Acts 20:37

37 And great weeping of all men was made; and they felled on the neck of Paul, and kissed him,

Acts 20:37 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 20:37

And they all wept sore
At the thoughts of parting with such a faithful and affectionate friend and servant of Christ; and no doubt but their affections were greatly moved by his prayers for them, as well as by his discourse to them. Christians are not Stoics, religion does not take away and destroy the natural affections, but regulates and governs them, and directs to a right use of them:

and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him;
as Esau fell on Jacob's neck and kissed him, ( Genesis 33:4 ) and Joseph on his brother Benjamin's, and his father Jacob's, ( Genesis 45:14 ) ( 46:29 ) . And it was usual with the eastern nations, particularly the Persians ^F12, for friends and relations to kiss at parting, as well as at meeting; see ( Ruth 1:9 Ruth 1:14 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Xenophon. Cyclopedia, l. 1. c. 20.

Acts 20:37 In-Context

35 All these things I showed to you, for so it behooveth men travailing to receive frail men [to receive the sick], and to have mind of the word of the Lord Jesus; for he said, It is more blessful to give, than to receive [for he said, It is more blessed to give, more than to receive].

36 And when he had said these things, he kneeled, and prayed with all them.

37 And great weeping of all men was made; and they felled on the neck of Paul, and kissed him,

38 and sorrowed most in the word that he said, for they shall no more see his face [+sorrowing most in the word that he said, for they should no more see his face]. And they led him to the ship.