The Meaning of Acts 13:24 Explained

Acts 13:24

KJV: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

YLT: John having first preached, before his coming, a baptism of reformation to all the people of Israel;

Darby: John having proclaimed before the face of his entry among the people the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

ASV: when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When John  had first preached  before  his  coming  the baptism  of repentance  to all  the people  of Israel. 

What does Acts 13:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 13:13-24 - The Savior According To Promise
It was very natural that the missionary party should sail for Cyprus, partly because it was the first and nearest outpost of the great heathen world that lay to the west, and partly because Barnabas was a native of the island and had owned land there, which he had sold for the benefit of his poorer brethren in the church, Acts 4:36.
In visiting a new city, it was the custom of the Apostles to go first to the Jewish synagogue, where such was to be found. "To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile," was the divine order, Romans 2:10. The journey from Cyprus to the mainland was easily made; but the journey up to this inland city of Antioch was very perilous, 2 Corinthians 11:26.
Acts 13:16 gives us the Apostle's favorite attitude, Acts 21:40; Acts 26:1. Ye that fear God, referred to the Gentile proselytes. This first address contained the seed-thoughts of the Apostle's ministry. He loved to show that the gospel was the white flower that grew on the ancient stock of Judaism. Whatever his starting point, he was sure to come, by a direct path, to Jesus Christ. Observe throughout how Paul attributes all of the great events and movements of history to the direction and agency of God. God chose the fathers; God gave Saul; God brought unto Israel a Savior. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 13

1  Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles
6  Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer
13  Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ
42  The Gentiles believe;
44  but the Jews talked abusively against Paul,
46  whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe
50  The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium

Greek Commentary for Acts 13:24

When John had first preached [προκηρυχαντος Ιωανου]
Literally, John heralding beforehand, as a herald before the king (Luke 3:3). Genitive absolute of first aorist active participle of προκηρυσσω — prokērussō old verb to herald beforehand, here alone in the N.T., though Textus Receptus has it also in Acts 3:20. [source]
Before his coming [προ προσωπου της εισοδου αυτου]
Literally, before the face of his entering in (here act of entrance as 1 Thessalonians 1:9, not the gate as in Hebrews 10:19). See Malachi 3:1 quoted in Matthew 11:10 (Luke 7:27) for this Hebrew phrase and also Luke 1:76. The baptism of repentance (βαπτισμα μετανοιας — baptisma metanoias). Baptism marked by, characterized by (genitive case, case of kind or species) repentance (change of mind and life). The very phrase used of John‘s preaching in Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3. It is clear therefore that Paul understood John‘s ministry and message as did Peter (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:37). [source]
The baptism of repentance [βαπτισμα μετανοιας]
Baptism marked by, characterized by (genitive case, case of kind or species) repentance (change of mind and life). The very phrase used of John‘s preaching in Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3. It is clear therefore that Paul understood John‘s ministry and message as did Peter (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:37). [source]
Before his coming [πρὸ προσώπου τῆς εἰσόδου αὐτου ͂ ]
Lit., before the face of his entrance. A Hebrew form of expression. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:24

Acts 18:25 Taught carefully [εδιδασκεν ακριβως]
Imperfect active, was teaching or inchoative, began teaching, accurately. He taught accurately what he knew, a fine gift for any preacher. Only the baptism of John (μονον το βαπτισμα Ιωανου — monon to baptisma Iōanou). It was a baptism of repentance (marked by repentance) as Paul said (Acts 13:24; Acts 19:4), as Peter said (Acts 2:38) and as the Gospels tell (Mark 1:4, etc.). That is to say, Apollos knew only what the Baptist knew when he died, but John had preached the coming of the Messiah, had baptized him, had identified him as the Son of God, had proclaimed the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but had not seen the Cross, the Resurrection of Jesus, nor the great Day of Pentecost. [source]
Acts 18:25 Only the baptism of John [μονον το βαπτισμα Ιωανου]
It was a baptism of repentance (marked by repentance) as Paul said (Acts 13:24; Acts 19:4), as Peter said (Acts 2:38) and as the Gospels tell (Mark 1:4, etc.). That is to say, Apollos knew only what the Baptist knew when he died, but John had preached the coming of the Messiah, had baptized him, had identified him as the Son of God, had proclaimed the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but had not seen the Cross, the Resurrection of Jesus, nor the great Day of Pentecost. [source]
1 Corinthians 15:3 Which I also received [ο και παρελαβον]
Direct revelation claimed as about the institution of the Lord‘s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23) and same verbs used Four items given by Paul in explaining “the gospel” which Paul preached. Stanley calls it (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) the creed of the early disciples, but “rather a sample of the exact form of the apostle‘s early teaching, than a profession of faith on the part of converts” (Vincent). The four items are presented by four verbs (died, εταπη — apethanen was buried, εγηγερται — etaphē hath been raised, ωπτη — egēgertai appeared, Χριστος απετανεν — ōphthē). Christ died (υπερ των αμαρτιων ημων — Christos apethanen). Historical fact and crucial event. For our sins περι — Huper means literally over, in behalf, even instead of (Galatians 3:13), where used of persons. But here much in the sense of περι αμαρτιων υπερ αδικων — peri (Galatians 1:14) as is common in Koiné. In 1 Peter 3:18 we have κατα τας γραπας — peri hamartiōnclass="translit"> huper adikōn According to the Scriptures (kata tas graphas). As Jesus showed (Luke 22:37; Luke 24:25) and as Peter pointed out (Acts 2:25-27, Acts 2:35) and as Paul had done (Acts 13:24.; Acts 17:3). Cf. Romans 1:2. [source]
1 Corinthians 15:3 For our sins [υπερ]
περι — Huper means literally over, in behalf, even instead of (Galatians 3:13), where used of persons. But here much in the sense of περι αμαρτιων υπερ αδικων — peri (Galatians 1:14) as is common in Koiné. In 1 Peter 3:18 we have κατα τας γραπας — peri hamartiōnclass="translit"> huper adikōn According to the Scriptures (kata tas graphas). As Jesus showed (Luke 22:37; Luke 24:25) and as Peter pointed out (Acts 2:25-27, Acts 2:35) and as Paul had done (Acts 13:24.; Acts 17:3). Cf. Romans 1:2. [source]
1 Corinthians 15:3 According to the Scriptures [kata tas graphas)]
As Jesus showed (Luke 22:37; Luke 24:25) and as Peter pointed out (Acts 2:25-27, Acts 2:35) and as Paul had done (Acts 13:24.; Acts 17:3). Cf. Romans 1:2. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 13:24 mean?

having proclaimed John before [the] face of the coming of Him a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel
προκηρύξαντος Ἰωάννου πρὸ προσώπου τῆς εἰσόδου αὐτοῦ βάπτισμα μετανοίας παντὶ τῷ λαῷ Ἰσραήλ

προκηρύξαντος  having  proclaimed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: προκηρύσσω  
Sense: to announce or proclaim be herald beforehand.
Ἰωάννου  John 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰωάννης 
Sense: John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, the forerunner of Christ.
πρὸ  before  [the] 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρό  
Sense: before.
προσώπου  face 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πρόσωπον  
Sense: the face.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἰσόδου  coming 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: εἴσοδος  
Sense: an entrance.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
βάπτισμα  a  baptism 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: βάπτισμα  
Sense: immersion, submersion.
μετανοίας  of  repentance 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: μετάνοια  
Sense: a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done.
παντὶ  to  all 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
λαῷ  people 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: λαός  
Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language.
Ἰσραήλ  of  Israel 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰσραήλ  
Sense: the name given to the patriarch Jacob (and borne by him in addition to his former name).