Acts 20:23

New Living Translation

except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.

King James Version (1611)
Saue that the holy Ghost witnesseth in euery city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

King James Version
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

English Standard Version
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

New American Standard Bible
except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me.

New Century Version
I know only that in every city the Holy Spirit tells me that troubles and even jail wait for me.

Amplified Bible
except that the Holy Spirit solemnly [and emphatically] affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

Legacy Standard Bible
except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me.

Berean Standard Bible
I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.

Contemporary English Version
In every city I visit, I am told by the Holy Spirit that I will be put in jail and will be in trouble in Jerusalem.

Complete Jewish Bible
other than that in every city the Ruach HaKodesh keeps warning me that imprisonment and persecution await me.

Darby Translation
only that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and tribulations await me.

Easy-to-Read Version
I know only that in every city the Holy Spirit tells me that troubles and even jail wait for me.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Saue that ye holy Ghost witnesseth in euery citie, saying, that bondes and afflictions abide me.

George Lamsa Translation
Save that in every city the Holy Spirit testifies to me, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

Good News Translation
I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me.

Lexham English Bible
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in town after town, saying that bonds and persecutions await me.

Literal Translation
but that the Holy Spirit testifies city by city saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

American Standard Version
save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Bible in Basic English
Only that the Holy Spirit makes clear to me in every town that prison and pains are waiting for me.

Hebrew Names Version
except that the Ruach HaKodesh testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.

International Standard Version
except that in town after town the Holy Spirit assures me that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me.Acts 21:4,11; 1 Thessalonians 3:3;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Nevertheless, the Spirit of Holiness in every city testifieth to me and saith, that bonds and afflictions are for me.

Murdock Translation
except that the Holy Spirit in every city, testifieth to me and saith: Bonds and afflictions await thee.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But that the holy ghost witnesseth in euery citie, saying that bondes & trouble abyde me.

English Revised Version
save that the Holy Ghost testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

World English Bible
except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Save that the Holy Ghost testifieth to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

Weymouth's New Testament
except that the Holy Spirit, at town after town, testifies to me that imprisonment and suffering are awaiting me.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but that the Hooli Goost `bi alle citees witnessith to me, and seith, that boondis and tribulaciouns at Jerusalem abiden me.

Update Bible Version
save that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Save that the Holy Spirit testifieth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me.

New English Translation
except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.

New King James Version
except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

New Life Bible
But in every city I have been, the Holy Spirit tells me that trouble and chains will be waiting for me there.

New Revised Standard
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
save that, the Holy Spirit, from city to city, doth bear me full witness, saying that, bonds and tribulations, await me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Save that the Holy Ghost in every city witnesseth to me, saying: That bands and afflictions wait for me at Jerusalem.

Revised Standard Version
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but that the holy goost witnesseth in every cite sayinge: yt bondes and trouble abyde me.

Young's Literal Translation
save that the Holy Spirit in every city doth testify fully, saying, that for me bonds and tribulations remain;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but yt the holy goost witnesseth in euery cite, and sayeth, that bondes and troubles abyde me there.

Mace New Testament (1729)
save what the holy spirit in every city declares, "that bonds and afflictions wait for me."

Simplified Cowboy Version
but God has told me it ain't gonna be skittles and rainbows. It's going to be rough and rank from here on out.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. ¹⁸ When they arrived he declared, "You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now ¹⁹ I have done the Lord's work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. ²¹ I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. ²² "And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. ²⁴ But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. ²⁵ "And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. ²⁶ I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it's not my fault,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Holy Ghost: Acts 9:16, Acts 14:22, Acts 21:4, Acts 21:11, John 16:33, 1 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:12

abide me: or, wait for me

Reciprocal: Exodus 17:5 - Go on Psalms 119:51 - yet have Psalms 119:157 - yet do I Proverbs 23:23 - sell Ezekiel 3:25 - General Matthew 10:28 - And Matthew 16:25 - General Luke 4:31 - taught Luke 9:24 - General Luke 22:33 - I am John 16:4 - that when John 16:13 - he will show John 16:22 - and your Acts 8:29 - General Acts 13:4 - being Acts 21:33 - be Romans 8:35 - shall tribulation 1 Corinthians 15:31 - die 2 Corinthians 4:17 - our 2 Corinthians 6:4 - afflictions 2 Corinthians 11:23 - in prisons Galatians 6:14 - the world Philippians 1:7 - as Philippians 1:13 - General 1 Thessalonians 2:8 - but 2 Thessalonians 2:2 - shaken 2 Timothy 3:11 - Persecutions Hebrews 11:25 - Choosing

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,.... As he passed along, where there was a church, or any number of saints: in the churches of those times there were prophets who foretold things to come, and by these the Holy Ghost testified to the apostle, as he travelled along, and called upon the churches in every city, what would befall him when he came to Jerusalem; this sense the natural order of the words requires, unless there should be a transposition of them, thus, "save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me, or wait for me in every city"; that is, this in general was only made known to him by the Spirit of God, that wherever he came, affliction and persecution would attend him, and he must expect bonds and imprisonment; these were ready for him, and be must prepare for them, as he did: and therefore, whenever they came, he was not surprised at them, they were no other than what he looked for; but the other sense seems best, for such a transposition is not very easy, and, besides, can by no means be admitted, if the sense is, as the words are read in Beza's ancient copy, and in others, and in the Vulgate Latin version, "that bonds and afflictions abide me at Jerusalem"; however, since the Holy Ghost testified before hand of the afflictions and bonds of the apostle, whether in every city or in Jerusalem, or both; it is no inconsiderable proof of the proper deity of the Spirit of God, and is an instance of his affectionate regard to the apostle, to give him previous notice of these things.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Save that - Except that. This was all that he knew, that bonds and afflictions were to be his portion.

The Holy Ghost witnesseth - Either by direct revelation to him, or by the predictions of inspired men whom Paul might meet. An instance of the latter mode occurs in Acts 21:11. It is probable that the meaning here is that the Holy Spirit had deeply impressed the mind of Paul by his direct influences, and by his experience in every city, that bonds and trials were to be his portion. Such had been his experience in every city where he had preached the gospel by the direction of the Holy Spirit, that he regarded it as his certain portion that he was thus to be afflicted.

In every city - In almost every city where Paul had been, he had been subjected to these trials. He had been persecuted, stoned, and scourged. So uniform was this, so constant had been his experience in this way, that he regarded it as his certain portion to be thus afflicted, and he approached Jerusalem, and every other city, with a confident expectation that such trials awaited him there.

Saying - In his experience, by direct revelation, and by the mouth of prophets, Acts 21:11. When Paul was called to the apostleship it was predicted that he would suffer much, Acts 9:16.

Bonds - Chains. That I would be bound, as prisoners are who are confined.

Abide me - See the margin. They remain or wait for me; that is, I must expect to suffer them.