The vessel coasted along Asia Minor, sighted Cyprus, sailed to the south of it, and so finally to Tyre. There the disciples were poor and obscure, and it took searching to find them; but they were very warm-hearted, and the whole community, including the children, who never forgot that incident, accompanied Paul to his ship. As they neared the vessel they knelt on the shore to pray together, and so parted.
The journey from Ptolemais (Acre) to Caesarea lay along the edge of the plain of Sharon, at the season bright with the flowers of spring. The days Paul spent at Caesarea were the last happy days of freedom that he was to enjoy for two or three years. What blessed intercourse Paul and Philip must have had! They had both known Stephen. Agabus joined the happy party, with prophecies of peril ahead, but these only served to bring out the magnificent courage of the Apostle. His purpose was inflexible. An unseen hand was beckoning; a voice which only he could hear was calling. He had no doubt as to God's purpose, and went straight forward; though he was not insensible to the love and sympathy of friends. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 21
1Paul calls at the house of Philip, whose daughters prophesy 10Agabus, foretelling what should befall him at Jerusalem, 13he will not be dissuaded from going thither 17He comes to Jerusalem; 27where he is apprehended, and in great danger, but by the chief captain is rescued; 37and requests, and is permitted to speak to the people
Greek Commentary for Acts 21:9
Virgins which did prophesy [παρτενοι προπητευσαι] Not necessarily an “order” of virgins, but Philip had the honour of having in his home four virgin daughters with the gift of prophecy which was not necessarily predicting events, though that was done as by Agabus here. It was more than ordinary preaching (cf. Acts 19:6) and was put by Paul above the other gifts like tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-33). The prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28.) about their sons and daughters prophesying is quoted by Peter and applied to the events on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17). Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:5 gives directions about praying and prophesying by the women (apparently in public worship) with the head uncovered and sharply requires the head covering, though not forbidding the praying and prophesying. With this must be compared his demand for silence by the women in 1 Corinthians 14:34-40; 1 Timothy 2:8-15 which it is not easy to reconcile. One wonders if there was not something known to Paul about special conditions in Corinth and Ephesus that he has not told. There was also Anna the prophetess in the temple (Luke 2:36) besides the inspired hymns of Elizabeth (Luke 1:42-45) and of Mary (Luke 1:46-55). At any rate there was no order of women prophets or official ministers. There were Old Testament prophetesses like Miriam, Deborah, Huldah. Today in our Sunday schools the women do most of the actual teaching. The whole problem is difficult and calls for restraint and reverence. One thing is certain and that is that Luke appreciated the services of women for Christ as is shown often in his writings (Luke 8:1-3, for instance) before this incident. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 21:9
Acts 2:17I will pour forth [εκχεω] Future active indicative of εκχεω ekcheō This future like εδομαι edomai and πιομαι piomai is without tense sign, probably like the present in the futuristic sense (Robertson, Grammar, p. 354). Westcott and Hort put a different accent on the future, but the old Greek had no accent. The old Greek had εκχευσω ekcheusō This verb means to pour out. Of my Spirit (απο του πνευματος apo tou pneumatos). This use of απο apo (of) is either because of the variety in the manifestations of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) or because the Spirit in