Acts - 20:8



8 There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Acts 20:8.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
And there were a great number of lamps in the upper chamber where we were assembled.
And there were many lights in the upper room where we were assembled.
and there were many lamps in the upper chamber where they were gathered together,
Now there were a good many lamps in the room upstairs where we all were,
And there were a number of lights in the room where we had come together.
Now there were plenty of lamps in the upper room, where we were gathered.
There were a good many lamps in the upstairs room, where we had met;

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And there were many lights - Why this circumstance is mentioned is not apparent. It, however, meets one of the slanders of the early enemies of Christianity, that the Christians in their assemblies were accustomed to extinguish all the lights, and to commit every kind of abomination. Perhaps the mention of many lights here is designed to intimate that it was a place of public worship, as not only the Jews, but the Gentiles were accustomed to have many lights burning in such places.
In the upper chamber - See the notes on Acts 1:13.

Upper chamber - It was in an upper chamber in the temple that the primitive disciples were accustomed to meet: on that account, they might have preferred an upper chamber whenever they could meet with it. The pious Quesnel supposes that the smoke, issuing from the many lamps in this upper chamber, was the cause of Eutychus falling asleep; and this, he says, the apostle mentions, in charity, to excuse the young man's appearing negligent.

(4) And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
(4) The devil, taking care to trouble the Church with a great offence, gives Paul a singular occasion to confirm the Gospel

And there were many lights in the upper chamber,.... Which were lighted up, both for necessary uses, to see by, to read the word, and to administer the ordinance of the supper, and for the comfort and pleasure of the whole company, both preacher and hearers; as well as to remove all ground of suspicion, or occasion of reproach, as if it was a midnight society met for wicked practices: but this no ways countenances the use of lamps and wax candies in the daytime at divine worship, since this was in the night; of the upper chamber, in which it was usual to meet for religious exercises, see Mark 2:4, where they were gathered together; the Alexandrian copy, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions read, "where we were gathered together".

there were many lights in the upper chamber--not a mere piece of graphic detail by an eye-witness [HACKETT, HOWSON], but mentioned, probably, as increasing the heat and contributing to drowsiness [WEBSTER and WILKINSON], as the next clause seems to show.

There were many lamps in the room where they were assembled - To prevent any possible scandal.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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