Acts 20:3 where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

◄ Acts 20:3 ►

New International Version
where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

New Living Translation
where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.

English Standard Version
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

Berean Standard Bible
where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

Berean Literal Bible
And having continued three months, a plot having been made against him by the Jews, he being about to sail into Syria, a purpose arose to return through Macedonia.

King James Bible
And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

New King James Version
and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

New American Standard Bible
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

NASB 1995
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

NASB 1977
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

Legacy Standard Bible
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

Amplified Bible
And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece).

Christian Standard Bible
and stayed three months. The Jews plotted against him when he was about to set sail for Syria, and so he decided to go back through Macedonia.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and stayed three months. When he was about to set sail for Syria, a plot was devised against him by the Jews, so a decision was made to go back through Macedonia.

American Standard Version
And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

Contemporary English Version
and stayed there for three months. Paul was about to sail to Syria. But some of the Jewish leaders plotted against him, so he decided to return by way of Macedonia.

English Revised Version
And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews, as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and stayed there for three months. When Paul was going to board a ship for Syria, he found out that the Jews were plotting to kill him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia.

Good News Translation
where he stayed three months. He was getting ready to go to Syria when he discovered that there were Jews plotting against him; so he decided to go back through Macedonia.

International Standard Version
and stayed there for three months. When he was about to sail for Syria, a plot was initiated against him by the Jews, so he decided to go back through Macedonia.

Majority Standard Bible
where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

NET Bible
where he stayed for three months. Because the Jews had made a plot against him as he was intending to sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

New Heart English Bible
When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

Weymouth New Testament
The Jews having planned to waylay him whenever he might be on the point of taking ship for Syria, he decided to travel back by way of Macedonia.

World English Bible
When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and having continued three months—a counsel of the Jews having been against him—being about to set forth to Syria, there came [to him] a resolution of returning through Macedonia.

Berean Literal Bible
And having continued three months, a plot having been made against him by the Jews, he being about to sail into Syria, a purpose arose to return through Macedonia.

Young's Literal Translation
having made also three months' stay -- a counsel of the Jews having been against him -- being about to set forth to Syria, there came to him a resolution of returning through Macedonia.

Smith's Literal Translation
And having made three months; an insidious plot having been for him by the Jews, being about to sail to Syria, there was a purpose to return through Macedonia.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Where, when he had spent three months, the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; so he took a resolution to return through Macedonia.

Catholic Public Domain Version
After he had spent three months there, treacheries were planned against him by the Jews, just as he was about to sail into Syria. And having been advised of this, he return through Macedonia.

New American Bible
where he stayed for three months. But when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return by way of Macedonia.

New Revised Standard Version
where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
There he remained three months. But the Jews laid a plot against him, just as he was about to sail for Syria, so he decided to return to Mac-e-do’ni-a.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he was there three months, but the Jews made a plot against him when he was going to leave for Syria and planned to return to Macedonia.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And having remained there three months, he determined to return through Macedonia, because a plot had been laid for him by the Jews, as he was about to sail to Syria.

Godbey New Testament
and having remained three months, a plot rising against him from the Jews, when about to sail for Syria, he was of a mind to return through Macedonia.

Haweis New Testament
And after three months stay, as the Jews were lying in wait for him, when he was just embarking for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

Mace New Testament
there he stay'd three months; and then the Jews conspiring to surprize him at his embarkation for Syria, it was thought adviseable he should return thro' Macedonia. Sopater of Berea,

Weymouth New Testament
The Jews having planned to waylay him whenever he might be on the point of taking ship for Syria, he decided to travel back by way of Macedonia.

Worrell New Testament
and, having spent three months there, a plot being laid for him by the Jews, as he was about to sail into Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

Worsley New Testament
And when he had spent three months there, the Jews having laid wait for him as he was going to embark for Syria, he determined to return by Macedonia.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Paul in Macedonia and Greece
…2After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece, 3where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Romans 15:25-26
Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. / For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 11:26
In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,

1 Corinthians 16:1-4
Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia: / On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed. / Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. ...

2 Corinthians 1:16
I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you from Macedonia, and then to have you help me on my way to Judea.

2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. / In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. / For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, ...

2 Corinthians 9:1-5
Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you. / For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise. / But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said. ...

2 Corinthians 12:14
See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

1 Thessalonians 2:18
For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.

Romans 15:31
Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,

2 Corinthians 1:8-10
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. / He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,

2 Corinthians 2:12-13
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord, / I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

2 Corinthians 7:5
For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.

2 Corinthians 11:32-33
In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. / But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

1 Kings 11:40
Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, where he remained until the death of Solomon.

Jeremiah 26:21
King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt.

Treasury of Scripture

And there stayed three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

the Jews.

Acts 20:19
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

Acts 9:23,24
And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: …

Acts 23:12-15
And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul…

sail.

Acts 18:18
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Acts 21:3
Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

Galatians 1:21
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

he purposed.

Acts 19:21
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

2 Corinthians 1:15
And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

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Abode Adopted Counsel Decided Design Determined Foot Jews Laid Macedonia Macedo'nia Months Planned Plot Point Purposed Returning Sail Secret Ship Spent Syria Three Travel Treacherous Wait Waylay Whenever

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Acts 20

1. Paul goes to Macedonia, and thence to Troas.
7. He celebrates the Lord's supper, and preaches.
9. Eutychus having fallen down dead is raised to life.
13. Paul continues his travels;
17. and at Miletum he calls the elders together, tells them what shall befall to himself,
28. commits God's flock to them,
29. warns them of false teachers,
32. commends them to God,
36. prays with them, and departs.

