Acts 21:5
What does Acts 21:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 21:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 21:5 means
When the week ends, the whole community—men, women, and children—walks with Paul to the edge of the city. There, kneeling on the beach, they pray together. The scene is tender and public. Their posture shows dependence on God; their setting shows that Christian devotion is not confined to buildings or formalities. Farewells are marked by faith and affection, not by despair. Paul leaves with prayers, not simply with plans. The image of families on the shore underscores that the gospel binds generations together. The journey continues, but it is carried forward on the intercession of saints who entrust Paul to the will of the Lord amid looming trials.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when these days came to an end, we went on our journey; and they all, with their wives and children, came with us on our way till we were out of the town: and after going on our knees in prayer by the sea,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but when it came that we completed the days, having gone forth, we went on, all bringing us on the way, with women and children, unto the outside of the city, and having bowed the knees upon the shore, we prayed,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the days being expired, departing we went forward, they all bringing us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore: and we prayed.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But when we had completed the days, we set out and took our journey, all of them accompanying us, with wives and children, till [we were] out of the city. And kneeling down upon the shore we prayed.
Context
This verse captures the close of the Tyre visit, emphasizing communal prayer and heartfelt farewell. It follows the Spirit-shaped warning of verse 4 and demonstrates the church’s response: not argument alone but kneeling supplication. Verse 6 will narrate the practical separation—missionaries board, locals return home. Then verse 7 moves the party to Ptolemais for a brief greeting and stay. The emotional strength of verse 5 prepares readers to see that Paul’s advance is not reckless; it is buoyed by the prayers and love of the broader body of believers.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 9:40
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
- Mark 1:40
And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
- 2 Chronicles 20:13
And all Judah stood before Jehovah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
- Acts 17:10
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
- Deuteronomy 29:11
your little ones, your wives, and thy sojourner that is in the midst of thy camps, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water;
- Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.
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