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Tuesday, November 5th, 2024
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Mace New Testament

Acts 20:3

there he stay'd three months; and then the Jews conspiring to surprize him at his embarkation for Syria, it was thought adviseable he should return thro' Macedonia. Sopater of Berea,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Macedonia;   Minister, Christian;   Paul;   Philippi;   Timothy;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Greece;   Philippi;   Rome, Romans;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Achaia;   Aristarchus;   Corinth;   Macedonia;   Mission;   Paul;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Bishop;   Episcopacy;   Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;   Galatians, Epistle to;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Sabbath;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Luke, the Gospel According to;   Macedonia;   Paul;   Philippi;   Thessalonica;   Timothy;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bishop;   Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to;   Macedonia;   Miletus;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Collection;   Dates;   Luke (2);   Macedonia ;   Phoebe ;   Roads and Travel;   Time;   Troas ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Corinth ;   Macedonia ;   First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians Written;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Timotheus, Timothy;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Corinth;   Macedonia;   Romans;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Tim'othy;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Chronology of the New Testament;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;   Luke, the Evangelist;   Macedonia;   Philippi;   Thessalonica;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
and stayed there three months. Paul was ready to sail for Syria, but some Jews were planning something against him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia to Syria.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and there abode .iii. monethes. And when the Iewes layde wayte for him as he was about to sayle into Syria he purposed to returne thorowe Macedonia.
Hebrew Names Version
When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Yehudim as he was about to set sail for Aram, he determined to return through Macedonia.
International Standard Version
and stayed there for three months. When he was about to sail for Syria, a plot was made against him by the Jews, so he decided to go back through Macedonia.Acts 9:23; 23:12; 25:3; 2 Corinthians 11:26;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
New Century Version
where he stayed for three months. He was ready to sail for Syria, but some evil people were planning something against him. So Paul decided to go back through Macedonia to Syria.
Update Bible Version
And when he had spent three months [there,] and a plot was laid against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
Webster's Bible Translation
And [there] abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
English Standard Version
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
World English Bible
When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And having abode there three months, an ambush being laid for him by the Jews, as he was about to sail into Syria, he determined to return by Macedonia.
Weymouth's New Testament
The Jews having planned to waylay him whenever he might be on the point of taking ship for Syria, he decided to travel back by way of Macedonia.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Where whanne he hadde be thre monethis, the Jewis leiden aspies for hym, that was to saile in to Sirie; and he hadde counsel to turne ayen bi Macedonye.
English Revised Version
And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews, as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
Berean Standard Bible
where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
Contemporary English Version
and stayed there for three months. Paul was about to sail to Syria. But some of the Jewish leaders plotted against him, so he decided to return by way of Macedonia.
Amplified Bible
And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece).
American Standard Version
And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
Bible in Basic English
And when he had been there three months, because the Jews had made a secret design against him when he was about to take ship for Syria, he made a decision to go back through Macedonia.
Complete Jewish Bible
where he spent three months. As he was preparing to set sail for Syria, he discovered a plot against him by the unbelieving Jews; so he changed his mind and decided to return by way of Macedonia.
Darby Translation
And having spent three months [there], a treacherous plot against him having been set on foot by the Jews, as he was going to sail to Syria, [the] resolution was adopted of returning through Macedonia.
Etheridge Translation
and was there three months. But the Jihudoyee wrought treachery against him, when he was about to go into Syria, and had thought to return into Makedunia.
Murdock Translation
And he was there three months. And the Jews formed a plot against him, when he was about to go to Syria: and he contemplated returning to Macedonia.
King James Version (1611)
And there abode three moneths: and when the Iewes layed waite for him, as hee was about to saile into Syria, hee purposed to returne thorow Macedonia.
New Living Translation
where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.
New Life Bible
He stayed there three months. As he was about to get on a ship for the country of Syria, he learned that the Jews had made a plan to take him. He changed his plans and went back through Macedonia.
New Revised Standard
where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And hauing taried there three moneths, because the Iewes layde waite for him, as hee was about to saile into Syria, hee purposed to returne through Macedonia.
George Lamsa Translation
There he remained three months. But the Jews laid a plot against him, just as he was about to sail for Syria, so he decided to return to Mac-e-do''ni-a.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, spending three months, when a plot was laid against him by the Jews, as he was about to sail to Syria, he determined to turn back through Macedonia.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Where, when he had spent three months, the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria. So he took a resolution to return through Macedonia.
Revised Standard Version
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedo'nia.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And [there] abode three monethes. And when the Iewes layde wayte for hym as he was about to sayle into Syria, he purposed to returne through Macedonia.
Good News Translation
where he stayed three months. He was getting ready to go to Syria when he discovered that there were Jews plotting against him; so he decided to go back through Macedonia.
Christian Standard Bible®
and stayed three months. The Jews plotted against him when he was about to set sail for Syria, and so he decided to go back through Macedonia.
King James Version
And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
Lexham English Bible
and stayed three months. Because a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he came to a decision to return through Macedonia.
Literal Translation
And spending three months there , a plot by the Jews having occurred against him, being about to sail into Syria, he was of a mind to return through Macedonia.
Young's Literal Translation
having made also three months' [stay] -- a counsel of the Jews having been against him -- being about to set forth to Syria, there came [to him] a resolution of returning through Macedonia.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and there abode thre monethes. But whan the Iewes layed wayte for him, as he was aboute to sayle in to Syria, he purposed to turne agayne thorow Macedonia.
THE MESSAGE
"Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends. "I've never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You're far happier giving than getting.'" Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. They knew they would never see him again—he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship.
New English Translation
where he stayed for three months. Because the Jews had made a plot against him as he was intending to sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
New King James Version
and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
Simplified Cowboy Version
He stayed there about three months doing what God had called him to do for so long. He was about to board a ship for Syria when he heard of a plot by some Jews. So, Paul doubled back and gave them the slip as we went back the way he'd come through Macedonia.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
Legacy Standard Bible
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

