They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.
37. Great weeping. No marvel if all the godly did entirely love this holy man. for it had been a point of too gross unthankfulness to despise him whom the Lord had so beautified with so many excellent gifts. And the chief cause of their weeping was, as Luke noteth, because they should see him no more.
After the parting sermon that Paul preached to the elders of Ephesus, which was very affecting, we have here the parting prayer and tears, which were yet more affecting; we can scarcely read the account here given of them, and meditate upon them with dry eyes. I. They parted with prayer (Act 20:36): And, when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
Commenting on Acts 20:36-38
Verse 37. Wept sore. Wept much. Greek, "There was a great weeping of all." And fell on, Paul's neck. Embraced him, as a token of tender affection. The same thing Joseph did when he met his aged father Jacob, . And kissed him. This was the common token of affection. Note, . (b) "fell on Paul's neck" .