Acts 21:22

Wesley's New Testament

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

Parallel Translations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ And after these days, we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ And some of the disciples also from Cesarea went with us, and brought us to one Mnason, a Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. ¹⁷ And when we were come up to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸ And the next day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ And having saluted them, he gave them a particular account of those things which God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry. ²⁰ And having heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of believing Jews there are, and they are all zealous for the law. ²¹ But they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest the Jews who are among the Gentiles, to apostatize from Moses, telling them, not to circumcise their children, nor 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 Therefore do this that we say to thee: there are with us four men, who have a vow on them: ²⁴ Take them and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all will know, that there is nothing of those things which they have heard of thee; but that thou thyself walkest orderly, keeping 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
saying, Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, God with us.)

Romans 8:31
What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 14:25
The secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and declare that God is among you of a truth.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your disposition be without covetousness: be content with the things that are present; for he hath said , No, I will not leave thee: verily I will not forsake thee.

Revelation 3:9
Behold I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie, behold, I will make them come and lie down before thy feet, and know that I have loved thee.

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.