King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Saying, This [fellow] persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
Complete Jewish Bible:
saying, “This man is trying to persuade people to worship God in ways that violate the Torah.”
Berean Standard Bible:
“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
American Standard Version:
saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Saying{G3004},{G3754} This{G3778} fellow persuadeth{G374} men{G444} to worship{G4576} God{G2316} contrary{G3844} to the law{G3551}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Acts 25:8
- While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
Acts 6:13
- And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
Acts 21:28
- Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
Acts 24:5
- For we have found this man [a] pestilent [fellow], and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
Acts 24:6
- Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
Acts 18:4
- And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Acts 18:15
- But if it be a question of words and names, and [of] your law, look ye [to it]; for I will be no judge of such [matters].
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Acts 18:13
Acts 18:13 is a verse that captures a moment in the life of the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys. The verse reads, "Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law." This statement is made by the Jews of Corinth to the Roman proconsul Gallio, accusing Paul of promoting an unlawful form of worship.
The historical context of this verse is set in the Roman city of Corinth, where Paul had been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At this time, Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city in Greece, known for its commerce and religious diversity. The Jewish community in Corinth, troubled by Paul's successful evangelism among both Jews and Gentiles, brought charges against him, likely under the pretense that his teachings were a threat to the established Roman order and Jewish tradition.
The theme of the verse touches on religious opposition and the tension between the burgeoning Christian movement and established Jewish and Roman authorities. The accusation that Paul was persuading people to worship God "contrary to the law" reflects the conflict between the innovative message of Christianity, which offered a direct relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and the traditional Jewish law, which was the foundation of Jewish religious identity. It also highlights the early Christians' struggle to practice their faith within the legal and social frameworks of the Roman Empire, where loyalty to the emperor and adherence to traditional religions were often expected.
In response to the Jews' accusation, Gallio, the Roman proconsul, dismisses the case, effectively refusing to judge what he sees as an internal Jewish dispute. This decision is significant as it sets a precedent for the Roman authorities' non-interference in what was considered a debate within the Jewish religion, thereby providing a measure of protection for the early Christian movement to continue spreading throughout the Roman world without immediate fear of official persecution.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: G3754
There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅτι
Transliteration: hóti
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why. - Strong's Number: G3778
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὗτος
Transliteration: hoûtos
Pronunciation: how'-tahee
Description: from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who. - Strong's Number: G374
There are 276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀναπείθω
Transliteration: anapeíthō
Pronunciation: an-ap-i'-tho
Description: from ἀνά and πείθω; to incite:--persuade. - Strong's Number: G444
There are 614 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἄνθρωπος
Transliteration: ánthrōpos
Pronunciation: anth'-ro-pos
Description: from ἀνήρ and (the countenance; from ὀπτάνομαι); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man. - Strong's Number: G4576
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σέβομαι
Transliteration: sébomai
Pronunciation: seb'-om-ahee
Description: middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to revere, i.e. adore:--devout, religious, worship. - Strong's Number: G2316
There are 1172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: θεός
Transliteration: theós
Pronunciation: theh'-os
Description: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward). - Strong's Number: G3844
There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: παρά
Transliteration: pará
Pronunciation: par-ah'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side…by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application. - Strong's Number: G3551
There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: νόμος
Transliteration: nómos
Pronunciation: nom'-os
Description: from a primary (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.