Acts 13:46

Acts 13:46 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

Context of Acts 13:46

44On the next Sabbath almost the entire city gathered together to hear the word of the Lord [about salvation through faith in Christ]. 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things said by Paul, and were slandering him. And [at the same time] Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and confidently, saying, “It was necessary that God’s message [of salvation through faith in Christ] be spoken to you [Jews] first. Since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, now we turn to the Gentiles. 47For that is what the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, So that You may bring [the message of eternal] salvation to the end of the earth.’ ” 48When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying [praising and giving thanks for] the word of the Lord; and all those who had been appointed (designated, ordained) to eternal life [by God] believed [in Jesus as the Christ and their Savior].

Acts 13:46 word by word

παρρησιασάμενοί τε ὁ Παῦλος καὶ ὁ Βαρναβᾶς εἶπαν· ὑμῖν ἦν ἀναγκαῖον πρῶτον λαληθῆναι τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ· ἐπειδὴ ἀπωθεῖσθε αὐτὸν καὶ οὐκ ἀξίους κρίνετε ἑαυτοὺς τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς, ἰδοὺ στρεφόμεθα εἰς τὰ ἔθνη.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenδέde · thenG1161
• Paulὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• BarnabasΒαρνάβαςBarnabas · BarnabasG921
• waxed boldπαρρησιάζομαιparrhēsiazomai · to preach boldlyG3955
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• It wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• necessaryἀναγκαῖοςanagkaios · necessaryG316
• that the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• shouldλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• to youσύsu · youG4771
• seeingἐπειδήepeidē · sinceG1894
• ye putἀπωθέωapōtheomai apōthomai · to rejectG683
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• judgeκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
• yourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• unworthyἄξιοςaxios · worthyG514
• ·οὐou · noG3756
• of everlastingαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
• lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
• loὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• we turnστρέφωstrephō · to turnG4762
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484

Cross-references for Acts 13:46

• Acts 4:13Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.
• Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues them, But the righteous are as bold as a lion.
• Romans 10:20Then Isaiah is very bold and says, “I have been found by those who did not seek Me; I have shown Myself to those who did not [consciously] ask for Me.”
• Ephesians 6:19And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation],
• Philippians 1:14Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances].
• Hebrews 11:34extinguished the power of [raging] fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty and unbeatable in battle, putting enemy forces to flight.
• Acts 13:26“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation [obtained through faith in Jesus Christ].
• Acts 3:26It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
• Acts 18:5but when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia (northern Greece), Paul began devoting himself completely to [preaching] the word, and solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
• Acts 26:20but I openly proclaimed first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent [change their inner self—their old way of thinking] and turn to God, doing deeds and living lives which are consistent with repentance.
• Matthew 10:6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
• Luke 24:47and that repentance [necessary] for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
• John 4:22You [Samaritans] do not know what you worship; we [Jews] do know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews.
• Romans 1:16I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• Romans 2:10but glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• Romans 9:4who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, the glory (Shekinah), the [special] covenants [with Abraham, Moses, and David], the giving of the Law, the [system of temple] worship, and the [original] promises.

Commentaries on Acts 13:46

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 46Waxed bold - ̔ ; Having great liberty of speech; a strong, persuasive, and overpowering eloquence. They had eternal truth for the basis of this discourse; a multitude of incontestable facts to support it; an all-persuading eloquence to illustrate and maintain what they had asserted. Should first have been spoken to you - When our Lord gave his apostles their commission to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature, he told them they…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 46Waxed bold - Became bold; spake boldly and openly. They were not terrified by their strife, or alarmed by their opposition. The contradictions and blasphemies of sinners often show that their consciences are alarmed; that the truth has taken effect; and then is not the time to shrink, but to declare more fearlessly the truth. It was necessary - It was so designed; so commanded. They regarded it as their duty to offer the gospel first to their own…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 42-52Verses 42-52 The Jews opposed the doctrine the apostles preached; and when they could find no objection, they blasphemed Christ and his gospel. Commonly those who begin with contradicting, end with blaspheming. But when adversaries of Christ's cause are daring, its advocates should be the bolder. And while many judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, others, who appear less likely, desire to hear more of the glad tidings of salvation. This is according…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 44-49People were excited by the preaching of the apostles. A large gathering formed the next week. This response made some Jews jealous (see 4:1–2; 5:17). This was because Paul's ministry was attracting more converts than Judaism (13:43). These Jews made verbal attacks against Paul and his ministry (see 6:8–12; 18:6; 19:9; Matthew 23:13). Paul responded to the attacks with a bold statement that the jealous Jews had rejected their past opportunities to hear the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44-4844-48. the next sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God--the intervening days having been spent in further inquiry and instruction, and the excitement reaching the Gentiles, who now for the first time crowded, along with the usual worshippers, into the synagogue.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 13:46

• Antioch
• Gentiles
• Jesus Continued
• Law
• Life
• Preaching
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Barnabas
• God
• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Word of God
• Light
• Lo
• Ordain
• Prophet

Commentaries on Acts 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings