Acts 21:11
What does Acts 21:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 21:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 21:11 means
Agabus takes Paul’s girdle, binds his own feet and hands, and declares the Holy Spirit’s word: the owner will be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and delivered into Gentile hands. The acted sign recalls prophetic symbolism used to make God’s message unforgettable. The content is precise: Jewish opposition will lead to Paul’s restraint and transfer to Roman authority. None of this contradicts God’s favor; rather, it is the path by which Paul will bear witness in places he could not otherwise reach. His Master also suffered at Jerusalem and was handed to Gentiles; Paul shares in that pattern for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And coming to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And coming to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he came to us, and took the band of Paul's clothing, and putting it round his feet and hands, said, The Holy Spirit says these words, So will the Jews do to the man who is the owner of this band, and they will give him up into the hands of the Gentiles.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he having come unto us, and having taken up the girdle of Paul, having bound also his own hands and feet, said, `Thus saith the Holy Spirit, The man whose is this girdle--so shall the Jews in Jerusalem bind, and they shall deliver <FI>him<Fi> up to the hands of nations.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who, when he was come to us, took Paul's girdle: and binding his own feet and hands, he said: Thus saith the Holy Ghost: The man whose girdle this is, the Jews shall bind in this manner in Jerusalem and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and coming to us and taking the girdle of Paul, and having bound his own hands and feet, said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, The man whose this girdle is shall the Jews thus bind in Jerusalem, and deliver him up into the hands of [the] Gentiles.
Context
Agabus’s sign in verse 11 follows his arrival in verse 10 and rests on the prophetic realities already noted in Cæsarea (verse 9) and Tyre (verse 4). The declaration triggers an immediate plea from companions and locals in verse 12 to dissuade Paul from going. Verse 13 presents Paul’s mature response of readiness to suffer, and verse 14 records the community’s surrender to the Lord’s will. The prophecy thus does not deter the mission but defines it, preparing all involved for the events in Jerusalem.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 20:23
save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
- Jeremiah 19:10
Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,
- Acts 28:17
And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:
- Acts 22:25
And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
- Acts 16:6
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
- Acts 28:25
And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,
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