his entirety remains with God (Holtzmann, Wendt). But the Hebrew has it: “I will pour out my Spirit” without the partitive idea in the lxx. And your daughters Anna is called a prophetess in Luke 2:36 and the daughters of Philip prophesy (Acts 21:9) and Acts 2:18 (handmaidens). See also 1 Corinthians 11:5 Visions (ορασεις horaseis). Late word for the more common οραμα horama both from οραω horaō to see. In Revelation 4:3 it means appearance, but in Revelation 9:17 as here an ecstatic revelation or vision. Dream dreams Shall dream with (instrumental case) dreams. First future passive of ενυπνιαζω enupniaz from ενυπνιος enupnios Intensive particle γε ge added to και kai (and), an emphatic addition (=Hebrew vegam). Servants Slaves, actual slaves of men. The humblest classes will receive the Spirit of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). But the word “prophesy” here is not in the lxx (or the Hebrew). [source]
Acts 2:17And your daughters [και αι τυγατερες μων] Anna is called a prophetess in Luke 2:36 and the daughters of Philip prophesy (Acts 21:9) and Acts 2:18 (handmaidens). See also 1 Corinthians 11:5 Visions (ορασεις horaseis). Late word for the more common οραμα horama both from οραω horaō to see. In Revelation 4:3 it means appearance, but in Revelation 9:17 as here an ecstatic revelation or vision. Dream dreams Shall dream with (instrumental case) dreams. First future passive of ενυπνιαζω enupniaz from ενυπνιος enupnios Intensive particle γε ge added to και kai (and), an emphatic addition (=Hebrew vegam). Servants Slaves, actual slaves of men. The humblest classes will receive the Spirit of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). But the word “prophesy” here is not in the lxx (or the Hebrew). [source]
Revelation 2:20The woman Jezebel [την γυναικα Ιεζαβελ] Symbolical name for some prominent woman in the church in Thyatira, like the infamous wife of Ahab who was guilty of whoredom and witchcraft (1 Kings 16:31; 2 Kings 9:22) and who sought to drive out the worship of God from Israel. Some MSS. here (A Q 40 min.s) have σου sou (thy wife, thy woman Ramsay makes it), but surely Aleph C P rightly reject σου sou Otherwise she is the pastor‘s wife!Which calleth herself a prophetess (η λεγουσα εαυτην προπητιν hē legousa heautēn prophētin). Nominative articular participle of λεγω legō in apposition with the accusative γυναικα gunaika like ο μαρτυς ho martus in apposition with Αντιπας Antipas in Revelation 2:13. Προπητις Prophētis is an old word, feminine form for προπητης prophētēs in N.T. only here and Luke 2:36 (Anna), two extremes surely. See Acts 21:9 for the daughters of Philip who prophesied.And she teacheth and seduceth A resolution of the participles (διδασκουσα και πλανωσα didaskousa kai planōsa) into finite verbs (present active indicatives) as in Revelation 1:5. This woman was not a real prophetess, but a false one with loud claims and loose living. One is puzzled to know how such a woman had so much shrewdness and sex-appeal as to lead astray the servants of God in that church. The church tolerated the Nicolaitans and this leader whose primary object was sexual immorality (Charles) and became too much involved with her to handle the heresy. [source]
Revelation 2:20Which calleth herself a prophetess [η λεγουσα εαυτην προπητιν] Nominative articular participle of λεγω legō in apposition with the accusative γυναικα gunaika like ο μαρτυς ho martus in apposition with Αντιπας Antipas in Revelation 2:13. Προπητις Prophētis is an old word, feminine form for προπητης prophētēs in N.T. only here and Luke 2:36 (Anna), two extremes surely. See Acts 21:9 for the daughters of Philip who prophesied. [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 21:9 mean?
With this [man]nowthere weredaughtersfourvirginsprophesying
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: προφητεύω
Sense: to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, to predict.
