Acts 11:28
New International Version
One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)

New Living Translation
One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.)

English Standard Version
And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).

Berean Standard Bible
One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)

Berean Literal Bible
And one of them named Agabus, having risen up, signified by the Spirit that a great famine is about to be over the whole world--which came to pass under Claudius.

King James Bible
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

New King James Version
Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

New American Standard Bible
One of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

NASB 1995
One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

NASB 1977
And one of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

Legacy Standard Bible
And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

Amplified Bible
One of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the [Holy] Spirit that a severe famine would come on the entire world. And this did happen during the reign of Claudius.

Christian Standard Bible
One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius.

American Standard Version
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.

Contemporary English Version
One of them was Agabus. Then with the help of the Spirit, he told that there would be a terrible famine everywhere in the world. And it happened when Claudius was Emperor.

English Revised Version
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One of them was named Agabus. Through the Spirit Agabus predicted that a severe famine would affect the entire world. This happened while Claudius was emperor.

Good News Translation
One of them, named Agabus, stood up and by the power of the Spirit predicted that a severe famine was about to come over all the earth. (It came when Claudius was emperor.)

International Standard Version
One of them named Agabus got up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world. This happened during the reign of Claudius.

Majority Standard Bible
One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius Caesar.)

NET Bible
One of them, named Agabus, got up and predicted by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world. (This took place during the reign of Claudius.)

New Heart English Bible
One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar.

Weymouth New Testament
one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)

World English Bible
One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and one of them, by name Agabus, having stood up, signified through the Spirit a great scarcity is about to be throughout all the world—which also came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar—

Berean Literal Bible
And one of them named Agabus, having risen up, signified by the Spirit that a great famine is about to be over the whole world--which came to pass under Claudius.

Young's Literal Translation
and one of them, by name Agabus, having stood up, did signify through the Spirit a great dearth is about to be throughout all the world -- which also came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar --

Smith's Literal Translation
And one of them having risen, Agabus by name, signified by the Holy Spirit a great famine was about to be upon the whole habitable globe: which was during Claudius Caesar.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit, that there should be a great famine over the whole world, which came to pass under Claudius.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And one of them, named Agabus, rising up, signified through the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine over the entire world, which did happen under Claudius.

New American Bible
and one of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world, and it happened under Claudius.

New Revised Standard Version
One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And one of them, named Ag’a-bus, stood up and foretold by the spirit, that a great famine was to come throughout the land: the famine which occurred in the days of Clau’di-us Cæ’sar.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And one of them stood up whose name was Agabus and instructed them by The Spirit that a great famine would occur in the whole land and that this famine would be in the days of Claudius Caesar.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And one of them, named Agabus, rose and made known, by the Spirit, that a great famine was about to come on the whole habitable land; which took place in the days of Claudius.

Godbey New Testament
And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.

Haweis New Testament
And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the spirit that a great famine was coming upon the whole habitable globe: which also came in the reign of Claudius C�sar.

Mace New Testament
and one of them named Agabus foretold by the spirit, that there should be a great famine, thro' all the world: which accordingly happen'd in the reign of Claudius Cesar.

Weymouth New Testament
one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)

Worrell New Testament
and one of them?Agabus by name?standing up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.

Worsley New Testament
And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and signified by the Spirit, that there would be a great famine over all the earth: which accordingly came to pass in the reign of Claudius Cesar.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Church at Antioch
27In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.) 29So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.…

Cross References
Acts 21:10-11
After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. / Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

Acts 2:17-18
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. / Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

Matthew 24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 4:25
But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.

1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

2 Kings 8:1
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.”

Genesis 41:30-31
but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land. / The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

Joel 2:28
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

2 Peter 1:21
For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 6:5-6
And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”

1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:29
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

Amos 8:11
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

Jeremiah 14:15
Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!

Ezekiel 4:16-17
Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. / So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity.


Treasury of Scripture

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Agabus.

Acts 21:10
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

great.

Genesis 41:30,31,38
And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; …

1 Kings 17:1-16
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word…

2 Kings 8:1,2
Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years…

Claudius.

Luke 2:1
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Luke 3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

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Agabus Ag'abus Caesar Cesar Claudius Dearth Earth Famine Food Foretold Great Indicate Indicated Inhabited Instructed Need Predicted Publicly Rose Serious Severe Signified Speedy Spirit Spread Stood Throughout Time World
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Acts 11
1. Peter, being accused for preaching to the Gentiles,
5. makes his defense;
18. which is accepted.
19. The gospel being spread in Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch,
22. Barnabas is sent to confirm them.
26. The disciples are first called Christians at Antioch.
27. They send relief to the brothers in Judea in time of famine.














One of them, named Agabus
Agabus is introduced as a prophet among the early Christians. His name, of Hebrew origin, means "locust," which could symbolize his role in bringing a message of impending hardship. Agabus is mentioned again in Acts 21:10, where he prophesies about Paul's imprisonment. His presence in the early church highlights the continuation of prophetic ministry from the Old Testament into the New Testament era, emphasizing the continuity of God's communication with His people.

stood up and predicted
The act of standing up signifies authority and the importance of the message being delivered. The Greek word for "predicted" is "ēnēngen," which implies a revelation or a bringing forth of knowledge that was previously hidden. This underscores the role of prophets as vessels through whom God reveals His plans and purposes, reminding believers of the divine guidance available through the Holy Spirit.

through the Spirit
This phrase emphasizes that Agabus's prophecy was not of human origin but was inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word "pneuma" for "Spirit" is the same used for the Holy Spirit throughout the New Testament, indicating the divine source of the prophecy. This highlights the early church's reliance on the Holy Spirit for direction and insight, a practice that continues to be vital for believers today.

a great famine
The prophecy of a "great famine" is significant as it foretells a natural disaster that would affect many. Historically, famines were common in the ancient world and often seen as acts of divine judgment or opportunities for God's people to demonstrate faith and compassion. The Greek word "limos" for "famine" suggests a severe scarcity of food, which would have had profound social and economic implications.

would sweep across the entire Roman world
The phrase "entire Roman world" refers to the widespread nature of the famine, affecting the vast territories under Roman control. The Greek term "oikoumenē" is used, which can mean the inhabited earth or the Roman Empire specifically. This highlights the interconnectedness of the ancient world and the potential for widespread impact from such events, reminding believers of the global nature of God's work and the church's mission.

(This happened during the reign of Claudius.)
The historical note about the reign of Claudius provides a timeframe for the prophecy's fulfillment, grounding the biblical narrative in real-world events. Claudius reigned from AD 41 to 54, and historical records, including those by Roman historians like Suetonius and Tacitus, confirm several famines during his rule. This historical accuracy reinforces the reliability of biblical prophecy and the sovereignty of God over history, encouraging believers to trust in His providence.

(28) There stood up one of them named Agabus.--The same prophet appears again in Acts 21:10 as coming down from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Nothing more is known of him. The prophecy of the "dearth" or "famine" was in part an echo of Matthew 24:7.

Throughout all the world.--Literally, the inhabited earth, used, as in Luke 2:1; Luke 4:5, and elsewhere in the New Testament, for the Roman empire.

Which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.--The reign of Caligula lasted from A.D. 37-41, that of Claudius from A.D. 41-54. The whole reign of the latter emperor was memorable for frequent famines (Suetonius, Claud. 28; Tacitus, Ann. xii. 43). Josephus (Ant. xx. 5) speaks of one as specially affecting Judaea and Syria, under the procuratorship of Cuspius Fadus, A.D. 45. The population of Jerusalem were reduced to great distress, and were chiefly relieved by the bounty of Helena, Queen of Adiabene, who sent in large supplies of corn, figs, and other articles of food. She was herself a proselyte to Judaism, and was the mother of Izates, whose probable conversion to the faith of Christ by Ananias of Damascus is mentioned in the Note on Acts 9:10. The title of "Caesar" is omitted in the better MSS. . . .

Verse 28. - A great famine for great dearth, A.V.; over for throughout, A.V.; Claudius for Claudius Caesar, A.V. and T.R. The world; ἡ οἰκουμένη, the inhabited earth, the common expression for the whole Roman empire. But the expression must be taken bore as hyperbolical, just as Josephus says that Ahab sent messengers to search for Elijah, κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν οικουμένην, where, of course, only the neighboring countries to Judaea can be meant, strictly speaking ('Ant. Jud.,'8. 13:4). But there is no evidence to show that ἡ οικουμένη, is ever a technical term for Judaea. See the use of the word by Luke (Luke 2:1; Luke 4:5; Luke 21:26; Acts 17:6, 31; Acts 19:27; Acts 24:5). In point of fact, the predicted famine, which began in the fourth year of Claudius Caesar (A.D. 44) and lasted till A.D. , fell upon Judea exclusively, as far as appears from Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' lit. 15:3; 20. 2:5, 5:2), and was very severe there. Ishmael was high priest at the time; and Helena, Queen of Adiahene, fetched large supplies of corn from Egypt and of figs from Cyprus to Jerusalem, to supply the wants of the people. Eusebius ('Eccl. Hist.,' 2:8) speaks of this famine as having prevailed "over the world," and as being recorded by authors hostile to Christianity, but mentions no names and gives no particulars ('Eccl. Hist.,' 2:8), but in the twelfth chapter of the same book he limits it to τὴν Ιουδαίαν, Judaea. There were several other historical famines in the reign of Claudius, but they can hardly be included in the prophecy of Agabus. The prophet Agabus is mentioned again in Acts 21:10, and again as coming from Judaea. Renan ascribes the poverty-stricken condition of the Jerusalem Christians to their communistic institutions.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
One
εἷς (heis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

of
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

them
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

named
ὀνόματι (onomati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

Agabus
Ἅγαβος (Hagabos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 13: Agabus, a Christian prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Agabus, an Israelite.

stood up
ἀναστὰς (anastas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 450: To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.

[and] predicted
ἐσήμανεν (esēmanen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4591: To signify, indicate, give a sign, make known. From sema; to indicate.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Spirit [that]
Πνεύματος (Pneumatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

a great
μεγάλην (megalēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

famine
λιμὸν (limon)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3042: A famine, hunger. Probably from leipo; a scarcity of food.

would
μέλλειν (mellein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.

sweep
ἔσεσθαι (esesthai)
Verb - Future Infinitive Middle
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

across
ἐφ’ (eph’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

entire
ὅλην (holēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

[ Roman ] world.
οἰκουμένην (oikoumenēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3625: Feminine participle present passive of oikeo; land, i.e. The globe; specially, the Roman empire.

([This]
ἥτις (hētis)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

happened
ἐγένετο (egeneto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

under
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

Claudius.)
Κλαυδίου (Klaudiou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2804: Of Latin origin; Claudius, the name of two Romans.


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