Acts 20:23

except ¹  that the Holy Spirit warns ²  me in town after town ³  that ⁴  imprisonment ⁵  and persecutions ⁶  are waiting for me.

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.

I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead.

Only that the Holy Spirit makes clear to me in every town that prison and pains are waiting for me.

except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.

"except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

except ¹  that the Holy Spirit warns ²  me in town after town ³  that ⁴  imprisonment ⁵  and persecutions ⁶  are waiting for me.

¹ tn BDAG 826 s.v. πλήν 1.d has “πλὴν ὅτι except that…Ac 20:23.”

² tn The verb διαμαρτύρομαι (diamarturomai) can mean “warn” (BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 2 has “solemnly urge, exhort, warn…w. dat. of pers. addressed”), and this meaning better fits the context here, although BDAG categorizes Acts 20:23 under the meaning “testify of, bear witness to” (s.v. 1).

³ tn The Greek text here reads κατὰ πόλιν (kata polin).

⁴ tn Grk “saying that,” but the participle λέγον (legon) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

⁵ tn Grk “bonds.”

⁶ tn Or “troubles,” “suffering.” See Acts 19:21; 21:4, 11.