Bible Strands
Acts 21:12
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator and local believers in Caesarea plead with Paul to abandon his journey to Jerusalem immediately after the prophet Agabus enacts a prophecy of Paul's binding.
The words — παρεκαλοῦμεν (parekaloumen) literally means "were begging," describing the urgent entreaty of the group. ἡμεῖς (hēmeis) translates as "we ourselves," emphasizing the narrator's direct participation alongside the local believers.
The thread — This plea follows the Spirit's warnings through Tyrian disciples (Acts 21:4) and mirrors the pattern of divine commission meeting human resistance seen when Jesus foretold His own Jerusalem journey (Matthew 16:21), contrasting with Paul's earlier declaration of Spirit-compelled obedience (Acts 20:22).
Why it lands — The text records a group urging a prophet to avoid a divinely directed path, requiring the reader to confront whether personal safety or communal comfort is being elevated above a stated calling.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
- Acts 20:22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
- Acts 21:4 We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.