The Meaning of Acts 21:11 Explained

Acts 21:11

KJV: And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

YLT: and he having come unto us, and having taken up the girdle of Paul, having bound also his own hands and feet, said, 'Thus saith the Holy Spirit, The man whose is this girdle -- so shall the Jews in Jerusalem bind, and they shall deliver him up to the hands of nations.'

Darby: and coming to us and taking the girdle of Paul, and having bound his own hands and feet, said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, The man whose this girdle is shall the Jews thus bind in Jerusalem, and deliver him up into the hands of the Gentiles.

ASV: And coming to us, and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when he was come  unto  us,  he took  Paul's  girdle,  and  bound  his own  hands  and  feet,  and said,  Thus  saith  the Holy  Ghost,  So  shall  the Jews  at  Jerusalem  bind  the man  that  owneth  this  girdle,  and  shall deliver  [him] into  the hands  of the Gentiles. 

What does Acts 21:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 21:1-14 - Ready To Die For His Lord
The vessel coasted along Asia Minor, sighted Cyprus, sailed to the south of it, and so finally to Tyre. There the disciples were poor and obscure, and it took searching to find them; but they were very warm-hearted, and the whole community, including the children, who never forgot that incident, accompanied Paul to his ship. As they neared the vessel they knelt on the shore to pray together, and so parted.
The journey from Ptolemais (Acre) to Caesarea lay along the edge of the plain of Sharon, at the season bright with the flowers of spring. The days Paul spent at Caesarea were the last happy days of freedom that he was to enjoy for two or three years. What blessed intercourse Paul and Philip must have had! They had both known Stephen. Agabus joined the happy party, with prophecies of peril ahead, but these only served to bring out the magnificent courage of the Apostle. His purpose was inflexible. An unseen hand was beckoning; a voice which only he could hear was calling. He had no doubt as to God's purpose, and went straight forward; though he was not insensible to the love and sympathy of friends. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 21

1  Paul calls at the house of Philip, whose daughters prophesy
10  Agabus, foretelling what should befall him at Jerusalem,
13  he will not be dissuaded from going thither
17  He comes to Jerusalem;
27  where he is apprehended, and in great danger, but by the chief captain is rescued;
37  and requests, and is permitted to speak to the people

Greek Commentary for Acts 21:11

Coming [ελτων]
Vivid use of three successive participles describing the dramatic action of Agabus. [source]
Paul‘s girdle [την ζωνην του Παυλου]
Old word from ζωννυμι — zōnnumi to gird. See note on Acts 12:8. His own feet and hands (εαυτου τους ποδας και τας χειρας — heautou tous podas kai tas cheiras). Basis for the interpretation. Old Testament prophets often employed symbolic deeds (1 Kings 22:11; James 2:2; Jeremiah 13:1-7; Ezekiel 4:1-6). Jesus interpreted the symbolism of Peter‘s girding himself (John 21:18). So As Agabus had bound himself. Agabus was just from Jerusalem and probably knew the feeling there against Paul. At any rate the Holy Spirit revealed it to him as he claims. Shall deliver (παραδωσουσιν — paradōsousin). Like the words of Jesus about himself (Matthew 20:19). He was “delivered” into the hands of the Gentiles and it took five years to get out of those hands. [source]
His own feet and hands [εαυτου τους ποδας και τας χειρας]
Basis for the interpretation. Old Testament prophets often employed symbolic deeds (1 Kings 22:11; James 2:2; Jeremiah 13:1-7; Ezekiel 4:1-6). Jesus interpreted the symbolism of Peter‘s girding himself (John 21:18). [source]
So [ουτως]
As Agabus had bound himself. Agabus was just from Jerusalem and probably knew the feeling there against Paul. At any rate the Holy Spirit revealed it to him as he claims. Shall deliver (παραδωσουσιν — paradōsousin). Like the words of Jesus about himself (Matthew 20:19). He was “delivered” into the hands of the Gentiles and it took five years to get out of those hands. [source]
Shall deliver [παραδωσουσιν]
Like the words of Jesus about himself (Matthew 20:19). He was “delivered” into the hands of the Gentiles and it took five years to get out of those hands. [source]
Bound his own feet and hands []
Imitating the symbolical acts of the Old Testament prophets. See 1 Kings 22:11; Isaiah 20:1-3; Jeremiah 13:1-7; Ezekiel 4:1-6. Compare John 21:18. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 21:11

