Actes 20:37

37 Alors tous fondirent en larmes, et se jetant au cou de Paul, ils le baisaient,

Actes 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.

Actes 20:37 In-Context

35 Je vous ai montré en toutes choses, que c'est ainsi qu'en travaillant, il faut secourir les faibles, et se souvenir des paroles du Seigneur Jésus, qui a dit lui-même: Il y a plus de bonheur à donner qu'à recevoir.

36 Quand il eut dit cela, il se mit à genoux, et pria avec eux tous.

37 Alors tous fondirent en larmes, et se jetant au cou de Paul, ils le baisaient,

38 Affligés principalement de ce qu'il avait dit, qu'ils ne verraient plus son visage. Et ils le conduisirent jusqu'au vaisseau.