New English Translation
Acts 13:46
46Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.
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 whole city assembled together to hear the word of the Lord. 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they began to contradict what Paul was saying by reviling him. Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 48When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed.
Read all of Acts 13Acts 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 4:13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.
- Proverbs 28:1The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.
- Romans 10:20And Isaiah is even bold enough to say, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me.”
- Ephesians 6:19Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
- Philippians 1:14and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.
- Hebrews 11:34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight,
- Acts 13:26Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.
- Acts 3:26God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”
- Acts 18:5Now when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
- Acts 26:20but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.
- Matthew 10:6Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
- Luke 24:47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
- John 4:22You people worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews.
- Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- Romans 2:10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek.
- Romans 9:4who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the 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
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
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