SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:15

Paragraph 21:15–16

21:15

After these days: The phrase these days refers generally to the time Paul and his companions were staying in Philip’s house and Agabus arrived and prophesied. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

After that time
-or-
shortly afterward (New Living Translation (1996))

we packed up: This phrase indicates that they prepared to travel by land to Jerusalem. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

we got our things ready (Good News Translation)
-or-
we made our preparations (New Jerusalem Bible)

went on to Jerusalem: The Greek verb indicates a period of time for this event or the beginning of this event. From Caesarea to Jerusalem is about 120 kilometers (75 miles). Jerusalem is in the mountains at about 760 meters (or 2,500 feet) in elevation. Caesarea is on the seacoast. It probably took two or three days to travel. They may have walked. The Greek verb here may imply that they prepared to ride horses or put their things on donkeys. Even on horses, it would still take at least two days. For example:

left for Jerusalem (Good News Translation)
-or-
started on our way to Jerusalem (New Century Version)

See how you translated a similar phrase in 15:2 (“go up to Jerusalem”).

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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