God’s Word Translation
Acts 19:20
20In this powerful way the word of the Lord was spreading and gaining strength.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
Context of Acts 19:20
18Many believers openly admitted their involvement with magical spells and told all the details. 19Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins. In this powerful way the word of the Lord was spreading and gaining strength. 21After all these things had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem by traveling through Macedonia and Greece. He said, “After I have been there, I must see Rome.” 22So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed longer in the province of Asia.
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 6:7God’s word continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew very large. A large number of priests accepted the faith.
- Acts 12:24But God’s word continued to spread and win many followers.
- Isaiah 55:11My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.”
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1Finally, brothers and sisters, pray that we spread the Lord’s word rapidly and that it will be honored the way it was 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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