20:38a–b

They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again: The phrase his statement that introduces indirect speech. Some languages usually have direct speech. For example:

he had said, “You will never see my face again.”

20:38a

They were especially grieved by: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grieved means to experience pain. When Paul told the elders that they would not see him again, they experienced emotional pain and grief. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

sorrowing most of all because of (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
grieving especially about
-or-
hurt them most of all (God’s Word)
-or-
What really made their hearts sad were

20:38b

they would never see his face again: The phrase see his face is a Hebrew idiom that means “see him.” For example:

they would never see him again (Good News Translation)

See how you translated similar words in 20:25 (“see my face”).

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