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Vincent's Word Studies in the NT

Acts 20:21

Repentance toward God. Repentance has the article : the repentance which is due to God. So, also, faith : the faith which is due toward Christ, as the advocate and mediator. Acts 20:2

9Bound in the spirit. In his own spirit. Constrained by an invincible sense of duty. Not by the Holy Spirit, which is mentioned in the next verse and distinguished by the epithet the Holy. Acts 20:2

3Testifieth [δ ι α μ α ρ τ υ ρ ε τ α ι]. The compound verb signifies full, clear testimony. Not by internal intimations of the Spirit, but by prophetic declarations "in every city." Two of these are mentioned subsequently, at Tyre and Caesarea (ch Acts 21:4; Acts 21:11).

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See also Acts 20:21 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 20:21 eivj to.n ku,rion h`mw/n VIhsou/n {B} There is no good reason why Cristo,n should have been omitted if it were present originally, whereas scribal expansion of the names of the Lord is a...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 20:21. _TESTIFY BOTH TO - JEWS AND - GREEKS_] He always _began_ with the _Jews_; and, in this case, he had preached to them alone for three months, Acts 19:8, and only left their synagogues...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    TESTIFYING - Bearing witness to the necessity of repentance toward God. Or teaching them the nature of repentance, and exhorting them to repent and believe. Perhaps the word “testifying” includes both...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 20 __ 1. Paul in Macedonia (Acts 20:1). 2. His abode in Greece, the visit to Troas and what transpired there (Acts 20:3). 3. The journey from Troas to Miletus (Acts 20:13). 4. The farewell...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL'S SPEECH TO THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS AT MILETUS. See Ramsay, art. Miletus in HDB, as to the difficulties of the journey at that period from Miletus to Ephesus; one had to sail to Priene and make fro...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PATHETIC APPEAL TO PAUL'S PAST WORK AT EPHESUS AND TO HIS PRESENT POSITION. Acts 20:18. after what manner I was with you: _cf._ 1 Thessalonians 2:1. Acts 20:19. serving the Lord: _cf._...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    SETTING OUT FOR JERUSALEM (Acts 20:1-6)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. When they were with him he said to them, "You yourselves know how, from the first day I came into Asia, I spent all the time,...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TESTIFYING. witnessing. Greek. _diamarturomai._ See note on Acts 2:40. TO THE JEWS, &C. = to. Jews and Greeks. REPENTANCE. Greek. _metanoia._ App-111. FAITH. Greek. _pistis._ App-150. JESUS CIRIST...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _testifying_, &c.… _to the Greeks_ The _Rev. Ver._omits "the" before both nouns, the Greek having no article. "_Both to Jews and to Greeks_." By "testifying" is meant "proclaiming the need of." And th...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΌΜΕΝΟΣ, _testifying_, i.e. proclaiming to them their need of. Here Chrysostom says: οὐχὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς, φησί, μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς Ἕλληνας. ἐνταῦθα ἡ παῤῥησία. καὶ ὅτι κἃν μηδὲν ὠφελῶμεν λέγειν...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PAUL SENDS FOR THE ELDERS FROM EPHESUS, GIVES THEM HIS PARTING CHARGE, AND LEAVES MILETUS...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _PAUL VISITED WITH THE ELDERS FROM EPHESUS ACTS 20:17-38:_ Paul called for the Elders from the church at Ephesus to meet with him at Miletus. He reminded them that he had never tried to obtain the app...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΌΜΕΝΟΣ _praes. med. (dep.) part. от_ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΎΡΟΜΑΙ (G1263) свидетельствовать (_см._ Acts 2:40). Part, образа действия, объясняет, как он служил Господу и как не уклонялся от службы. ΊΟΥΔΑΊΟΙΣ...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1798 ST. PAUL’S APPEAL TO THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS Acts 20:17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye k...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TESTIFYING BOTH TO THE JEWS, &C.— The word rendered _testifying_ sometimes means to prove a thing by testimony (ch. Acts 2:40 Acts 8:25.); and sometimes, from a conviction ofits truth and importance,...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    IN MILETUS. Acts 20:16-38. a. Past Ephesus to Miletus. Acts 20:16-17. Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 18...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. TESTIFYING, [ diamarturomenos (G1263)] - the compound word implying the 'thoroug...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    21 Repentance had its place in Paul's preaching while he was proclaiming the kingdom. It was associated with pardon. Henceforth he no longer preaches these, but justification and conciliation by faith...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY (CONTINUED) 1-6. Paul in Macedonia and Greece. St. Paul waited at Ephesus until the return of Timothy and Erastus, and left Ephesus shortly after Pentecost, 55 a.d. (1 Corinth...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST PAUL'S SPEECH TO THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS. He reminds them of his ministry among them (Acts 20:18). And now that the Spirit draws him to Jerusalem, to face the unknown future, he entrusts the Ephesian...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 20 PAUL TRAVELS THROUGH MACEDONIA AND GREECE, 20:1-6 V1 After the *riot, Paul sent for the *believers and he encouraged them. Then he said good...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. — These, under all varieties of form, whether speaking to Jews or Gentiles, to philosophers at Athens (Acts 17:30) or peasants of Lystra...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    διαμαρτ., see above on p. 92; Lucan Pauline. μετάν. καὶ πίστιν, _cf._ the earliest notes in the preaching of Jesus, Mark 1:15, and these were equally the notes of the preaching of St. Peter and St. Pa...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A PARTING MESSAGE Acts 20:13 The vessel had to stop at Miletus and Paul sent word to the Ephesian elders, urging them to come and see him. He spent the day in their company, and before parting delive...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Restful and mastered by Christ, Paul was yet restless and resistless in devotion to the enterprise of his Lord. These facts are evident throughout this chapter. We follow him in rapid movements, alway...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Meeting with the Elders from Ephesus The rest of the apostle's company travelled by ship to Assos, while he went on foot. He joined them in the ship at Assos and went on with them to Mitylene, then by...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    Preaching and teaching publicly and from house to house, “the whole counsel of God,” _i. e_., _“repentance toward God,”_ as all violation of law is high treason against the divine government. Hence re...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (18) And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _REPENTANCE AND FAITH_ ‘Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Acts 20:21 Repentance must have in it three things. It must have in it hope; it must have in it love; it must...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 21._Testifying both to Jews. _Descending now unto the third point, he setteth down the sum of this doctrine in a few words, to wit, that he exhorted all men unto faith and repentance, as it was said...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But let us return to the history of Paul. After the uproar has ceased he sends for the disciples, embraces them, and departs for Macedonia; he visits that whole country, and comes into Greece. The beg...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    TESTIFYING BOTH TO THE JEWS, AND ALSO TO THE GREEKS,.... To the Jews first in their synagogue, and then to both Jews and Greeks, or Gentiles, in the school of Tyrannus; opening and explaining to both...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 21. _Testifying_] Not barely preaching, but vehemently pressing (as matters of...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _How I kept back nothing that was profitable_ Nothing that was calculated to instruct, renew, or comfort you to render you wise and good, holy and happy; Greek, ουδεν υπεστειλαμην των συμφεροντων, του...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PAUL AND THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS. Paul addresses the elders of Ephesus:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    TESTIFYING BOTH TO THE JEWS AND ALSO TO THE GREEKS REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Miletus was a matter of only about thirty miles from Ephesus, and connected with the ca...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Finally Paul follows Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, leaving a field of labor that had been most fruitful. How long he spent in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea we are not told, but he gave them muc...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    TESTIFYING TO JEWS, AND ALSO TO GREEKS, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 1. The elders are reminded that they taught Jews and Greeks (Gentiles). 2. All were obedient to...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ"Testifying": As Peter did (Acts 2:40). "Stressing" (Rieu). "I insisted on" (NEB). "Repentance towar...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preache...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    TESTIFYING to all sorts and conditions of men, for there is no difference with God, that repentance would be accepted from them by God, and that he was ready to give repentance unto them, as ACTS 11:1...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 20:21 testifying G1263 (G5740) Jews G2453 and G5037 also G2532 Greeks G1672 repentance G3341 toward G1519 God...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL'S ADDRESS TO THE ELDERS OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH (20:17-38)....

