Acts 18:20
 Acts 18:20 
New International Version (©2011)
When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined.

New Living Translation (©2007)
They asked him to stay longer, but he declined.

English Standard Version (©2001)
When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
And though they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined,

International Standard Version (©2012)
They asked him to stay longer, but he refused.

NET Bible (©2006)
When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And they were asking him to tarry with them, and he did not consent,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The Jews asked him to stay longer, but he refused.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
When they desired him to tarry a longer time with them, he consented not;

American King James Version
When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

American Standard Version
And when they asked him to abide a longer time, he consented not;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they desired him, that he would tarry a longer time, he consented not;

Darby Bible Translation
And when they asked him that he would remain for a longer time with them he did not accede,

English Revised Version
And when they asked him to abide a longer time, he consented not;

Webster's Bible Translation
When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not:

Weymouth New Testament
When they asked him to remain longer he did not consent,

World English Bible
When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;

Young's Literal Translation
and they having requested him to remain a longer time with them, he did not consent,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

18:18-23 While Paul found he laboured not in vain, he continued labouring. Our times are in God's hand; we purpose, but he disposes; therefore we must make all promises with submission to the will of God; not only if providence permits, but if God does not otherwise direct our motions. A very good refreshment it is to a faithful minister, to have for awhile the society of his brethren. Disciples are compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do what they can to strengthen them, by directing them to Christ, who is their Strength. Let us earnestly seek, in our several places, to promote the cause of Christ, forming plans that appear to us most proper, but relying on the Lord to bring them to pass if he sees good.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - And when they asked for when they desired, A.V.; abide a for tarry, A.V.; time for time with them, A.V. He consented not; οὐκ ἐπένευσεν, only here in the New Testament, but found in Proverbs 26:20; 2 Macc. 4:10, etc., and frequently in medical writers; literally, to bend the head forward by the proper muscles (Hobart).


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

When they desired him to tarry longer time with them,.... Either Aquila and Priscilla, whom he left here, for here they were, as is certain from

Acts 18:24,26 or rather the Jews with whom he reasoned, who might be desirous of further conference with him, upon the subject they had disputed about; either in order to gain more knowledge, or in hopes of baffling and confounding him:

he consented not; for a reason afterwards given.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. when they desired him to tarry—The Jews seldom rose against the Gospel till the successful preaching of it stirred them up, and there was no time for that here.


Acts 18:20 Parallel Commentaries

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Paul Returns to Antioch
18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brothers, and sailed there into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

Acts 18:19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.