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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Acts 20:37

Fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him. — We note, as before in Acts 20:19, the absence of any suppression of emotion. As David and Jonathan parted of old (1 Samuel 20:41), so did St. Paul and his fellow-workers part now. In 2 Timothy 1:4 we have a passing reference to another parting scene of perhaps even tenderer emotion. To think that they should see his face no more, that this was their last farewell, made the elders of Ephesus and the other disciples eager, up to the very hour of embarkation, for the last embrace.

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See also Acts 20:37 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 20:37. _FELL ON PAUL'S NECK_] Leaned their heads against his shoulders, and kissed his neck. This was not an unusual custom in the east....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WEPT SORE - Wept much. Greek: “There was a great weeping of all.” AND FELL ON PAUL’S NECK - Embraced him, as a token of tender affection. The same thing Joseph did when he met his aged father Jacob,...

  • 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...

  • 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

    THEY ALL, &C. Literally there was. great weeping of all. FELL. having fallen. AND KISSED. Greek. _kataphileo._ Only here, Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45 (Judas). Luke 7:38;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _kissed him_ The word is not the simple verb but expresses earnest, sorrowing salutations....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

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

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΚΑΤΕΦΊΛΟΥΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ, _they kissed him_. The verb expresses earnest and sorrowful salutations....

  • 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

    ΚΛΑΥΘΜΌΣ (G2805) плач, рыдание, ΈΓΈΝΕΤΟ _aor. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΓΊΝΟΜΑΙ (G1096) становиться, быть, случаться, ΈΠΙΠΕΣΌΝΤΕΣ _aor. act. part. (conymcme.)_ от ΈΠΙΠΊΠΤΩ (G1968) припадать, ΤΡΆΧΗΛΟΣ (G...

  • 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 36...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    __ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. No JFB commentary on these verses....

  • 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...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    20:37 kissed (e-15) 'Covered with kisses,' as Luke 15:20 ....

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἱκανὸς, _cf._ Acts 8:13. ἐπιπεσόντες : an exact parallel only in Luke 15:22 (_cf._ also κατεφίλησεν in same verse), _cf._ above on ἐπιπίπτειν and in LXX, Genesis 33:4;...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    COMMENDED TO GOD Acts 20:28 Notice the change of the Revised Version in Acts 20:28. The elder, whether presbyter or bishop, is not put _over_ the flock; he is _in_ it like the rest, needing redemptio...

  • 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

    Paul's Charge to the Ephesian Elders Because he did not anticipate seeing them again, the apostle charged those elders, who had been selected on the basis of the qualifications listed by the Holy Spir...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (12) And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, (12) The Gospel does not take away natural affections, but rules and bridles them in good order....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    They kissed him. These marks of tenderness are dictated by nature, and have always been used between friends, who were separating from each other, or who meet after a long absence. The Scripture furni...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    _“Great was the lamentation of all, and falling on the neck of Paul they continued to kiss him,_...

  • 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...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 37._Great weeping. _No marvel if all the godly did entirely love this holy man. for it had been a point of too gross unthankfulness to despise him whom the Lord had so beautified with so many excell...

  • 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

    AND THEY ALL WEPT SORE,.... At the thoughts of parting with such a faithful and affectionate friend and servant of Christ; and no doubt but their affections were greatly moved by his prayers for them,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, Ver. 37. _And they all wept sore_] _Expletur lachrymis egeriturque dolor._ It was noted and noticed by the very heathens that there we...

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

    _When he had thus spoken, he kneeled down_ The posture generally used by the apostles and first Christians in prayer, as it had been also by our Lord himself, and by holy men of old; see the margin. A...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND THEY ALL WEPT SORE, AND FELL ON PAUL'S NECK, AND KISSED HIM,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The elders bid their teacher Godspeed:...

  • 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

    THEN THEY ALL WEPT FREELY, AND FELL ON PAUL ' S NECK AND KISSED HIM, 1. The elders wept. They understood the awesome task ahead of them. They also understood that Paul would not be returning to Ephes...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    28-38 If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their char...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    As they used to do their friends when they took their leave of them: see GENESIS 45:14,15....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 20:37 Then G1161 all G3956 wept G2805 G1096 (G5633) freely G2425 and G2532 fell G1968 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And they all wept grievously, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they would behold his face no more. And they brought him on his way...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

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

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

    Acts 20:37. AND FELL ON PAUL'S NECK, AND KISSED HIM. These demonstrative expressions of affection are in accordance with eastern customs (see Genesis 45:14; Genesis 46:29). The word is a strong one, a...

  • 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

    THEY ALL WEPT SORE (ικανος κλαυθμος εγενετο παντων). Literally, There came considerable weeping of all (on the part of all, genitive case).KISSED HIM (κατεφιλουν αυτον). Imperfect active of καταφι...

  • 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

    HE KNELT DOWN WITH THEM ALL AND PRAYED. This is the final good-bye. These people are more emotional than we are, but remember Paul is their spiritual leader and close friend, and they never expect to...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And they all wept sore … sorrowing most of all … that they should see his face no more._ PAUL’S FAREWELL I. The tears of the noble servants of God. 1. A painful tax of human weakness, which even t...

  • 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 16:20; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 2 Corinthians 13:12;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Kissed [κ α τ ε φ ι λ ο υ ν]. See on Matthew 26:49....

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    They all wept — Of old, men, yea, the best and bravest of men, were easily melted into tears; a thousand instances of which might be produced from profane as well as sacred writers. But now, notwithst...

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