Acts 16:3

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τοῦτον ἠθέλησεν ὁ Παῦλος σὺν αὐτῷ ἐξελθεῖν· καὶ λαβὼν περιέτεμεν αὐτόν διὰ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς τόποις ἐκείνοις: ᾔδεισαν γὰρ ἅπαντες τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ ὅτι Ἕλλην ὑπῆρχεν.

Transliteration

This one ēthelēsen the Paulos with him exelthein; and labōn perietemen him dia the Ioudaious the ontas in the topois those: ēdeisan for hapantes the father of him that Hellēn hypērchen.

Grammar Details

*ēthelēsen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - wanted/wished/desired
*Paulos*: nominative, masculine, singular - Paul
*exelthein*: aorist active infinitive - to go out/depart
*labōn*: aorist active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having taken
*perietemen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - circumcised
*dia*: preposition with accusative - because of/on account of
*Ioudaious*: accusative, masculine, plural - Jews
*ontas*: present active participle, accusative, masculine, plural - being/who were
*topois*: dative, masculine, plural - places/regions
*ēdeisan*: pluperfect active indicative, 3rd plural - had known
*hapantes*: nominative, masculine, plural - all
*Hellēn*: nominative, masculine, singular - Greek
*hypērchen*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular - was/existed

Word Meanings

*ēthelēsen*: wanted/wished/desired
*exelthein*: to go out/depart/leave
*perietemen*: circumcised/performed circumcision on
*Ioudaious*: Jews/Jewish people
*topois*: places/regions/localities
*hypērchen*: was/existed/was actually

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Gal 2:3 : 3 But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Gal 5:6 : 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.
Gal 2:8 : 8 (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);
Gal 5:1-3 : 1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Acts 15:20 : 20 but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:37 : 37 And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.
Acts 15:40 : 40 but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
1 Cor 7:19 : 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1 Cor 9:20 : 20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Gal 2:3-4
2 verses
78%
3But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Acts 16:1-2
2 verses
74%
1And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a {G5100} {G1135} Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.
2The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Gal 6:12-13
2 verses
74%
12As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Acts 16:4
72%
4And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.
Acts 21:21
72%
21and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake {G575} Moses, telling them {G4059} not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs.
Acts 9:30
71%
30And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Acts 15:1-2
2 verses
71%
1And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except {G3361} ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 11:2-3
2 verses
71%
2And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3saying, Thou wentest in to men {G2192} uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
Gal 2:12
71%
12For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:7-10
4 verses
71%
7but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with [the gospel] of the circumcision
8(for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);
9and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;
10only [they would] that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.
Acts 21:29
71%
29For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.
Acts 18:18-19
2 verses
71%
18And Paul, having tarried after this yet many days, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila: having shorn his head in Cenchreae; for he had a vow.
19And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 15:5
71%
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 18:3-5
3 verses
70%
3and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue {G2596} every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5But when {G5037} Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 18:27
70%
27And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace;
Gal 1:15-16
2 verses
70%
15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, [even] from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace,
16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Acts 28:17
70%
17And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:
2 Cor 1:16
70%
16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea.
Acts 15:24
70%
24Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
3 John 1:7
69%
7because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
Rom 2:28-29
2 verses
69%
28For he is not a Jew who is one {G1722} outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:
29but he is a Jew who is one {G1722} inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Gal 5:3
69%
3Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Acts 14:6
69%
6they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:
Phil 3:5
69%
5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Acts 17:1
69%
1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
Acts 21:12
69%
12And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 20:2
69%
2And when he had gone through those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.
Acts 14:1
69%
1And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered {G846} together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
Phil 3:3
69%
3for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:
Eph 3:1
69%
1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,—
Acts 15:19
69%
19Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;
Acts 22:19
69%
19And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I {G2252} imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
Phlm 1:13
69%
13whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
Rom 15:8
68%
8For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises [given] unto the fathers,
Gal 2:14
68%
14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Phil 2:22
68%
22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child [serveth] a father, [so] he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.
Acts 16:10
68%
10And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.