Acts 19:21 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →With the work established, Paul resolves to pass through Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem, saying that afterward he must also see Rome.
What Does Acts 19:21 Mean?
A hinge in the whole book: from this verse the story bends toward Jerusalem and then Rome, exactly as Paul here purposes. He plans to revisit the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, gathering their offering for the poor saints at Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-26; 1 Cor 16:1-5), before setting his face toward the capital of the world.
"I must also see Rome" is not wanderlust but calling; Paul's life runs on divine necessity. God will grant the desire, though the road leads through arrest, trials, and shipwreck (Acts 23:11; 28:14). The Lord's purposes are sure even when the route is strange, and they arrive on time by roads we would never choose.
Acts 19:21 in the Original Language
dei (δεῖ), 'must' -- it is necessary; the word of divine purpose that runs through Luke's writings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 19:21
What does Acts 19:21 mean?
With the work established, Paul resolves to pass through Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem, saying that afterward he must also see Rome.