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Address to the Gentiles. 44 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46 (A)Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.[a] 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’”(B)

48 The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50 The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:46 The refusal to believe frustrates God’s plan for his chosen people; however, no adverse judgment is made here concerning their ultimate destiny. Again, Luke, in the words of Paul, speaks of the priority of Israel in the plan for salvation (see Acts 10:36).

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying(A) and heaped abuse(B) on him.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.(C) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.(D) 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you[a] a light for the Gentiles,(E)
    that you[b] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[c](F)

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;(G) and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord(H) spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
  2. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
  3. Acts 13:47 Isaiah 49:6