Acts 21:12

12 Which when we had heard, both we and they that were of that place desired him that he would not go up to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 21:12

And when we heard these things
These prophecies, concerning the binding of the apostle by the Jews, and the delivery of him to the Romans, and saw the symbolical representations of these things:

both we;
the companions of the apostle, Luke and the rest:

and they of that place;
of Caesarea, Philip and his daughters, and the disciples that lived there:

besought him not to go up to Jerusalem;
which was an instance of weakness in them, though an expression of their affection to the apostle; in the disciples of Caesarea it might arise from pure love to him, and a concern for his safety, and the continuance of his useful life; and in his companions it might be owing partly to their sincere love to him, and partly to the fear of danger which they themselves might conclude they should be exposed to; and this request was made with tears, as is evident from what follows.

Acts 21:12 In-Context

10 And as we tarried there for some days, there came from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 Who, when he was come to us, took Paul’s girdle: and binding his own feet and hands, he said: Thus saith the Holy Ghost: The man whose girdle this is, the Jews shall bind in this manner in Jerusalem and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 Which when we had heard, both we and they that were of that place desired him that he would not go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered and said: What do you mean, weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but to die also in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when we could not persuade him, we ceased, saying: The will of the Lord be done.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.