Add parallel Print Page Options

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.[a] 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul.(A) 46 Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the gentiles.(B) 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

‘I have set you to be a light for the gentiles,
    so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”(C)

48 When the gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord, and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. 49 Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.(D) 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.(E)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 13.44 Other ancient authorities read God

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled together to hear the word of the Lord.[a] 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy,[b] and they began to contradict[c] what Paul was saying[d] by reviling him.[e] 46 Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously,[f] “It was necessary to speak the word of God[g] to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy[h] of eternal life, we[i] are turning to the Gentiles.[j] 47 For this[k] is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed[l] you to be a light[m] for the Gentiles, to bring salvation[n] to the ends of the earth.’”[o] 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice[p] and praise[q] the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life[r] believed. 49 So the word of the Lord was spreading[s] through the entire region. 50 But the Jews incited[t] the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out[u] of their region. 51 So after they shook[v] the dust off their feet[w] in protest against them, they went to Iconium.[x] 52 And the disciples were filled with joy[y] and with the Holy Spirit.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:44 tc Most mss (B* C E Ψ M sy bo) read θεοῦ (theou, “of God”) here instead of κυρίου (kuriou, “of the Lord”). Other mss, among them some significant early witnesses (P74 א A B2 33 81 323 945 1175 1739 al sa), read κυρίου. The external evidence favors κυρίου, though not decisively. Internally, the mention of “God” in v. 43, and especially “the word of God” in v. 46, would provide some temptation for scribes to assimilate the wording in v. 44 to these texts.sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rhēma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logos tou kuriou; here and in vv. 48 and 49; Acts 8:25; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8; 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.
  2. Acts 13:45 sn They were filled with jealousy. Their foolish response to the gospel is noted again (see Acts 5:17; 7:9; 17:5).
  3. Acts 13:45 tn The imperfect verb ἀντέλεγον (antelegon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect in the logical sequence of events: After they were filled with jealousy, the Jewish opponents began to contradict what Paul said.
  4. Acts 13:45 tn Grk “the things being said by Paul.” For smoothness and simplicity of English style, the passive construction has been converted to active voice in the translation.
  5. Acts 13:45 tn The participle βλασφημοῦντες (blasphēmountes) has been regarded as indicating the means of the action of the main verb. It could also be translated as a finite verb (“and reviled him”) in keeping with contemporary English style. The direct object (“him”) is implied rather than expressed and could be impersonal (“it,” referring to what Paul was saying rather than Paul himself), but the verb occurs more often in contexts involving defamation or slander against personal beings (not always God). For a very similar context to this one, compare Acts 18:6. The translation “blaspheme” is not used because in contemporary English its meaning is more narrowly defined and normally refers to blasphemy against God (not what Paul’s opponents were doing here). The modern term “slandering” comes close to what was being done to Paul here.
  6. Acts 13:46 tn Grk “Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out courageously and said.” The redundancy is removed in the translation and the verb “replied” is used in keeping with the logical sequence of events. The theme of boldness reappears: Acts 4:24-30; 9:27-28.
  7. Acts 13:46 tn Grk “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken.” For smoothness and simplicity of English style, the passive construction has been converted to active voice in the translation.
  8. Acts 13:46 tn Or “and consider yourselves unworthy.”
  9. Acts 13:46 tn Grk “behold, we.” In this context ἰδού (idou) is not easily translated into English.
  10. Acts 13:46 sn This turning to the Gentiles would be a shocking rebuke to 1st century Jews who thought they alone were the recipients of the promise.
  11. Acts 13:47 tn Here οὕτως (houtōs) is taken to refer to what follows, the content of the quotation, as given for this verse by BDAG 742 s.v. οὕτω/οὕτως 2.
  12. Acts 13:47 tn BDAG 1004 s.v. τίθημι 3.a has “τιθέναι τινὰ εἴς τι place/appoint someone to or for (to function as) someth….Ac 13:47.” This is a double accusative construction of object (“you”) and complement (“a light”).
  13. Acts 13:47 sn Paul alludes here to the language of the Servant in Isaiah, pointing to Isa 42:6; 49:6. He and Barnabas do the work of the Servant in Isaiah.
  14. Acts 13:47 tn Grk “that you should be for salvation,” but more simply “to bring salvation.”
  15. Acts 13:47 sn An allusion to Isa 42:6 and 49:6. The expression the ends of the earth recalls Luke 3:6 and Acts 1:8. Paul sees himself and Barnabas as carrying out the commission of Luke 24:27. (See 2 Cor 6:2, where servant imagery also appears concerning Paul’s message.)
  16. Acts 13:48 tn The imperfect verb ἔχαιρον (echairon) and the following ἐδόξαζον (edoxazon) are translated as ingressive imperfects.
  17. Acts 13:48 tn Or “glorify.” Although “honor” is given by BDAG 258 s.v. δοξάζω as a translation, it would be misleading here, because the meaning is “to honor in the sense of attributing worth to something,” while in contemporary English usage one speaks of “honoring” a contract in the sense of keeping its stipulations. It is not a synonym for “obey” in this context (“obey the word of the Lord”), but that is how many English readers would understand it.
  18. Acts 13:48 sn Note the contrast to v. 46 in regard to eternal life.
  19. Acts 13:49 tn BDAG 239 s.v. διαφέρω 1 has “spread” for διαφέρετο (diaphereto) in connection with a teaching. This is the first summary since Acts 9:31.
  20. Acts 13:50 tn For the translation of παρώτρυναν (parōtrunan) as “incited” see BDAG 780 s.v. παροτρύνω.
  21. Acts 13:50 tn BDAG 299 s.v. ἐκβάλλω 1 has “throw out.” Once again, many Jews reacted to the message (Acts 5:17, 33; 6:11; 13:45).
  22. Acts 13:51 tn The participle ἐκτιναξάμενοι (ektinaxamenoi) is taken temporally. It could also be translated as a participle of attendant circumstance (“So they shook…and went”).
  23. Acts 13:51 sn Shaking the dust off their feet was a symbolic gesture commanded by Jesus to his disciples, Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5. It shows a group of people as culpable before God.
  24. Acts 13:51 sn Iconium was a city in Lycaonia about 90 mi (145 km) east southeast of Pisidian Antioch.
  25. Acts 13:52 sn The believers of Pisidian Antioch were not discouraged by the persecution, but instead were filled with joy.