And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
And {G1161} the same man {G5129} had {G2258} four {G5064} daughters {G2364}, virgins {G3933}, which did prophesy {G4395}.
He had four unmarried daughters with the gift of prophecy.
He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: -
Revelation 2:20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. -
Joel 2:28
¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: -
Luke 2:36
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; -
Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. -
1 Corinthians 11:4
Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head. -
1 Corinthians 11:5
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
Context of Acts 21:9
This verse introduces us to the family of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven men chosen in Acts 6 to serve the early church. Paul and his companions, on their journey back to Jerusalem, were staying at Philip's house in Caesarea (Acts 21:8). Philip himself was a prominent figure, known for his powerful ministry in Samaria, where he preached the Gospel and performed miracles (Acts 8:5-8).
The mention of his daughters here provides a fascinating glimpse into the household life of an early church leader and the active participation of women in spiritual life within the nascent Christian community.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word translated "prophesy" is prophēteuō (προφητεύω). In the New Testament, prophecy is not exclusively about foretelling the future, though it can include that. More broadly, it refers to speaking forth the inspired message of God, often involving exhortation, edification, comfort, or revelation (1 Corinthians 14:3). It was a recognized and valued spiritual gift in the early Christian assemblies (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Practical Application
Acts 21:9 offers several important lessons for believers today: