Acts 21:22

Mace New Testament

what then is to be done? they will necessarily be all assembled, for they can't but hear, you are 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.

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.

King James Version
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 after this we prepar'd for our journey to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ some of the disciples of Cesarea accompany'd us, bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, at whose house we were to lodge. ¹⁷ When we were arriv'd at Jerusalem, the brethren receiv'd us with joy. ¹⁸ the next day Paul went with us to James, where all the pastors assembled. ¹⁹ after having saluted them, he gave a particular account of what God had wrought by his ministry among the Gentiles. ²⁰ upon hearing this, they gave glory to God: and thus address'd Paul, you see, brother, how many thousand believing Jews there are, all however zealous for the law. ²¹ now they have heard that you instruct the Jews that are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them they must not circumcise their children, nor observe the establish'd rites. ²² what then is to be done? they will necessarily be all assembled, for they can't but hear, you are come. ²³ yield then to our advice: there are four men here, who have made a vow: ²⁴ these take, and perform the rites of purification with them, contributing to the expence of having their heads shav'd: this will convince them, what has been reported of you, is all groundless, and that you stick to the observances of 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

Matthew 1:23
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel," that is to say, God our Saviour.

Romans 8:31
What shall we conclude then from this? if God be for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 14:25
the secrets of his heart become manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and declare that God is certainly amongst you.

Hebrews 13:5
let your morals be free from avarice, being contented with what you have: for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Revelation 3:9
you shall see I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lye: you shall see I will make them come, and throw themselves at your feet, and they shall know that you are the objects of my love.

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.