English Standard Version
Acts 13:47
47For 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.'"
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.’”
- 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.’ ”
- New Living Translation (NLT)For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”
Context of Acts 13:47
45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46And 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. 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.'" 48And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
Read all of Acts 13Acts 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 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
- Acts 9:15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
- Acts 22:21And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
- Acts 26:17delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you
- Matthew 28:19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 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 proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
- Luke 24:47and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
- Acts 26:23that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."
- Isaiah 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, 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 light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
- Isaiah 60:3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
- Luke 2:32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
- Acts 15:14Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
- Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
- Psalms 67:2that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
- Psalms 72:7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries