English Standard Version
Acts 19:20
20So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Acts 19:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
- New International Version (NIV)In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
- New Living Translation (NLT)So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
Context of Acts 19:20
18Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. 21Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." 22And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Read all of Acts 19Acts 19:20 word by word
οὕτως κατὰ κράτος τοῦ κυρίου ὁ λόγος ηὔξανεν καὶ ἴσχυεν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Acts 19:20
- Acts 6:7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
- Acts 12:24But the word of God increased and multiplied.
- Isaiah 55:11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
Commentaries on Acts 19:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed - The Codex Bezae reads this verse thus: "So mightily grew the word of the Lord, and prevailed; and the faith of God increased and multiplied." It is probable that it was about this time that St. Paul had that conflict which he mentions, 1 Corinthians 15:32; : If I after the manner of men, have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, etc. See the note there. It means some severe trials not here mentioned, unless…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20So mightily grew the word of God - So powerfully. It had such efficacy and power in this wicked city. That power must have been mighty which would thus make them willing not only to cease to practice imposition, but to give up all hopes of future gains, and to destroy their property. On this instructive narrative we may remark: (1) That religion has power to break the hold of sinners on unjust and dishonest means of living. (2) that those who have been…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-20Verses 13-20 It was common, especially among the Jews, for persons to profess or to try to cast out evil spirits. If we resist the devil by faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think to resist him by the using of Christ's name, or his works, as a spell or charm, Satan will prevail against us. Where there is true sorrow for sin, there will be free confession of sin to God in every prayer and to man whom we have offended, when the case requires…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Luke’s summary of the success of the gospel in Ephesus is short but powerful (compare 2:43–47; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; and Romans 1:16). When the Christian faith overcame problems inside the church, such as division, idolatry (worship of false gods), and pagan practices (religious customs not centered on the true God), it spread widely and grew quickly.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. many that believed came and confessed ... their deeds--the dupes of magicians, &c., acknowledging how shamefully they had been deluded, and how deeply they had allowed themselves to be implicated in such practices.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 19:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 19
- 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
- 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