Acts 13:46

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

44The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. 45But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. 47For 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.’” 48When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.

Acts 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 4:13The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
• Proverbs 28:1The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.
• Romans 10:20And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
• Ephesians 6:19And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.
• Philippians 1:14And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
• Hebrews 11:34quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.
• Acts 13:26“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us!
• Acts 3:26When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”
• Acts 18:5And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
• Acts 26:20I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do.
• Matthew 10:6but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.
• Luke 24:47It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’
• John 4:22You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.
• Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
• Romans 2:10But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
• Romans 9:4They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful 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

• Antioch
• Gentiles
• Jesus Continued
• Law
• Life
• Preaching
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Barnabas
• God
• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Word of God
• Light
• Lo
• Ordain
• Prophet

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