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Acts 20:23

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 20:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Acts 20:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house,
21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more.
26Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
← Acts 20:22Acts 20:24 →
← Full Chapter 20 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, etc.] As he passed along, where there was a church, or any number of saints: in the churches of those times there were prophets who foretold things to come, and by these the Holy Ghost testified to the apostle, as he travelled along, and called upon the churches in every city, what would befall him when he came to Jerusalem; this sense the natural order of the words requires, unless there should be a transposition of them, thus, “save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me, or wait for me in every city”; that is, this in general was only made known to him by the Spirit of God, that wherever he came,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, &c.--by prophetic utterances from city to city, as in Act 11:4; Act 21:10-11. Analogous premonitions of coming events are not unknown to the general method of God's providence. They would tend to season the apostle's spirit.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Save that - Except that. This was all that he knew, that bonds and afflictions were to be his portion. The Holy Ghost witnesseth - Either by direct revelation to him, or by the predictions of inspired men whom Paul might meet. An instance of the latter mode occurs in Acts 21:11. It is probable that the meaning here is that the Holy Spirit had deeply impressed the mind of Paul by his direct influences, and by his experience in every city, that bonds and trials were to be his portion. Such had been his experience in every city where he had preached the gospel by the direction of the Holy Spirit, that he regarded it as his certain portion that he was thus to be afflicted. In every city - In…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Save that - Only this I know in general; the Holy Ghost witnesseth - By other persons. Such was God's good pleasure to reveal these things to him, not immediately, but by the ministry of others. Acts 20:24”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:23 the Holy Spirit tells me: See, e.g., 21:10-12.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Holy Ghost: Act 9:16, Act 14:22, Act 21:4, Act 21:11; Joh 16:33; Th1 3:3; Ti2 2:12 abide me: or, wait for me Acts 20:24”
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Related study paths

Read Acts 20 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification