Devine Scripture

Acts 20:5

What does Acts 20:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 20:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 20:5 means

These associates travel ahead and wait at Troas, showing careful planning and trusted delegation. The mission’s scale required coordination: some go before, others follow. The verse subtly testifies to unity and order in the early church’s work. Waiting at Troas provides a staging point for reunion and ministry among believers there. Luke’s quiet detail conveys reliability—promises kept, rendezvous met. Ministry often advances through such unglamorous logistics. By recording this, Luke reminds readers that God’s work includes ordinary arrangements, not only public preaching and miracles. Faithful coordination supports the spread of the gospel city by city.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But these had gone before, and were waiting for us at Troas.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

These going before tarried for us at Troas.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But these had gone before, and were waiting for us at Troas.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But these had gone before, and were waiting for us at Troas.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

these, having gone before, did remain for us in Troas,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

These, going before, stayed for us at Troas.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

These going before waited for us in Troas;

Context

This short note bridges the list of coworkers to the renewed “we” narrative that resumes in the next verse. It positions Troas as the next key location and hints that Luke is about to reenter the story as a participant. What follows (verses 6–12) centers on Troas, where the church meets on the first day of the week, Paul teaches late into the night, and Eutychus is restored to life. The narrative’s attention to travel timing and team logistics prepares the reader for a vivid, eyewitness account.

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.

v.5This passage

v.6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 20:13

    But 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.

  • Acts 20:6

    And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.

  • Acts 16:10

    And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them.

  • 2 Timothy 4:13

    The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:12

    Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord,

  • Acts 16:8

    and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

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