Contextual Overview

1 This disturbance being over, Paul sent for the disciples, took his leave and departed for Macedonia. 2 after having visited the faithful in those parts, and given them many exhortations, he went to Greece. 3 there he stay'd three months; and then the Jews conspiring to surprize him at his embarkation for Syria, it was thought adviseable he should return thro' Macedonia. Sopater of Berea, 4 Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica, Gaius of Derby and Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus both Asiatics, all accompanied him to Asia, 5 and then advanc'd before and waited for us at Troas. 6 after the feast of unleaven'd bread we sail'd from Philippi, and in five days we join'd them at Troas, where we stay'd seven.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Jews: Acts 20:19, Acts 9:23, Acts 9:24, Acts 23:12-15, Acts 25:3, Ezra 8:31, Proverbs 1:11, Jeremiah 5:26, 2 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 11:26

sail: Acts 18:18, Acts 21:3, Galatians 1:21

he purposed: Acts 19:21, 2 Corinthians 1:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:20 - by laying Acts 17:14 - as it

Cross-References

Matthew 1:20
but while he was revolving this in his mind, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, the off-spring of David, don't make any difficulty of taking Mary for thy wife: for her pregnancy is from the holy Spirit.
Matthew 27:19
Whilst he was sitting on the tribunal, his wife sent this message to him, pray, have nothing to do with that just man: for to-day I have suffered very much on his account in a dream.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And there abode three months,.... In Greece:

and when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; from some part of Greece, in order to go to Jerusalem; which the Jews in the parts of Greece understanding, laid wait for him, either by sea or land, with an intention either to take the money from him, which he had collected in Macedonia, and in Greece, for the poor saints at Jerusalem, or to take away his life, or both; of which lying in wait for him, the apostle had some notice, either by divine revelation, or from somebody who was in the secret, or had got knowledge of it from such as were: upon which he

purposed to return through Macedonia; through which he came from Ephesus to Greece: this wicked design being made known to him, obliged him, in point of prudence, and both for his own safety, and the good of the churches, to alter his scheme, and steer his course another way, to the disappointment of his enemies; in which the wisdom of providence, the care of God over his ministers, and his concern for his churches manifestly appeared.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And there abode - Why he remained here is unknown. It is probable that while in Greece he wrote the Epistle to the Romans. Compare Romans 15:25-27.

And when the Jews laid wait for him - There was a design formed against him by the Jews, which they sought to execute. Why they formed this purpose the historian has not informed us.

As he was about to sail - It would seem from this, that the design of the Jews was to attack the ship in which he was about to sail, or to arrest him on shipboard. This fact determined him to take a much more circuitous route by land, so that the churches of Macedonia were favored with another visit from him.

Into Syria - On his way to Jerusalem.

He purposed ... - He resolved to avoid the snare which they had laid for him, and to return by the same way in which he had come into Greece.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 20:3. Abode three months — Partly, as we may suppose, at Corinth, at Athens, and in Achaia; from which place he is supposed to have sent his epistle to the Romans, because he continued longer here than at any other place, and mentions several of the Corinthians in his salutations to the believers of Rome.

When the Jesus laid wait for him — Paul had determined to go by sea to Syria, and from thence to Jerusalem. This was the first object of his journey; and this was the readiest road he could take; but, hearing that the Jews had laid wait for him, probably to attack his ship on the voyage, seize his person, sell him for a slave, and take the money which he was carrying to the poor saints at Jerusalem, he resolved to go as much of the journey as he conveniently could, by land. Therefore, he returned through Macedonia, and from thence to Troas, where he embarked to sail for Syria, on his way to Jerusalem. The whole of his journey is detailed in this and the following chapter. See also the map.


 
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