King James Version
What Does Acts 21:20 Mean?
“And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:”
Context
18
And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21
And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
Topics in This Verse
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(20) **They glorified the Lord.**—The better MSS. give, “they glorified God.” The tense implies continued action, and although its meaning would be satisfied by assuming mere ejaculations of wonder and praise, it is, at least, not improbable that there was a more formal thanksgiving.
**How many thousands of Jews there are which believe.**—Literally, *how many myriads*—*i.e.,* tens of thousands. The numbers seem large if we think of the population of Jerusalem only, but the crowds that came from all quarters to the Feast of Pentecost (see Note on Acts 2:1) would fully justify the statement. The speaker here is obviously St. James, as the president of the assembly. There is no trace of the presence of any of the Apostles.
**They are all zealous of the law.**—Better, the word being a substantive and not an adjective, *zealots for the law.* The term was an almost technical one for the most rigid class of Pharisees. (See Note on Simon the Canaanite, Matthew 10:4.) So St. Paul describes himself as in this sense a “zealot” (Acts 22:3; Galatians 1:14).
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Acts 21:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Acts 21:20
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge