Acts 18 · Verse 13

Acts 18:13

Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
Acts 18:13, King James Version

Acts 18:13 in other translations

BSB“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
WEBsaying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
ASVsaying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
YLTsaying--‘Against the law this one doth persuade men to worship God;'
DARBYsaying, This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.
BBESaying, This man is teaching the people to give worship to God in a way which is against the law.
WebsterSaying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

What does Acts 18:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 18:12-17

12-17. when Gallio was the deputy--"the proconsul." See on Ac 13:7. He was brother to the celebrated philosopher Seneca, the tutor of Nero, who passed sentence of death on both.

Read the full comment on Acts 18:12-17 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Contrary to the law. Evidently intending contrary to all law--the laws of the Romans and of the Jews. It was permitted to the Jews to worship God according to their own views in Greece; but they could easily pretend that Paul had departed from that mode of worshipping God. It was easy for them to maintain that he taught contrary to the laws of the Romans, and their acknowledged religion; and their design seems to have been, to accuse him of teaching men to worship God in an unlawful and irregular way, a way unknown to any of the laws of the empire.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Persuaded men to worship God contrary to the law - This accusation was very insidious. The Jews had permission by the Romans to worship their own God in their own way: this the laws allowed. The Roman worship was also established by the law. The Jews probably intended to accuse Paul of acting contrary to both laws. "He is not a Jew, for he does not admit of circumcision; he is not a Gentile, for he preaches against the worship of the gods. He is setting up a worship of his own, in opposition to all laws, and persuading many people to join with him: he is therefore a most dangerous man, and should be put to death."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 18:12-17

Paul was about to show that he did not teach men to worship God contrary to law; but the judge would not allow the Jews to complain to him of what was not within his office. It was right in Gallio that he left the Jews to themselves in matters relating to their religion, but yet would not let them, under pretence of that, persecute another. But it was wrong to speak slightly of a law and religion which he might have…

Read the full comment on Acts 18:12-17 →

Acts 18:13 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.

λέγοντεςlegontessayingG3004
ὅτιhotithatG3754
παρὰparaContrary toG3844
τὸνtontheG3588
νόμονnomonlawG3551
ἀναπείθειanapeitheipersuadesG374
οὗτοςhoutosthis [man]G3778
τοὺςtous<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπουςanthrōpousmenG444
σέβεσθαιsebesthaito worshipG4576
τὸνton<the>G3588
θεόν.¶theonGod.G2316

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

Cross references for Acts 18:13

  • Acts 24:5-6

    For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

  • Acts 25:8

    While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I offended any thing at all.

  • Acts 6:13

    And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

  • Acts 21:28

    Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

  • Acts 18:4

    And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

  • Acts 18:15

    But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4; 6:13; 21:28; 24:5,6; 25:8

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

Context

  • Acts 18:12

    And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

  • Acts 18:13

    Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

  • Acts 18:14

    And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

Read all of Acts 18

Acts 18:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Diciendo: Que éste persuade á los hombres á honrar á Dios contra la ley.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		disant: Cet homme persuade les hommes de servir Dieu contrairement à la loi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sagten: Dieser überredet die Menschen, Gott anzubeten, dem Gesetz zuwider.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		dicentes: Quia contra legem hic persuadet hominibus colere Deum.