Acts 13 · Verse 47

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 13:47, King James Version

Acts 13:47 in other translations

BSBFor this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
WEBFor so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”
ASVFor so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth.
YLTfor so hath the Lord commanded us: I have set thee for a light of nations--for thy being for salvation unto the end of the earth.'
DARBYfor thus has the Lord enjoined us: I have set thee for a light of the nations, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the end of the earth.
BBEFor so the Lord has given us orders, saying, I have given you for a light to the Gentiles so that you may be for salvation to the ends of the earth.
WebsterFor so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldst be for salvation to the ends of the earth.

What does Acts 13:47 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.

Read the full comment on Acts 13:44-48 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 47. For so, etc. Paul, as usual, appeals to the Scriptures in order to justify his course. He here appeals to the Old Testament, rather than to the command of the Saviour, because the Jews recognized the authority of their own Scriptures, while they would have turned in scorn from the command of Jesus of Nazareth.

I have set thee, etc. I have constituted or appointed thee. This passage is found in Isa 49:6. That it refers to the Messiah there can be no doubt. From the fortieth chapter of Isaiah to the end of the prophecies, Isaiah had a primary and main reference to the times of the Messiah.

To be a light. Jn 1:4.

Of the Gentiles. This was in accordance with the uniform doctrines of Isaiah, Isa 42:1, 44:3, 60:3,5,16, 61:6,9, 62:2, 66:12. Comp. Rom 15:9-12.

For salvation. To save sinners. Unto the ends of the earth, To all lands; in all nations. Acts 1:8.

(e) "saying" Isa 49:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 47 For so the Lord commanded us - The apostles could quote a pertinent scripture for every thing they did; because the outlines of the whole Gospel dispensation are founded in the law and the prophets; and they were now building the Church of God according to the pattern shown them in the Mount. In the things of God, no man nor minister should go farther than he can say, Thus it is written, and thus it behoves me to do; and let him see that his quotations are fairly made, and not a detached passage or member of a sentence produced, because it seems to look like the system he wishes to establish. I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles - This quotation is from Isa 49:6, and was most fully in point. The Jews could not resist the testimony of their own prophet; and the Gentiles rejoiced to find that the offers of salvation were to be made so specifically to them. For salvation unto the ends of the earth - The very name of the Messiah, viz Jesus, announced the design and end of his mission. He is the Savior, and is to be proclaimed as such to the ends of the earth; to all mankind; to every nation, and people, and tongue; and, wherever the Gospel is preached, there is a free, full, and sincere offer of salvation to every soul that hears it. And the offer is proof sufficient, in itself, that there is a power to receive its blessings given to those to whom the offer is made; as it would be of no use to offer them a salvation which it was designed they either should not or could not receive. A son of Satan might be capable of such dissimulation and bad faith; but the holy God cannot.

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…

Read the full comment on Acts 13:42-52 →

Acts 13:47 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὕτωςhoutōsThusG3779
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐντέταλταιentetaltaihas commandedG1781
ἡμῖνhēminusG3165
ὁhotheG3588
κύριος·kuriosLord:G2962
τέθεικάtetheikaI have setG5087
σεseyouG4771
εἰςeisforG1519
φῶςphōsa lightG5457
ἐθνῶνethnōnof [the] GentilesG1484
τοῦtou<the>G3588
εἶναίeinaito beG1511
σεseyouG4771
εἰςeisforG1519
σωτηρίανsōtēriansalvationG4991
ἕωςhe'ōsuntilG2193
ἐσχάτουeschatou[the] uttermost partG2078
τῆςtēsof theG3588
γῆς.¶gēsearth.’G1093

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 13:47

  • Isaiah 49:6

    And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

  • Isaiah 42:6

    I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

  • Luke 2:32

    A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

  • Isaiah 45:22

    Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

  • Zechariah 8:20-23

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

  • Isaiah 24:13-16

    When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

  • Isaiah 2:1-3

    The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 72:7-8

    In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

  • Isaiah 52:10

    The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

  • Isaiah 42:9-12

    Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.

  • Isaiah 42:1

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

  • Psalms 98:2-3

    The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
so.
1:8; 9:15; 22:21; 26:17,18; Mt 28:19; Mr 16:15; Lu 24:47
I have.
26:23; Isa 42:1,6; 49:6; 60:3; Lu 2:32
that thou.
15:14-16; Ps 22:27-29; 67:2-7; 72:7,8; 96:1,2; 98:2,3; 117:1,2
Isa 2:1-3; 24:13-16; 42:9-12; 45:22; 52:10; 59:19,20; Jer 16:19
Ho 1:10; Am 9:12; Mic 4:2,3; 5:7; Zep 3:9,10; Zec 2:11; 8:20-23
Mal 1:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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 13:48

    And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Read all of Acts 13

Acts 13:47 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque así nos ha mandado el Señor, diciendo: Te he puesto para luz de los Gentiles, para que seas salud hasta lo postrero de la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car le Seigneur nous a commandé ainsi: « Je t’ai établi pour être la lumière des nations, afin que tu sois en salut jusqu’au bout de la terre ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn also hat uns der Herr geboten: "Ich habe dich zum Licht der Nationen gesetzt, auf daß du zum Heil seiest bis an das Ende der Erde".
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sic enim præcepit nobis Dominus: Posui te in lucem gentium, ut sis in salutem usque ad extremum terræ.