Acts 20:3
What does Acts 20:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 20:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 20:3 means
Paul remains in Greece for three months, likely continuing teaching and strengthening the church. As he prepares to sail for Syria, a Jewish plot forces a change of plans. He chooses a landward route back through Macedonia. The verse shows prudent wisdom: Paul trusts God yet does not invite needless danger. Opposition continues to shadow his ministry, but it does not silence the gospel. Instead, it redirects the path. God’s purposes are not thwarted by human schemes. Plans shift; the mission continues. Paul’s flexibility under pressure models a faith that is steadfast in aim yet adaptable in method, holding both courage and caution together under God’s providence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when he had been there three months, because the Jews had made a secret design against him when he was about to take ship for Syria, he made a decision to go back through Macedonia.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862having made also three months' <FI>stay<Fi> --a counsel of the Jews having been against him--being about to set forth to Syria, there came <FI>to him<Fi> a resolution of returning through Macedonia.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Where, when he had spent three months, the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria. So he took a resolution to return through Macedonia.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And having spent three months [there], a treacherous plot against him having been set on foot by the Jews, as he was going to sail to Syria, [the] resolution was adopted of returning through Macedonia.
Context
This verse concludes the brief stay in Greece and introduces a threat that reshapes Paul’s itinerary. The altered route will bring Paul back through Macedonia and prepare for the listing of companions (verse 4), hinting at coordinated ministry and shared burdens. Soon, the narrative will transition to Troas, where the community gathers late into the night and Eutychus’s fall occurs. The mention of a plot underscores the growing hostility encircling Paul and contextualizes his later warnings to the Ephesian elders about dangers facing the church.
v.2And when he had gone through those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.
v.3This passage
v.4And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 21:3
And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
- Ezra 8:31
Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the lier-in-wait by the way.
- Acts 20:19
serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;
- Acts 25:3
asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.
- Jeremiah 5:26
For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men.
- 2 Corinthians 7:5
For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, butwe wereafflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
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