Acts 20:23

Acts 20:23

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

1. “Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city…”

a. witnesseth [1263 * diamartyromai][Thayer: to testify, earnestly, religiously to charge, to attest, testify to, solemnly affirm, to give solemn testimony to one, to confirm a thing by testimony, to testify, cause it to be believed.]

b. Although this is the first instance we hear of it, Luke records that Paul said that the Spirit of God “witnesseth’ in every city probably to all of Paul’s company, and probably at least since he decided to sail to Syria in Acts 20:3. In what forms the witnessing took we don’t know. Later in the journey there are at least three instances of prophetic utterances, two of which were specifically given to Paul. They were perhaps similar to the one he received in Caesarea through the prophet Agabus.

1). Acts 21:10, 11  And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea 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.

2.  “…saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”

a. This of course was fulfilled and resulted in his two year confinement at Caesarea and then the dangerous journey to Rome and confinement at Rome.