Acts 20:7
New International Version
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

New Living Translation
On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.

English Standard Version
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

Berean Standard Bible
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

Berean Literal Bible
And on the first day of the week, of us having come together to break bread, Paul, about to depart on the next day, talked to them and continued the talk until midnight.

King James Bible
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

New King James Version
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

New American Standard Bible
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

NASB 1995
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

NASB 1977
And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

Legacy Standard Bible
And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began speaking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

Amplified Bible
Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paul began talking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight.

Christian Standard Bible
On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight.

American Standard Version
And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.

Contemporary English Version
On the first day of the week we met to break bread together. Paul spoke to the people until midnight because he was leaving the next morning.

English Revised Version
And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing [Scripture] with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight.

Good News Translation
On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.

International Standard Version
On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul began to address the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he went on speaking until midnight.

Majority Standard Bible
On the first day of the week, the disciples came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

NET Bible
On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight.

New Heart English Bible
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.

Webster's Bible Translation
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them (ready to depart on the morrow) and continued his speech until midnight.

Weymouth New Testament
On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul, who was going away the next morning, was preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse till midnight.

World English Bible
On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day; and continued his speech until midnight.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And on the first [day] of the weeks, the disciples having been gathered together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them, about to depart on the next day, he was also continuing the discourse until midnight,

Berean Literal Bible
And on the first day of the week, of us having come together to break bread, Paul, about to depart on the next day, talked to them and continued the talk until midnight.

Young's Literal Translation
And on the first of the week, the disciples having been gathered together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them, about to depart on the morrow, he was also continuing the discourse till midnight,

Smith's Literal Translation
And in one of the sabbaths, the disciples having been assembled together to break bread, Paul conversed with them being about to go forth the morrow; and he continued the word until midnight.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on the morrow: and he continued his speech until midnight.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, on the first Sabbath, when we had assembled together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to set out the next day. But he prolonged his sermon into the middle of the night.

New American Bible
On the first day of the week when we gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them because he was going to leave on the next day, and he kept on speaking until midnight.

New Revised Standard Version
On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And on the first day of the week, while the disciples were assembled to break bread, Paul preached to them, and because he was ready to leave the next day, he prolonged his speech until midnight.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
In the first day of the week, when we assembled to break the Eucharist, Paulus was speaking with them, because the next day he was going to go out by himself and he prolonged speaking until midnight.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul discoursed to them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he continued his speech till midnight.

Godbey New Testament
And on the first of the Sabbaths we being assembled to break bread, Paul spoke to them, being about to depart the following day, and continued his discourse till midnight:

Haweis New Testament
And on the first day of the week, when the disciples were assembled to break bread, Paul preached unto them (ready to depart on the morrow), and extended his discourse until midnight.

Mace New Testament
on the first day of the week we assembled to break bread, when Paul, who was to depart on the morrow, gave them a sermon, which lasted till midnight.

Weymouth New Testament
On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul, who was going away the next morning, was preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse till midnight.

Worrell New Testament
And on the first day of the sabbaths, we having come together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them (being about to depart on the morrow), and continued the discourse until midnight.

Worsley New Testament
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples were assembled together to break bread, Paul being about to depart on the morrow, preached unto them, and continued his discourse till midnight.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eutychus Revived at Troas
6And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days. 7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight. 8Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 16:2
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.

Luke 24:1
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

John 20:19
It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.

John 20:26
Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Revelation 1:10
On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

Matthew 28:1
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

Mark 16:2
Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

Mark 16:9
Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.

Luke 24:13-35
That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. / They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. / And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them. ...

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ...

Leviticus 23:3
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

Numbers 28:9-10
On the Sabbath day, present two unblemished year-old male lambs, accompanied by a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, as well as a drink offering. / This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. ...

Nehemiah 8:2
On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.


Treasury of Scripture

And on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

the first.

John 20:1,19,26
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre…

1 Corinthians 16:2
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

the disciples.

1 Corinthians 11:17-21,33,34
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse…

to break.

Acts 20:11
When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

Acts 2:42,46
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers…

Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

and continued.