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL DESCRIBES THE PERSONAL PATTERN AND FULL DEPTHS OF HIS MINISTRY TO THE EPHESIANS (18-21). We may ask, why did Paul spend so much time in this speech talking about himself? Some have suggested that...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 20:21. REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. These two make up the sum of all Christian doctrine a change of heart, and then a return to God and faith in the Lord Jesus. T...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _St. Paul's Farewell Address to the Elders of the Church at Ephesus,_ 18-38. In this short epitome of the discourse of the apostle on the occasion of his bidding farewell to his old Ephesian friends a...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    TESTIFYING (διαμαρτυρομενος). As Peter did (Acts 2:40) where Luke uses this same word thoroughly Lucan and Pauline. So again in verses Acts 20:23; Acts 20:24. Paul here as in...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul goes to Macedonia and Greece. His visits at Troas, Miletus. Paul's conference with the Ephesian elders. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy Spirit, Paul, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tim...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 20:4. _There accompanied him Sopater of Berea,_ the son of Pyrrhus, according to the Vulgate. He is called by Paul, Sosipater. Romans 16:21. _Aristarchus,_ who accompanied him to Rome, and _Secun...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    ASKING THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH TO MEET HIM. We are not told about them before this, but it was Paul's custom to appoint elders in each church (Acts 14:23). Elders [church leaders] are also called she...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And how I kept back nothing that was profitable._ RETICENCE AVOIDED The verb is one which belongs to the vocabulary of sailors, and was used for taking in or reefing sails. He, St. Paul seems to sa...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 20:17 Paul’s Miletus address is the only example in Acts 1:1 of a major speech to Christians. Of all Paul’s speeches in Ac

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 20:17. MILETUS.—Thirty-six miles south of Ephesus, and on the south-west of the Latmian Gulf. “Now a desolation: then an emporium of trade with four ports or docks crowded wit...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 20:1 _Having sent for_ …_ and exhorted _for _called unto him, _A.V. and T.R.; _took leave of them, and departed _for _and embraced them, and departed, _A.V. DEPARTED FOR TO GO INTO MA...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Last week we left Paul in Ephesus, in the midst of a near riot in town, as Demetrius the silversmith got together his companions in trade and pointed out how the preaching of Paul was about to put the...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 1:22; 1 John 5:1; 1 John 5:11; 1 John 5:5; 2 Co

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Repentance toward God — The very first motion of the soul toward God is a kind of repentance....

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Old Testament