Acts 20:37 Meaning and Explanation
“And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The elders weep freely, embrace Paul, and kiss him in farewell.
What Does Acts 20:37 Mean?
Now the restraint breaks. Grown men — elders, shepherds of the church — weep aloud, falling on Paul's neck and kissing him again and again. Luke stood in that circle, and the scene is recorded by one who never forgot it.
The moment answers any notion that holiness is cold. Such tears grow only in shared years of word and work, and Scripture honors them: Joseph fell on his brothers' necks (Gen 45:14-15), and the father covered his returning son with kisses (Luke 15:20). The gospel does not thin human affection; it deepens it. We grieve partings in proportion to how well Christ has taught us to love.
Acts 20:37 in the Original Language
kataphileo (καταφιλέω), 'kissed' -- to kiss warmly and repeatedly; the word used of the father welcoming the prodigal son.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 20:37
What does Acts 20:37 mean?
The elders weep freely, embrace Paul, and kiss him in farewell.