Acts 20:9,11,31
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead…

Acts 28:23
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Nehemiah 8:3
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

Jump to Previous
Bread Break Continued Depart Disciples Discourse First Gathered Holy Intended Intending Kept Meal Message Met Middle Midnight Morning Morrow Paul Preached Preaching Prolonged Purpose Ready Speech Talk Talked Talking Together Week
Jump to Next
Bread Break Continued Depart Disciples Discourse First Gathered Holy Intended Intending Kept Meal Message Met Middle Midnight Morning Morrow Paul Preached Preaching Prolonged Purpose Ready Speech Talk Talked Talking Together Week
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.














On the first day of the week
This phrase indicates the early Christian practice of gathering on Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection. The Greek term "mia tōn sabbatōn" reflects the transition from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) to the Lord's Day (Sunday) as a day of worship. Historically, this shift underscores the centrality of the resurrection in Christian faith and the new creation it inaugurates.

we came together to break bread
The act of breaking bread is a reference to the Lord's Supper or Communion. The Greek "klasai arton" suggests both a communal meal and a sacred act of remembering Christ's sacrifice. This practice was integral to early Christian worship, emphasizing unity and the new covenant established through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Paul spoke to the people
The apostle Paul, a central figure in the spread of Christianity, is depicted here as a teacher and leader. His speaking, or "dialegomai" in Greek, implies a dialogue or discourse, indicating an interactive form of teaching. This reflects the early church's emphasis on apostolic teaching as foundational for faith and practice.

and, because he intended to leave the next day
This phrase highlights Paul's missionary zeal and commitment to spreading the Gospel. His travel plans underscore the urgency and dedication of early Christian mission work, as well as the transient nature of apostolic ministry.

he kept on speaking until midnight
The extended teaching session indicates the depth and intensity of Paul's message. The late hour suggests a hunger for spiritual nourishment among the believers and a willingness to prioritize spiritual growth over physical rest. This dedication is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.

(7) Upon the first day of the week . . .--This and the counsel given in 1Corinthians 16:2, are distinct proofs that the Church had already begun to observe the weekly festival of the Resurrection in place of, or, where the disciples were Jews, in addition to, the weekly Sabbath. It lies in the nature of the case that those who were slaves, or freed-men still in service, under heathen masters could not transfer to it the rigid abstinence from labour which characterised the Jewish Sabbath. And on this day they met together, obviously in the evening after sunset, to "break bread." On the half- technical significance of that phrase, as applied specially to the Lord's Supper, the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, see Notes on Acts 2:46, and 1Corinthians 10:16. Two further questions, however, present themselves--(1) On what evening was the meeting held? (2) How far was a meal such as was known as the Agape, or Feast of Charity, united with the Lord's Supper? In answer to (1), it seems probable that in churches which were so largely organised on the framework of the Jewish synagogue, and contained so many Jews and proselytes who had been familiar with its usages, the Jewish mode of reckoning would still be kept, and that, as the Sabbath ended at sunset, the first day of the week would begin at sunset on what was then or soon afterwards known as Saturday. In this case, the meeting of which we read would be held on what we should call the Saturday evening, and the feast would present some analogies to the prevalent Jewish custom of eating bread and drinking wine at that time in honour of the departed Sabbath (Jost, Gesch. Judenthums, i. 180). (2) Looking to St. Paul's directions in 1Corinthians 11:33-34, it is probable that the hour of the "breaking bread" became gradually later, so as to allow those who would otherwise have been hungry to take their evening meal at home before they came. The natural result of this arrangement was, as in the instance now before us, to throw the Eucharistic rite forward to midnight, or even later; and, as this was obviously likely to cause both inconvenience and scandal, the next step was to separate it entirely from the Agape, and to celebrate the purely symbolic feast very early in the morning of the first day of the week, while the actual meal came later in the evening of the same day. That this was so in the regions of Troas and Asia we see from Pliny's letter to Trajan (Epp. x. 96), in which he describes the Christians as meeting on "a fixed day," for what he calls a sacramentum at break of day, and again in the evening to partake of a simple and innocent repast. At Troas we have the connecting-link between the evening communion of the Church of Corinth, and the morning celebration which has been for many centuries the universal practice of the Church.

