Devine Scripture

Acts 20:12

What does Acts 20:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 20:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 20:12 means

Eutychus is brought alive, and the believers experience profound comfort. Their consolation is not merely relief from grief but encouragement in the Lord’s active care for His people. The restored life authenticates Paul’s ministry and, more importantly, displays God’s compassion toward a gathered church hungry for the Word. The result is a community strengthened to continue in faith. The episode becomes part of the church’s memory in Troas—a reminder that the gospel is not only spoken but also demonstrated in mercy, and that even in places of weakness and weariness, the Lord is present to sustain and bless.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they brought the lad alive, and were not a little comforted.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they brought the lad alive, and were not a little comforted.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they took the boy in, living, and were greatly comforted.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they brought up the lad alive, and were comforted in no ordinary measure.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they brought the youth alive and were not a little comforted.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they brought [away] the boy alive, and were no little comforted.

Context

This concluding note on the Troas incident affirms the miracle’s outcome. With the congregation comforted, Luke pivots back to travel logistics. Paul’s team will sail to Assos to pick him up (verse 13), then proceed to Mitylene (verse 14), past Chios and Samos to Miletus (verses 15–16). There, Paul will call the Ephesian elders (verse 17) and deliver his farewell address (verses 18–35). The comfort here foreshadows the encouragement Paul seeks to impart to leaders who will soon face testing.

v.11And when he was gone up, and had broken the bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

v.12This passage

v.13But we, going before to the ship, set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go by land.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:2

    and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:14

    And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.

  • Isaiah 40:1

    Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11

    Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.

  • Ephesians 6:22

    whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:4

    who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

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