Acts 13:47

Acts 13:47 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
• New International Version (NIV)For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Context of Acts 13:47

45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things said by Paul, and were slandering him. 46And [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. For 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]. 49And so the word of the Lord [regarding salvation] was being spread through the entire region.

Acts 13:47 word by word

οὕτως γὰρ ἐντέταλται ἡμῖν ὁ κύριος· τέθεικά σε εἰς φῶς ἐθνῶν τοῦ εἶναί σε εἰς σωτηρίαν ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• hathἐντέλλωentellomai · to orderG1781
• the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• I have setτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• to beεἰςeis · towardG1519
• a lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• of the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• shouldest beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• salvationσωτηρίαsōtēria · salvationG4991
• untoἕωςheōs · untilG2193
• the endsἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
• of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093

Cross-references for Acts 13:47

• Acts 1:8But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
• Acts 9:15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
• Acts 22:21And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
• Acts 26:17[choosing you for Myself and] rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,
• Matthew 28:19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• Mark 16:15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
• Luke 24:47and that repentance [necessary] for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
• Acts 26:23that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to suffer, and that He by being the first to rise from the dead [with an incorruptible body] would proclaim light (salvation) both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
• Isaiah 42:1“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
• Isaiah 49:6He says, “It is too trivial a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will also make You a light to the nations That My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
• Isaiah 60:3Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
• Luke 2:32A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown], And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”
• Acts 15:14Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him].
• Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will bow down and worship before You,
• Psalms 67:2That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation and deliverance among all nations.
• Psalms 72:7In his days may the righteous flourish, And peace abound until the moon is no more.

Commentaries on Acts 13:47

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 47For so the Lord commanded us - The apostles could quote a pertinent scripture for every thing they did; because the outlines of the whole Gospel dispensation are founded in the law and the prophets; and they were now building the Church of God according to the pattern shown them in the Mount. In the things of God, no man nor minister should go farther than he can say, Thus it is written, and thus it behoves me to do; and let him see that his quotations…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 47For so … - Paul, as usual, appeals to the Scriptures to justify his course. Here he appeals to the Old Testament rather than to the command of the Saviour, because the Jews recognized the authority of their own Scriptures, while they would have turned in scorn from the command of Jesus of Nazareth. I have set thee … - I have constituted or appointed thee. This passage is found in Isaiah 49:6. See the notes on Isaiah 49:1-6. To be a light - See the notes…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 13:47

• Antioch
• Gentiles
• Jesus Continued
• Law
• Missions
• Paul
• Prophecy
• Quotations and Allusions
• Salvation
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Ends of the Earth
• Light
• Lo
• Ordain
• Prophet
• Season
• Stock
• Acts of the Apostles
• Ezekiel
• Galatians, Epistle to the

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