Acts 13:38-52 - Jews Reject, Gentiles Accept, The Gospel
The doctrine of justification by faith, so closely associated with the work of Paul, is here stated for the first time. In Jesus there is forgiveness. For those who trust in Him past sins are absolutely put away, never to be named again, never to be brought up at any future judgment day. Our record is as clear as the sand which has been swept smooth by the ocean waves. We are not only forgiven, but justified. We are treated as though we had never sinned, and are justified from all things. It is a present fact. You may not feel justified or forgiven, but if you are trusting in Jesus, you are at this moment as certainly and as fully justified as have been the saints in heaven.
Pride, as well as jealousy of the Gentiles who were crowding into the fold, stirred the Jews to antagonism, but they could not eradicate the seed which had been so profusely scattered. Large numbers believed, and as they experienced salvation in Christ, they discovered that they were in line with an eternal purpose. This is the meaning of ordained in Acts 13:48. If with such slight opportunities, the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, Acts 13:52, should we not possess the same experience? [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 13
1Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles 6Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer 13Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ 42The Gentiles believe; 44but the Jews talked abusively against Paul, 46whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe 50The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium
Greek Commentary for Acts 13:40
Beware therefore [βλεπετε ουν] The warning is pertinent. Perhaps Paul noticed anger on the faces of some of the rabbis. [source]
Lest there come upon you [μη επελτηι] Second aorist active subjunctive with the negative final conjunction μη mē In the prophets (εν τοις προπηταις en tois prophētais). The quotation is from the lxx text of Habakkuk 1:5. The plural here refers to the prophetic collection (Luke 24:44; Acts 24:14). “The Jews of Habakkuk‘s day had refused to believe in the impending invasion by the Chaldeans, and yet it had come” (Furneaux). [source]
In the prophets [εν τοις προπηταις] The quotation is from the lxx text of Habakkuk 1:5. The plural here refers to the prophetic collection (Luke 24:44; Acts 24:14). “The Jews of Habakkuk‘s day had refused to believe in the impending invasion by the Chaldeans, and yet it had come” (Furneaux). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:40
Acts 7:42To serve the host of heaven [λατρευειν τηι στρατιαι του ουρανου] The verb λατρευω latreuō is used of the worship of God (Matthew 4:10) as well as of idols as here (from λατρον latron hire, λατρις latris hireling, then to serve). But the worship of the host of heaven (Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; 2 Chronicles 33:3,2 Chronicles 33:5; Jeremiah 8:2; Jeremiah 19:13) is Sabaism or worship of the host That is the twelve minor prophets which the Jews counted as one book (cf. Acts 13:40). This quotation is from Amos 5:25-27. The greater prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. Slain beasts Here only in the N.T. (from Amos 5:25) σπαγη sphagē slaughter, σπαζω sphazō to slay. [source]
Acts 7:42In the book of the prophets [εν βιβλωι των προπητων] That is the twelve minor prophets which the Jews counted as one book (cf. Acts 13:40). This quotation is from Amos 5:25-27. The greater prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. [source]
Hebrews 1:1By the prophets [ἐν τοῖς προφήταις] Rend. “in the prophets,” which does not mean in the collection of prophetic writings, as John 6:45; Acts 13:40, but rather in the prophets themselves as the vessels of divine inspiration. God spake in them and from them. Thus Philo; “The prophet is an interpreter, echoing from within ( ἔνδοθεν ) the sayings of God” (De Praemiis et Poenis, § 9) [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 13:40 mean?
Take heedthereforelestmight come aboutthathaving been saidintheprophets
Greek Commentary for Acts 13:40
The warning is pertinent. Perhaps Paul noticed anger on the faces of some of the rabbis. [source]
Second aorist active subjunctive with the negative final conjunction μη mē In the prophets (εν τοις προπηταις en tois prophētais). The quotation is from the lxx text of Habakkuk 1:5. The plural here refers to the prophetic collection (Luke 24:44; Acts 24:14). “The Jews of Habakkuk‘s day had refused to believe in the impending invasion by the Chaldeans, and yet it had come” (Furneaux). [source]
The quotation is from the lxx text of Habakkuk 1:5. The plural here refers to the prophetic collection (Luke 24:44; Acts 24:14). “The Jews of Habakkuk‘s day had refused to believe in the impending invasion by the Chaldeans, and yet it had come” (Furneaux). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:40
The verb λατρευω latreuō is used of the worship of God (Matthew 4:10) as well as of idols as here (from λατρον latron hire, λατρις latris hireling, then to serve). But the worship of the host of heaven (Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; 2 Chronicles 33:3, 2 Chronicles 33:5; Jeremiah 8:2; Jeremiah 19:13) is Sabaism or worship of the host That is the twelve minor prophets which the Jews counted as one book (cf. Acts 13:40). This quotation is from Amos 5:25-27. The greater prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. Slain beasts Here only in the N.T. (from Amos 5:25) σπαγη sphagē slaughter, σπαζω sphazō to slay. [source]
That is the twelve minor prophets which the Jews counted as one book (cf. Acts 13:40). This quotation is from Amos 5:25-27. The greater prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. [source]
Rend. “in the prophets,” which does not mean in the collection of prophetic writings, as John 6:45; Acts 13:40, but rather in the prophets themselves as the vessels of divine inspiration. God spake in them and from them. Thus Philo; “The prophet is an interpreter, echoing from within ( ἔνδοθεν ) the sayings of God” (De Praemiis et Poenis, § 9) [source]