The Meaning of Acts 13:41 Explained

Acts 13:41

KJV: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

YLT: See, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish, because a work I -- I do work in your days, a work in which ye may not believe, though any one may declare it to you.'

Darby: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye will in no wise believe if one declare it to you.

ASV: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold,  ye despisers,  and  wonder,  and  perish:  for  I  work  a work  in  your  days,  a work  which  ye shall  in no wise  believe,  though  a man  declare it  unto you. 

What does Acts 13:41 Mean?

Study Notes

work
See, Habakkuk 1:5 .

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 13:41

Ye despisers [οι καταπρονηται]
Not in the Hebrew, but in the lxx. It is pertinent for Paul‘s purpose. [source]
Perish [απανιστητε]
Or vanish away. First aorist passive imperative. Added by the lxx to the Hebrew. If one declare it unto you (εαν τις εκδιηγηται υμιν — ean tis ekdiēgētai humin). Condition of third class with present middle subjunctive, if one keep on outlining (double compound, εκδιηγεομαι — ek̇di̇ēgeomai) it unto you. Paul has hurled a thunderbolt at the close. [source]
If one declare it unto you [εαν τις εκδιηγηται υμιν]
Condition of third class with present middle subjunctive, if one keep on outlining (double compound, εκδιηγεομαι — ek̇di̇ēgeomai) it unto you. Paul has hurled a thunderbolt at the close. [source]
Perish [ἀφανίσθητε]
Lit., vanish. [source]
Declare [ἐκδιηγῆται]
Only here and Acts 15:3. See on shew, Luke 8:39. The word is a very strong expression for the fullest and clearest declaration: declare throughout. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:41

Acts 15:3 Declaring []
See on Acts 13:41. In the various towns along their route. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 13:41 mean?

Behold - scoffers and wonder perish for a work am working I in the days of you that never not you would believe even if one should declare it to you
Ἴδετε οἱ καταφρονηταί καὶ θαυμάσατε ἀφανίσθητε ὅτι ἔργον ἐργάζομαι ἐγὼ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται ὑμῖν

Ἴδετε  Behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
καταφρονηταί  scoffers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: καταφρονητής  
Sense: despiser.
θαυμάσατε  wonder 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐκθαυμάζω 
Sense: to wonder, wonder at, marvel.
ἀφανίσθητε  perish 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀφανίζω  
Sense: to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen.
ἔργον  a  work 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
ἐργάζομαι  am  working 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐργάζομαι  
Sense: to work, labour, do work.
ἡμέραις  days 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
οὐ  never 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
πιστεύσητε  you  would  believe 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ἐάν  even  if 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἐάν 
Sense: if, in case.
τις  one 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἐκδιηγῆται  should  declare  it 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκδιηγέομαι  
Sense: to narrate in full or wholly.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.