Acts 20:23 Testifieth [διαμαρτύρεται]
The compound verb signifies full, clear testimony. Not by internal intimations of the Spirit, but by prophetic declarations “in every city.” Two of these are mentioned subsequently, at Tyre and Caesarea (Acts 21:4, Acts 21:11). [source]
Acts 21:33 Laid hold on him [επελαβετο αντου]
See same verb in Acts 21:30. To be bound (δετηναι — dethēnai). First aorist passive infinitive of δεω — de (see Acts 21:11). With two chains Instrumental case of αλυσις — halusis old word from α — a privative and λυω — luō (not loosing, i.e. chaining). With two chains as a violent and seditious person, probably leader of a band of assassins (Acts 21:38). See Mark 5:4. Inquired (epunthaneto). Imperfect middle of punthanomai old and common verb used mainly by Luke in the N.T. Lysias repeated his inquiries. Who he was Present active optative of πυντανομαι — eimi changed from τις ειη — estin (present indicative) in the indirect question, a change not obligatory after a past tense, but often done in the older Greek, rare in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1043f.). And what he had done (ειμι — kai tōi estin pepoiēkōs). Periphrastic perfect active indicative of εστιν — poieō here retained, not changed to the optative as is true of και τι εστιν πεποιηκως — eiē from ποιεω — estin in the same indirect question, illustrating well the freedom about it. [source]
Acts 21:33 To be bound [δετηναι]
First aorist passive infinitive of δεω — de (see Acts 21:11). [source]
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore [διο]
Probably this inferential conjunction The peril of apostasy as shown by the example of the Israelites is presented with vividness and power. As the Holy Ghost saith (εαν ακουσητε — kathōs legei to pneuma to hagion). Just this phrase nowhere else in the N.T., except Acts 21:11 (Agabus), though practically the same idea in Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:15. In 1 Timothy 4:1 the adjective “Holy” is wanting as in Rev 2; 3. But the writer quotes this Psalm as the Word of God and in Hebrews 4:7 attributes it to David. If ye shall hear (εαν — ean akousēte). Condition of third class with ακουω — ean and first aorist active subjunctive of akouō f0). [source]
James 4:13 Today or tomorrow [σημερον η αυριον]
Correct text (Aleph B), not και — kai (and).Into this city (εις τηνδε την πολιν — eis tēnde tēn polin). Old demonstrative οδε — hode rare in N.T. (Luke 10:39) save in neuter plural ταδε — tade (these things Acts 21:11). One would point out the city on the map (Mayor) as he made the proposal (we will go, πορευσομετα — poreusometha).And spend a year there Another future (active of ποιεω — poieō). “We will do a year there.”And trade (και εμπορευσομετα — kai emporeusometha). Future middle of εμπορευομαι — emporeuomai (εν πορευομαι — enεμπορος — poreuomai to go in), old verb from και κερδησομεν — emporos (a merchant or trader, a drummer, one going in and getting the trade, Matthew 13:45), a vivid picture of the Jewish merchants of the time.And get gain Future (Ionic form) active of κερδος — kerdainō old verb from kerdos (gain, Philemon 1:21), as in Matthew 16:26. [source]
James 4:13 Into this city [εις τηνδε την πολιν]
Old demonstrative οδε — hode rare in N.T. (Luke 10:39) save in neuter plural ταδε — tade (these things Acts 21:11). One would point out the city on the map (Mayor) as he made the proposal (we will go, πορευσομετα — poreusometha). [source]
Revelation 2:1 These things [ταδε]
This demonstrative seven times here, once with the message to each church (Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:18; Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:14), only once elsewhere in N.T. (Acts 21:11).He that holdeth (ο κρατων — ho kratōn). Present active articular participle of κρατεω — krateō a stronger word than εχων — echōn in Revelation 1:16, to which it refers.He that walketh Present active articular participle of περιπατεω — peripateō an allusion to Revelation 1:13. These two epithets are drawn from the picture of Christ in Revelation 1:13-18, and appropriately to conditions in Ephesus describe Christ‘s power over the churches as he moves among them. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 21:11 mean?

and having come to us having taken the belt - of Paul having bound of himself the feet the hands he said Thus says the Spirit - Holy The man of whom is the belt this in this way will bind in Jerusalem the Jews will deliver [him] into [the] hands of [the] Gentiles
καὶ ἐλθὼν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἄρας τὴν ζώνην τοῦ Παύλου δήσας ἑαυτοῦ τοὺς πόδας τὰς χεῖρας εἶπεν Τάδε λέγει τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον Τὸν ἄνδρα οὗ ἐστιν ζώνη αὕτη οὕτως δήσουσιν ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι παραδώσουσιν εἰς χεῖρας ἐθνῶν

ἐλθὼν  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἡμᾶς  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἄρας  having  taken 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: αἴρω  
Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up.
ζώνην  belt 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ζώνη  
Sense: a girdle, belt, serving not only to gird on flowing garments but also, since it was hollow, to carry money in.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Παύλου  of  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Παῦλος  
Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.
δήσας  having  bound 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δέω  
Sense: to bind tie, fasten.
ἑαυτοῦ  of  himself 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
πόδας  feet 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πούς  
Sense: a foot, both of men or beast.
χεῖρας  hands 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: χείρ  
Sense: by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.
εἶπεν  he  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Τάδε  Thus 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὅδε  
Sense: this one here, these things, as follows, thus.
λέγει  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Πνεῦμα  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἅγιον  Holy 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
ἄνδρα  man 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
οὗ  of  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ζώνη  belt 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ζώνη  
Sense: a girdle, belt, serving not only to gird on flowing garments but also, since it was hollow, to carry money in.
αὕτη  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
οὕτως  in  this  way 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
δήσουσιν  will  bind 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: δέω  
Sense: to bind tie, fasten.
Ἰερουσαλὴμ  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἰερουσαλήμ  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.
Ἰουδαῖοι  Jews 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰουδαῖος  
Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race.
παραδώσουσιν  will  deliver  [him] 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: παραδίδωμι  
Sense: to give into the hands (of another).
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
χεῖρας  [the]  hands 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: χείρ  
Sense: by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.
ἐθνῶν  of  [the]  Gentiles 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.