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Acts 18:19–21

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18:19When they reached Ephesus,72 Paul73 left Priscilla and Aquila74 behind there, but he himself went75 into the synagogue76 and addressed77 the Jews. 18:20When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent,7818:21but said farewell to79 them and added,80 “I will come back81 to you again if God wills.”82 Then83 he set sail from Ephesus,

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Footnotes

  1. 72 Ephesus was an influential city in Asia Minor. It was the location of the famous temple of Artemis. In 334 b.c. control of the city had passed to Alexander the Great, who contributed a large sum to the building of a new and more elaborate temple of Artemis, which became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and lasted until destroyed by the Goths in a.d. 263. This major port city would be reached from Corinth by ship. It was 250 mi (400 km) east of Corinth by sea. For location see ; ; ; .
  2. 73 Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. 74 Grk “left them”; the referents (Priscilla and Aquila) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
  4. 75 Grk “going”; the participle εἰσελθών (eiselthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  5. 76 See the note on synagogue in .
  6. 77 Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 18:19. As G. Schrenk ( 2:94–95) points out, “What is at issue is the address which any qualified member of a synagogue might give.” Other examples of this may be found in the NT in Matt 4:23 and Mark 1:21.
  7. 78 He would not consent. Paul probably refused because he wanted to reach Jerusalem for the festival season before the seas became impassable during the winter.
  8. 79 Or “but took leave of.”
  9. 80 Grk “and saying”; the participle εἰπών (eipōn) has been translated as “added” rather than “said” to avoid redundancy with the previous “said farewell.” The participle εἰπών has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  10. 81 Or “will return.”
  11. 82 The participle θέλοντος (thelontos), a genitive absolute construction, has been translated as a conditional adverbial participle. Again Paul acts in dependence on God.
  12. 83 A new sentence was begun here in the translation due to the length of the sentence in Greek and the requirements of contemporary English style, which generally uses shorter sentences.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

NLTNew Living Translation

They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So they arrived at Ephesus, and those he left behind there, but he himself entered into the synagogue and discussed with the Jews. And when they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not give his consent, but saying farewell and telling them, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.

KJV 1900King James Version

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.