Acts 21:11
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.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 43
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐλθὼν
when he was come
G2064
ἐλθὼν
when he was come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
2 of 43
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
3 of 43
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 43
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἄρας
he took
G142
ἄρας
he took
Strong's:
G142
Word #:
6 of 43
to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Παύλου
Paul's
G3972
Παύλου
Paul's
Strong's:
G3972
Word #:
10 of 43
(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle
δήσουσιν
bind
G1210
δήσουσιν
bind
Strong's:
G1210
Word #:
11 of 43
to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
αὐτοῦ
G846
αὐτοῦ
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
13 of 43
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τὰς
G3588
τὰς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χεῖρας
hands
G5495
χεῖρας
hands
Strong's:
G5495
Word #:
15 of 43
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by hebraism) a means or instrument)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
16 of 43
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Τάδε
Thus
G3592
Τάδε
Thus
Strong's:
G3592
Word #:
20 of 43
the same, i.e., this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
λέγει
saith
G3004
λέγει
saith
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
21 of 43
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πνεῦμα
Ghost
G4151
πνεῦμα
Ghost
Strong's:
G4151
Word #:
23 of 43
a current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital prin
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
24 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἅγιον
the Holy
G40
ἅγιον
the Holy
Strong's:
G40
Word #:
25 of 43
sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
Τὸν
G3588
Τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὗ
that
G3739
οὗ
that
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
28 of 43
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
30 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὕτη
this
G3778
αὕτη
this
Strong's:
G3778
Word #:
32 of 43
the he (she or it), i.e., this or that (often with article repeated)
δήσουσιν
bind
G1210
δήσουσιν
bind
Strong's:
G1210
Word #:
34 of 43
to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
Ἰερουσαλὴμ
Jerusalem
G2419
Ἰερουσαλὴμ
Jerusalem
Strong's:
G2419
Word #:
36 of 43
hierusalem (i.e., jerushalem), the capitol of palestine
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
37 of 43
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
39 of 43
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παραδώσουσιν
shall deliver
G3860
παραδώσουσιν
shall deliver
Strong's:
G3860
Word #:
40 of 43
to surrender, i.e yield up, entrust, transmit
εἰς
him into
G1519
εἰς
him into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
41 of 43
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Cross References
Acts 21:33Then 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.Acts 20:23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.1 Kings 22:11And 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.
Historical Context
Symbolic prophetic acts were common in Hebrew tradition. The reference to 'the Gentiles' accurately predicted Paul's Roman custody, fulfilling Jesus's prophecy that Paul would testify before Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15).
Questions for Reflection
- How can you discern the essential message in prophetic warnings versus circumstantial details?
- What does Paul's response teach about continuing God's mission despite clear warnings of suffering?
Analysis & Commentary
Agabus's prophetic sign-act, binding his own hands and feet with Paul's belt, echoed Old Testament prophetic symbolism (compare Jeremiah 13:1-11, Ezekiel 4). The detailed prophecy - 'the Jews at Jerusalem shall bind the man' - proved remarkably accurate, though the Romans actually performed the arrest. This demonstrates how prophetic revelation conveys essential truth while details may unfold differently than expected.