Acts 21:40
What does Acts 21:40 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 21:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 21:40 means
Granted permission, Paul stands on the stairs and motions with his hand, producing a great silence. He then addresses the people in the Hebrew language. Speaking in their tongue shows respect and a desire to be understood on their terms. The hush is remarkable given the prior chaos; God quiets the crowd to hear His servant. Paul will tell his story as one of them—a Jew who met the risen Lord. This moment reveals God’s sovereignty: the steps of arrest become a platform of proclamation. The chapter closes poised on the threshold of Paul’s testimony to his people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when he let him do so, Paul, from the steps, made a sign with his hand to the people, and when they were all quiet, he said to them in the Hebrew language,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he having given him leave, Paul having stood upon the stairs, did beckon with the hand to the people, and there having been a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew dialect, saying:
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when he had given him leave, Paul standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. And a great silence being made, he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when he had allowed him, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people; and a great silence having been made, he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Context
This final verse follows Paul’s identity clarification and request to speak (verse 39). The commander grants leave, and Paul seizes the moment, addressing the crowd in Hebrew to maximize connection. Acts 21 thus ends not with resolution but with anticipation. The next chapter will contain Paul’s defense and conversion story, given to the very audience that had sought his death. The narrative arc moves from travel and warnings to arrest and an open door for witness.
v.39But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people.
v.40This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 13:16
And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:
- Acts 22:2
And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,
- Revelation 16:16
And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon.
- Revelation 9:11
They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek tongue he hath the name Apollyon.
- John 5:2
Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheepgatea pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.
- Luke 23:38
And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
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