Acts 21:11

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.

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.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
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.
WEB
Coming to us and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him 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.
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.
BLB
And having come to us and having taken Paul’s belt, having bound his feet and hands, he said, “Thus the Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man whose belt this is, and they will deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
ÅB
han kom til oss og tok Paulus' belte og bandt seg selv på hender og føtter og sa: Så sier den Hellige Ånd: Den mann som eier dette belte, ham skal jødene binde slik i Jerusalem og overgi i hedningenes hender.
OTB
Han kom til oss, tok Paulus' belte, og bandt sine egne føtter og hender, og sa: "Den Hellige Ånd sier: 'På denne måten vil jødene i Jerusalem binde mannen som eier dette beltet og overgi ham til hedningene.'"
B1930
han kom til oss og tok Paulus' belte og bandt sig selv på hender og føtter og sa: Så sier den Hellige Ånd: Den mann som eier dette belte, ham skal jødene binde således i Jerusalem og overgi i hedningenes hender.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 21:33

    Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 13:1–11

    Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 15:27–28

    And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 24:19–25

    And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 11:29–31

    And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 22:11

    And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 19:10–11

    Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,

    Read in context
  • Acts 20:23

    Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

    Read in context