Acts 20:37

37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.

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Acts 20:37 in Other Translations

KJV

37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

ESV

37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,

NLT

37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye.

MSG

37 And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go.

CSB

37 There was a great deal of weeping by everyone. And embracing Paul, they 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 ) .

FOOTNOTES:

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

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Acts 20:37 In-Context

35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.

38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.