Acts 20:16 Meaning and Explanation
“For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul deliberately sails past Ephesus to avoid losing time in Asia, pressing to reach Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost.
What Does Acts 20:16 Mean?
A stop in Ephesus, after three years of ministry there, could never have been brief; love would not have let him go quickly. So Paul chooses the harder mercy of passing his friends by, hurrying to stand in Jerusalem at the feast with the churches' offering in hand (24:17).
Pentecost was the harvest feast on which the Spirit had been poured out (Acts 2:1), and Paul wanted Jerusalem to receive the Gentile churches' gift on that day of firstfruits. A purposeful life must sometimes sail past good things to keep a God-given appointment. Like his Lord, Paul has set his face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).
Acts 20:16 in the Original Language
pentekoste (πεντηκοστή), 'Pentecost' -- the fiftieth day, the harvest feast counted fifty days from Passover.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 20:16
What does Acts 20:16 mean?
Paul deliberately sails past Ephesus to avoid losing time in Asia, pressing to reach Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost.