What Does Acts 21:20 Mean in the King James?
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse places trust and zeal for instruction in the same community, showing how reliance on God can deepen attachment to what God teaches.
THE MEANING
The response gives the Lord weight, then recognizes thousands whose trust is joined with zeal for instruction. Trust and devoted attention to what God teaches belong in the same life.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that trusting God makes instruction irrelevant dissolves here: the verse names trust and zeal for instruction in the same people.
THE ROOT
πιστεύουσιν
pisteuousin
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust, reliance, and trustworthiness.
English “believe” can sound like assent to a claim; this word family also names trust and trustworthiness, the posture of leaning your full weight. The verse places that reliance beside active zeal for instruction, so trust here is joined with engaged practice.
ALSO GROWS
pístis: trust
πίστις
The related noun names the trust held by those who believe.
pistós: trustworthy, faithful
πιστός
The same family links trusting with reliability, giving “believe” a relational depth beyond agreement.
ζηλωταί
zēlōtai
GROWS FROM
ζηλ-
zēl-
Fervent ardor or emulation.
“zealous” in this verse is zēlōtai. The word names people marked by fervent attachment, not passive acceptance. In this verse, instruction is the focus of their ardor.
ALSO GROWS
zēlóō: to be zealous, to pursue with ardor
ζηλόω
The verb shows the active force behind the description of these people.
zēlos: zeal, ardor
ζῆλος
The related noun makes clear that their connection to instruction is an intense commitment.
νόμου
nomou
GROWS FROM
νομ-
nom-
Law, custom, and instruction as an ordering for life.
English “law” can sound like a bare code; νόμος (nomos) carries law, custom, and instruction together. The verse presents it as something toward which trusting people can feel deep devotion.
ALSO GROWS
nómimos: lawful, customary
νόμιμος
This related word describes what accords with the shared order named by νόμος (nomos).
ánomos: lawless, without law
ἄνομος
The negative form shows how the same word family names what stands outside that order.
THE PATTERN
God’s instruction can be cherished as a living guide by people who trust God.
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.THE THREAD
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.This verse uses the same Greek verb πιστεύω (pisteuō, trust) and the same word νόμος (nomos, instruction or law). Their pairing opens the tension beneath Acts 21:20: trust and zeal can appear together, while what people conclude from that zeal remains a separate question.
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