Acts 18:21
 
Acts 18:21
(KJV) But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
(1611 KJV) But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all meanes keepe this feast that commeth, in Hierusalem; but I will returne againe vnto you, if God will: and he sailed from Ephesus.
(1587 Geneva Bible) But bade the farewel, saying, I must needes keepe this feast that commeth, in Hierusalem: but I will returne againe vnto you, if God will. So he sailed from Ephesus.
(1526 Tyndale) but bad the fare well sayinge. I must nedes at this feast that cometh be in Ierusalem: but I will returne agayne vnto you yf God will. And he departed from Ephesus
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
(NIV) But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.
(NASV) but taking leave of them and saying, "I will return to you again if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus.
(THE MESSAGE) but he said he couldn't. But after saying good-bye, he promised, "I'll be back, God willing."
(AMP) But when he was leaving them he said, I will return to you if God is willing, and he set sail from Ephesus.
(NLT) As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
(ESV) But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.
(CEV) He told them good-by and said, "If God lets me, I will come back."
(NCV) But as he left, he said, "I will come back to you again if God wants me to." And so he sailed away from Ephesus.
(1901 ASV) but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.
(HCSB) but said good-bye and stated, "I'll come back to you again, if God wills." Then he set sail from Ephesus.
(RSV) but on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) but as he said farewell he promised, "I shall come back to you again, God willing." Then he set sail from Ephesus.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) but said good-bye and told them: “I will return to YOU again, if Jehovah is willing.” And he put out to sea from Eph´e·sus
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
all apetaxato autoiV eipwn dei me pantwV thn eorthn thn ercomenhn poihsai eiV ierosoluma palin de anakamyw proV umaV tou qeou qelontoV kai anhcqh apo thV ejesou
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
alla apotaxamenoV kai eipwn palin anakamyw proV umaV tou qeou qelontoV anhcqh apo thV ejesou
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
E 08 - Sixth century
33 (Miniscule) - Ninth Century
P 74 - Seventh Century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
Psi 044 - Eight/Ninth/ century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem”
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text 1982 as corrected in 1985
 
Affected Teaching
This verse shows the missionary heart of Paul. He was not required to keep the feast, which would have been the Passover, because he was under grace. He wanted to keep the feast because he knew there would be a vast number of people in attendance which would constitute a great opportunity for evangelizing the true Gospel. The modern versions leave out this part which is the reason the Apostle Paul left Ephesus and stated he would be back if God wills. The modern versions just have him leaving for no reason. The King James teaches us that Paul left for the purpose of taking advantage of a great opportunity to bring the true Gospel to those Jews who were still in bondage under the law. Once again the modern versions truncate the heart of a verse and leave the readers wondering, if they wonder at all why Paul left. This verse is a great example for the believer that we are to take advantage of as many opportunities as we can to bring the true Gospel.

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