Acts 11:28
What does Acts 11:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 11:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 11:28 means
One prophet named Agabus stood up and, through the Holy Spirit, predicted a widespread famine that would affect "all the world," specifically meaning the Roman world. This prophecy proved accurate, occurring during the reign of Claudius. Agabus's foretelling demonstrated the Holy Spirit's power to reveal future events, providing the church with advance knowledge to prepare. This prophetic insight would prompt the Antioch believers to demonstrate practical love and unity by providing assistance to their brethren in Judea, as recounted in the next verses.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And one of them, named Agabus, said publicly through the Spirit that there would be serious need of food all over the earth: which came about in the time of Claudius.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and one of them, by name Agabus, having stood up, did signify through the Spirit a great dearth is about to be throughout all the world--which also came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over the whole world, which came to pass under Claudius.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and one from among them, by name Agabus, rose up and signified by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth, which also came to pass under Claudius.
Context
This verse describes Agabus's specific and verifiable prophecy, which serves as a testament to the presence of prophetic gifts in the early church. This prophecy of a coming famine is the direct catalyst for the Antioch church's compassionate response, setting up the practical demonstration of Christian unity and charity that will follow, leading directly to the next two verses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 2:1
Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
- Acts 18:2
And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;
- Genesis 41:30
and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
- Acts 21:10
And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
- Luke 3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
- Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
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