The Meaning of Acts 13:47 Explained

Acts 13:47

KJV: 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.

YLT: for 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.'

Darby: for 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.

ASV: For 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Acts 13:47 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul quoted the Isaiah commission because he was addressing Jews. Isaiah explained their duty. He and Barnabas were only carrying out God"s will. The servant of the Lord is the person addressed in Isaiah 49:6. Jesus Christ, the perfect Servant of the Lord, was the ultimate light to the Gentiles who would bring salvation to the end of the earth (cf. Luke 2:28-32). As Israel and Christ had been lights to the Gentiles ( Genesis 46:3; Luke 2:29-32), so now were Paul and Barnabas (cf. Matthew 5:14-16). Not only had the Jews received a commission to reach out to the Gentiles with blessing ( Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 49:6), but so had Jesus" disciples ( Matthew 28:19-20).

Context Summary

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

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 13:47

For so hath the Lord commanded us [ουτως γαρ εντεταλται ημιν ο κυριος]
Perfect middle indicative of εντελλω — entellō poetic (Pindar) and late verb to enjoin (Acts 1:2). The command of the Lord Paul finds in Isaiah 49:6 quoted by Simeon also (Luke 2:32). The conviction of Paul‘s mind was now made clear by the fact of the rejection by the Jews. He could now see more clearly the words of the prophet about the Gentiles: The Messiah is declared by God in Isaiah to be “a light to the Gentiles” So Paul is carrying out the will of God in turning to the Gentiles. He will still appeal to the Jews elsewhere as they allow him to do so, but not here. [source]
That thou shouldest be [του ειναι σε]
Genitive articular infinitive of purpose with the accusative of general reference. This is all according to God‘s fixed purpose Unto the uttermost part of the earth (εως εσχατου της γης — heōs eschatou tēs gēs). Unto the last portion (genitive neuter, not feminine) of the earth. It is a long time from Paul to now, not to say from Isaiah to now, and not yet has the gospel been carried to half of the people of earth. God‘s people are slow in carrying out God‘s plans for salvation. [source]
Unto the uttermost part of the earth [εως εσχατου της γης]
Unto the last portion (genitive neuter, not feminine) of the earth. It is a long time from Paul to now, not to say from Isaiah to now, and not yet has the gospel been carried to half of the people of earth. God‘s people are slow in carrying out God‘s plans for salvation. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:47

John 4:22 That which ye know not [ο ουκ οιδατε]
Cf. Acts 17:23. “You know whom to worship, but you do not know him” (Westcott). The Samaritans rejected the prophets and the Psalms and so cut themselves off from the fuller knowledge of God. We We Jews. Jesus is a Jew as he fully recognizes (Matthew 15:24). That which we know Neuter singular relative as before. The Jews, as the chosen people, had fuller revelations of God (Psalm 147:19.; Romans 9:3-5). But even so the Jews as a whole failed to recognize God in Christ (John 1:11, John 1:26; John 7:28). For salvation is from the Jews “The salvation,” the Messianic salvation which had long been the hope and guiding star of the chosen people (Luke 1:69, Luke 1:71, Luke 1:77; Acts 13:26, Acts 13:47). It was for the whole world (John 3:17), but it comes “out of” (εκ — ek) the Jews. This tremendous fact should never be forgotten, however unworthy the Jews may have proved of their privilege. The Messiah, God‘s Son, was a Jew. [source]
Romans 4:17 Have I made [τέθεικα]
Appointed or constituted. For a similar sense see Matthew 24:51; John 15:16, and note; Acts 13:47; 1 Timothy 2:7. The verb shows that the paternity was the result of a special arrangement. It would not be used to denote the mere physical connection between father and son. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 13:47 mean?

Thus for has commanded us the Lord I have set you for a light of [the] Gentiles - to be salvation to [the] uttermost part of the earth
οὕτως γὰρ ἐντέταλται ἡμῖν Κύριος Τέθεικά σε εἰς φῶς ἐθνῶν τοῦ εἶναί σωτηρίαν ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς

οὕτως  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
ἐντέταλται  has  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διακελεύω 
Sense: to order, command to be done, enjoin.
ἡμῖν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Κύριος  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Τέθεικά  I  have  set 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: τίθημι  
Sense: to set, put, place.
φῶς  a  light 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: φῶς  
Sense: light.
ἐθνῶν  of  [the]  Gentiles 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἶναί  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
σωτηρίαν  salvation 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: σωτηρία  
Sense: deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation.
ἐσχάτου  [the]  uttermost  part 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: ἔσχατος  
Sense: extreme.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.