Greek Commentary for Acts 21:9
Not necessarily an “order” of virgins, but Philip had the honour of having in his home four virgin daughters with the gift of prophecy which was not necessarily predicting events, though that was done as by Agabus here. It was more than ordinary preaching (cf. Acts 19:6) and was put by Paul above the other gifts like tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-33). The prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28.) about their sons and daughters prophesying is quoted by Peter and applied to the events on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17). Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:5 gives directions about praying and prophesying by the women (apparently in public worship) with the head uncovered and sharply requires the head covering, though not forbidding the praying and prophesying. With this must be compared his demand for silence by the women in 1 Corinthians 14:34-40; 1 Timothy 2:8-15 which it is not easy to reconcile. One wonders if there was not something known to Paul about special conditions in Corinth and Ephesus that he has not told. There was also Anna the prophetess in the temple (Luke 2:36) besides the inspired hymns of Elizabeth (Luke 1:42-45) and of Mary (Luke 1:46-55). At any rate there was no order of women prophets or official ministers. There were Old Testament prophetesses like Miriam, Deborah, Huldah. Today in our Sunday schools the women do most of the actual teaching. The whole problem is difficult and calls for restraint and reverence. One thing is certain and that is that Luke appreciated the services of women for Christ as is shown often in his writings (Luke 8:1-3, for instance) before this incident. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 21:9
Future active indicative of εκχεω ekcheō This future like εδομαι edomai and πιομαι piomai is without tense sign, probably like the present in the futuristic sense (Robertson, Grammar, p. 354). Westcott and Hort put a different accent on the future, but the old Greek had no accent. The old Greek had εκχευσω ekcheusō This verb means to pour out. Of my Spirit (απο του πνευματος apo tou pneumatos). This use of απο apo (of) is either because of the variety in the manifestations of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) or because the Spirit in his entirety remains with God (Holtzmann, Wendt). But the Hebrew has it: “I will pour out my Spirit” without the partitive idea in the lxx. And your daughters Anna is called a prophetess in Luke 2:36 and the daughters of Philip prophesy (Acts 21:9) and Acts 2:18 (handmaidens). See also 1 Corinthians 11:5 Visions (ορασεις horaseis). Late word for the more common οραμα horama both from οραω horaō to see. In Revelation 4:3 it means appearance, but in Revelation 9:17 as here an ecstatic revelation or vision. Dream dreams Shall dream with (instrumental case) dreams. First future passive of ενυπνιαζω enupniaz from ενυπνιος enupnios Intensive particle γε ge added to και kai (and), an emphatic addition (=Hebrew vegam). Servants Slaves, actual slaves of men. The humblest classes will receive the Spirit of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). But the word “prophesy” here is not in the lxx (or the Hebrew). [source]
Anna is called a prophetess in Luke 2:36 and the daughters of Philip prophesy (Acts 21:9) and Acts 2:18 (handmaidens). See also 1 Corinthians 11:5 Visions (ορασεις horaseis). Late word for the more common οραμα horama both from οραω horaō to see. In Revelation 4:3 it means appearance, but in Revelation 9:17 as here an ecstatic revelation or vision. Dream dreams Shall dream with (instrumental case) dreams. First future passive of ενυπνιαζω enupniaz from ενυπνιος enupnios Intensive particle γε ge added to και kai (and), an emphatic addition (=Hebrew vegam). Servants Slaves, actual slaves of men. The humblest classes will receive the Spirit of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). But the word “prophesy” here is not in the lxx (or the Hebrew). [source]
See Acts 22:4; Acts 21:9. [source]
Symbolical name for some prominent woman in the church in Thyatira, like the infamous wife of Ahab who was guilty of whoredom and witchcraft (1 Kings 16:31; 2 Kings 9:22) and who sought to drive out the worship of God from Israel. Some MSS. here (A Q 40 min.s) have σου sou (thy wife, thy woman Ramsay makes it), but surely Aleph C P rightly reject σου sou Otherwise she is the pastor‘s wife!Which calleth herself a prophetess (η λεγουσα εαυτην προπητιν hē legousa heautēn prophētin). Nominative articular participle of λεγω legō in apposition with the accusative γυναικα gunaika like ο μαρτυς ho martus in apposition with Αντιπας Antipas in Revelation 2:13. Προπητις Prophētis is an old word, feminine form for προπητης prophētēs in N.T. only here and Luke 2:36 (Anna), two extremes surely. See Acts 21:9 for the daughters of Philip who prophesied.And she teacheth and seduceth A resolution of the participles (διδασκουσα και πλανωσα didaskousa kai planōsa) into finite verbs (present active indicatives) as in Revelation 1:5. This woman was not a real prophetess, but a false one with loud claims and loose living. One is puzzled to know how such a woman had so much shrewdness and sex-appeal as to lead astray the servants of God in that church. The church tolerated the Nicolaitans and this leader whose primary object was sexual immorality (Charles) and became too much involved with her to handle the heresy. [source]
Nominative articular participle of λεγω legō in apposition with the accusative γυναικα gunaika like ο μαρτυς ho martus in apposition with Αντιπας Antipas in Revelation 2:13. Προπητις Prophētis is an old word, feminine form for προπητης prophētēs in N.T. only here and Luke 2:36 (Anna), two extremes surely. See Acts 21:9 for the daughters of Philip who prophesied. [source]