Acts 20:37

37 And they all wept sore; and falling upon the neck of Paul they ardently 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.

Acts 20:37 In-Context

35 I have shewed you all things, that thus labouring [we] ought to come in aid of the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

36 And having said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept sore; and falling upon the neck of Paul they ardently kissed him,

38 specially pained by the word which he had said, that they would no more see his face. And they went down with him to the ship.

Footnotes

• [a]. 'Covered with kisses,' as Luke 15.20.