Acts 13:46
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.
Acts 13:46 in other translations
| BSB | Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. |
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| WEB | Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. |
| ASV | And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. |
| YLT | And speaking boldly, Paul and Barnabas said, ‘To you it was necessary that first the word of God be spoken, and seeing ye do thrust it away, and do not judge yourselves worthy of the life age-during, lo, we do turn to the nations; |
| DARBY | And Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly and said, It was necessary that the word of God should be first spoken to you; but, since ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the nations; |
| BBE | Then Paul and Barnabas without fear said, It was necessary for the word of God to be given to you first; but because you will have nothing to do with it, and have no desire for eternal life, it will now be offered to the Gentiles. |
| Webster | Then Paul and Barnabas became bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you: but seeing ye reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. |
What does Acts 13:46 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 13:44-48
44-48. 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.
Barnes' Notes
It was necessary. It was so designed; so commanded. They regarded it as their duty to offer the gospel first to their own countrymen. Lk 24:47.
Ye put it from you. Ye reject it.
And judge yourselves. By your conduct, by your rejecting it, you declare this. The word judge here does not mean they expressed such an opinion, or that they regarded themselves as unworthy of eternal life; for they thought just the reverse; but that by their conduct they CONDEMNED themselves. By such conduct they did in fact pass sentence on themselves, and show that they were unworthy of eternal life, and of having the offer any farther made to them. Sinners by their conduct do in fact condemn themselves, and show that they are not only unfit to be saved, but that they have advanced so far in wickedness that there is no hope of their salvation, and no propriety in offering them, any farther, eternal life. Mt 7:6.
Unworthy, etc. Unfit to be saved. They had deliberately and solemnly rejected the gospel, and thus shown that they were not fitted to enter into everlasting life. When men, even but once, deliberately and solemnly reject the offers of God's mercy, it greatly endangers their salvation. The probability is, that they then put the cup of salvation for ever away from themselves. The gospel produces an effect wherever it is preached. And when sinners are hardened, and spurn the gospel, it may often be the duty of ministers to turn their efforts towards others, where they may have more prospect of success. A man will not long labour on a rocky, barren, sterile soil, when there is near him a rich and fertile valley that will abundantly reward the pains of cultivation.
Lo, we turn, etc. We shall offer salvation to them, and devote ourselves to seeking their salvation.
(c) "first have been spoken" Mt 10:6, Lk 24:47, Rom 1:16 (d) "we turn to the Gentiles" De 32:21, Mt 21:43, Rom 10:19
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 13:42-52
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…
Acts 13:46 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Acts 13:46
- Acts 28:28
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
- Matthew 21:43
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
- Acts 18:5-6
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
- Acts 26:20
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
- Acts 3:26
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
- Romans 2:10
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
- Acts 22:21
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
- Romans 11:11-13
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
- Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- Acts 13:26
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
- John 1:11
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
- Acts 4:29-31
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:13,29-31; Pr 28:1; Ro 10:20; Eph 6:19,20; Php 1:14; Heb 11:34
It was.
26; 3:26; 18:5; 26:20; Mt 10:6; Lu 24:47; Joh 4:22; Ro 1:16; 2:10
Ro 9:4,5
seeing.
7:51; Ex 32:9,10; De 32:21; Isa 49:5-8; Mt 10:13-15; 21:43; 22:6-10
Lu 14:16-24; Joh 1:11; Ro 10:19-21; 11:11-13
turn.
18:6; 28:28; Isa 55:5
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Acts 13:45
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
- Acts 13:46
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.
- Acts 13:47
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.
Acts 13:46 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Entonces Pablo y Bernabé, usando de libertad, dijeron: A vosotros á la verdad era menester que se os hablase la palabra de Dios; mas pues que la desecháis, y os juzgáis indignos de la vida eterna, he aquí, nos volvemos á los Gentiles. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et Paul et Barnabas, s’enhardissant, dirent: C’était à vous premièrement qu’il fallait annoncer la parole de Dieu; mais puisque vous la rejetez, et que vous vous jugez vous-mêmes indignes de la vie éternelle, voici, nous nous tournons vers les nations, |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Paulus aber und Barnabas gebrauchten Freimütigkeit und sprachen: Zu euch mußte notwendig das Wort Gottes zuerst geredet werden; weil ihr es aber von euch stoßet und euch selbst nicht würdig achtet des ewigen Lebens, siehe, so wenden wir uns zu den Nationen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Tunc constanter Paulus et Barnabas dixerunt: Vobis oportebat primum loqui verbum Dei: sed quoniam repellitis illud, et indignos vos judicatis æternæ vitæ, ecce convertimur ad gentes. |