Berean Study Bible

where he stayed three months
The phrase "where he stayed three months" indicates a period of rest and ministry. The Greek word for "stayed" (ἐποίησεν) suggests a deliberate action, implying that Paul was intentional about his time there. This period likely involved teaching, strengthening the local church, and preparing for future journeys. Historically, this was a time of relative peace and productivity for Paul, allowing him to write the Epistle to the Romans, a foundational text for Christian doctrine.

And when the Jews formed a plot against him
The phrase "the Jews formed a plot against him" reflects the ongoing opposition Paul faced from some Jewish leaders. The Greek word for "plot" (ἐπιβουλὴ) conveys a sense of conspiracy and malice. This opposition was not new to Paul, as he frequently encountered resistance due to his preaching of Jesus as the Messiah. This historical context highlights the tension between early Christians and Jewish authorities, emphasizing the cost of discipleship and the perseverance required to spread the Gospel.

as he was about to sail for Syria
The phrase "as he was about to sail for Syria" indicates Paul's travel plans, which were often directed by both practical considerations and divine guidance. Syria was a significant region for early Christianity, with Antioch being a major center for the church. This journey underscores the strategic nature of Paul's missionary work, as he sought to strengthen existing churches and establish new ones in key locations.

he decided to go back through Macedonia
The phrase "he decided to go back through Macedonia" reveals Paul's adaptability and wisdom. The Greek word for "decided" (γνώμη) implies a thoughtful and deliberate choice. By choosing to return through Macedonia, Paul avoided the immediate threat and continued his mission. This decision reflects the guidance of the Holy Spirit in Paul's ministry, as well as his commitment to the safety and well-being of his companions and the churches he served. Historically, Macedonia was a region where Paul had previously established strong Christian communities, and his return would have been a source of encouragement and support for them.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) When the Jews laid wait for him . . .--In sailing for Syria, Cenchreae would naturally be the port of embarkation, and St. Paul's presence there may reasonably be connected with the mention of Ph?be, the deaconess of that church, in Romans 16:1. His intention was, however, frustrated. The malignant Jews of Corinth watched their opportunity. At Cenchreae, amid the stir and bustle of a port, they might do what they had failed to do before. Here there was no Gallio to curb their fury, and throw the aegis of his tolerant equity over their victim. Their plans were laid, and their victim was to be seized and made away with as he was on the point of embarking. On hearing of the plot, the Apostle had to change his plans, and started with his companions for Macedonia, either travelling by land or taking a ship bound for one of its ports, instead of the one bound for Caesarea, or Tyre, or Joppa. It is clear that the latter course would have baffled his murderers quite as much as the former.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - When he had spent ... there for there abode, A.V.; a plot was laid against him by the Jews for when the Jews laid wait for him, A.V.; for for into, A.V.; determined for purposed, A.V. (ἐγένετο γνώμης, R.T.). When he had spent three months. For this use of ποιεῖν, see Acts 15:33; Acts 18:33. See also 2 Corinthians 11:25, where the R.V. varies the rendering, and seems to take ποιεῖν as a verb neuter, as the A.V. does here, the accusative (μῆνας τρεῖς) being taken as that of time how long. And a plot, etc. There is no "and" in the Greek. It is better to take the T.R., and to consider ποιήσας as a nominative pendens as ἐπιγνόντες is in Acts 19:34, according to the reading of Meyer, Alford, etc. A plot was laid against him by the Jews. It appears from this that Apollos had not succeeded in subduing the bigoted hatred of the Corinthian Jews. But probably the desperate measure of a plot against his life (ἐπιβουλή, as in Acts 9:23, 24; ver. 19 of this chapter, and Acts 23:30) is an indication that many of their number had joined the Church; and that the unbelieving remnant, being foiled in argument, had recourse to violence. He determined; literally, according to the R.T., he was of opinion. But the T.R. has ἐγένετο γνώμη, "his opinion was," the construction of the sentence being changed. The three months were probably chiefly spent at Corinth, according to the intention expressed in 1 Corinthians 16:6, though it would seem that he had stayed a longer time in Macedonia than he anticipated. It was during his sojourn at Corinth that the Epistle to the Romans was written.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

[where]
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

he stayed
ποιήσας (poiēsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

three
τρεῖς (treis)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5140: Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; 'three'.

months.
μῆνας (mēnas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3376: A (lunar) month. A primary word; a month.

[And when]
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews
Ἰουδαίων (Ioudaiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

formed
γενομένης (genomenēs)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

a plot
ἐπιβουλῆς (epiboulēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1917: A plot, design against. From a presumed compound of epi and boulomai; a plan against someone, i.e. A plot.

against him
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[as] he was about
μέλλοντι (mellonti)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.

to sail
ἀνάγεσθαι (anagesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 321: From ana and ago; to lead up; by extension to bring out; specially, to sail away.

for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Syria,
Συρίαν (Syrian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4947: Syria, a great Roman imperial province, united with Cilicia. Probably of Hebrew origin; Syria, a region of Asia.

he decided
γνώμης (gnōmēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1106: Opinion, counsel, judgment, intention, decree. From ginosko; cognition, i.e. opinion, or resolve.

to go back
ὑποστρέφειν (hypostrephein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 5290: To turn back, return. From hupo and strepho; to turn under, i.e. To return.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

Macedonia.
Μακεδονίας (Makedonias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3109: (Hebrew), Macedonia, a Roman province north of Achaia (Greece). From Makedon; Macedonia, a region of Greece.

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NT Apostles: Acts 20:3 When he had spent three months there (Acts of the Apostles Ac)