Devine Scripture

Acts 21:9

What does Acts 21:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 21:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 21:9 means

Philip’s four unmarried daughters “prophesied,” showing that the Holy Spirit was actively speaking and building up the church through them. Their purity and devotion are noted, not as merit, but to describe a household marked by consecration and ministry. This brief mention confirms the breadth of the Spirit’s gifts across gender and age, in line with God’s promise to pour out the Spirit widely. It also sets a context in which the visit of an established prophet will not seem unexpected. The environment of Philip’s home is one of spiritual attentiveness, where the voice of God is honored and His people are prepared to hear and obey.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he had four daughters, virgins, who were prophets.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and this one had four daughters, virgins, prophesying.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he had four daughters, virgins, who did prophesy.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

Context

After introducing Philip as an evangelist (verse 8), Luke highlights his daughters’ prophetic ministry. This underscores that the stay in Cæsarea is not merely a logistical pause but a spiritually charged setting. Into this atmosphere, verse 10 introduces Agabus, a known prophet from Judæa. His arrival and symbolic act in verse 11 provide a clear, external confirmation of what believers have been sensing: Jerusalem will mean chains for Paul. The flow builds from a household of prophecy to a public, authoritative prophetic sign.

v.8And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.

v.9This passage

v.10And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.

Cross references

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

  • Judges 4:4

    Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

  • 2 Kings 22:14

    So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they communed with her.

  • Revelation 2:20

    But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

  • Nehemiah 6:14

    Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

  • Acts 13:1

    Now there were at Antioch, in the church that wasthere, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:4

    Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.

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