to him and to the cause to devise some proper plan to prevent, if possible, the anticipated excitement.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 21:22. The multitude must needs come together — Whether this refers to a regular convocation of the Church, or to a tumult that would infallibly take place when it was heard that the apostle was come, we cannot pretend to say; but it is evident that James and the elders wished some prudent steps to be taken, in order to prevent an evil that they had too much reason to fear.