Paul preached unto them.--The fact has a liturgical interest as showing that then, as in the more developed services of the second and third centuries, the sermon, and the lessons from Scripture which it implied, preceded what we now know as the Celebration.

Ready to depart on the morrow.--It may perhaps seem to some strange, taking the view maintained in the previous Note, that the Apostle and his companions should thus purpose to travel on a day to which we have transferred so many of the restrictions of the Jewish Sabbath. But it must be remembered (1) that there is no evidence that St. Paul thought of them as so transferred, but rather the contrary (Galatians 4:10; Colossians 2:16); and (2) that the ship in which his friends had taken their passage was not likely to alter its day of starting to meet their scruples, even had those scruples existed. . . .

Verse 7. - We were gathered for the disciples came, A.V. and T.R.; discoursed with for preached unto, A.V.; intending for ready, A.V.; prolonged for continued, A.V. The first day of the week. This is an important evidence of the keeping of the Lord's day by the Church as a day for their Church assemblies (see Luke 24:1, 30, 35; John 20:19, 26; 1 Corinthians 16:2). To break bread. This is also an important example of weekly communion as the practice of the first Christians. Comparing the phrase, "to break bread," with St. Luke's account of the institution of the Holy Eucharist (Luke 22:19) and the passages just quoted in Luke 24, and St. Paul's language (1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24), it is impossible not to conclude that the breaking of bread in the celebration of the Lord's Supper is an essential part of the holy sacrament, which man may not for any specious reasons omit. Further, this passage seems to indicate that evening Communion, after the example of the first Lord's Supper, was at this time the practice of the Church. It was preceded (see ver. 11) by the preaching of the Word. The following description, given by Justin Martyr, in his second Apology to Antoninus Plus (or Marcus Aurelius), of the Church assemblies in his day, not a hundred years after this time, is in exact agreement with it: - "On the day which is called Sunday, all (Christians) who dwell either in town or country come together to one place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read for a certain time, and then the president of the meeting, when the reader has stopped, makes a discourse, in which he instructs and exhorts the people to the imitation of the good deeds of which they have just heard. We then all rise up together, and address prayers (to God); and, when our prayers are ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president, to the best of his ability, offers up both prayers and thanksgivings, and the people assent, saving 'Amen.' And then the distribution of the bread and wine, over which the thanksgivings have been offered, is made to all present, and all partake of it." He adds that the elements are carried to the absent by the deacons, and that collections are made for poor widows, and orphans, and sick, and prisoners. Discoursed (διελέγετο); Acts 17:17, note. Prolonged (παρέτεινε). The word is found only here in the New Testament, but is of frequent use in medical writers.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
On
Ἐν (En)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

first [day]
μιᾷ (mia)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

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

week
σαββάτων (sabbatōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 4521: The Sabbath, a week.

we
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

came together
συνηγμένων (synēgmenōn)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4863: From sun and ago; to lead together, i.e. Collect or convene; specially, to entertain.

to break
κλάσαι (klasai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2806: To break (in pieces), break bread. A primary verb; to break.

bread.
ἄρτον (arton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.

[Since] Paul
Παῦλος (Paulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

was ready
μέλλων (mellōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.

to leave
ἐξιέναι (exienai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1826: (originally: I shall go out), I go out (away), depart. From ek and eimi; to issue, i.e. Leave, escape.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

next day,
ἐπαύριον (epaurion)
Adverb
Strong's 1887: Tomorrow. From epi and aurion; occurring on the succeeding day, i.e. to-morrow.

he talked
διελέγετο (dielegeto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1256: To converse, address, preach, lecture; I argue, reason. Middle voice from dia and lego; to say thoroughly, i.e. Discuss.

to them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
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.

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

kept on
παρέτεινέν (pareteinen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3905: To extend, prolong, continue. From para and teino; to extend along, i.e. Prolong.

speaking
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

until
μέχρι (mechri)
Preposition
Strong's 3360: As far as, until, even to.

midnight.
μεσονυκτίου (mesonyktiou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3317: Midnight, the middle of the period between sunset and sunrise. Neuter of compound of mesos and nux; midnight.


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