Acts 13:46

KJV

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G1161} Paul {G3972} and {G2532} Barnabas {G921} waxed bold {G3955}, and said {G2036}, It was {G2258} necessary {G316} that the word {G3056} of God {G2316} should {G2980} first {G4412} have been spoken {G2980} to you {G5213}: but {G1161} seeing {G1894} ye put {G683} it {G846} from you {G683}, and {G2532} judge {G2919} yourselves {G1438} unworthy {G3756}{G514} of everlasting {G166} life {G2222}, lo {G2400}, we turn {G4762} to {G1519} the Gentiles {G1484}.

Complete Jewish Bible

However, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba answered boldly: “It was necessary that God’s word be spoken first to you. But since you are rejecting it and are judging yourselves unworthy of eternal life — why, we’re turning to the Goyim!

Berean Standard Bible

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

American Standard Version

And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 13:46 marks a pivotal moment in the early Christian mission, as Paul and Barnabas, empowered by the Holy Spirit, boldly declare a strategic shift in their evangelistic focus. Confronted by the rejection and blasphemy of many Jews in Pisidian Antioch, the apostles affirm God's initial priority for the gospel to be preached to the Jewish people, but in light of their self-condemnation and refusal of eternal life, they formally announce their intention to turn their full attention to the Gentiles, thus expanding the reach of God's redemptive plan to all nations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climax and resolution to a significant episode in Paul's first missionary journey, specifically his ministry in Pisidian Antioch. Paul had just delivered a comprehensive sermon in the synagogue, tracing salvation history from Abraham to David, culminating in the resurrection of Jesus as the promised Savior ([Acts 13:16-41](/acts/13-16-41 "Paul's Sermon in Pisidian Antioch")). Initially, this message garnered a positive response, with many Jews and devout proselytes following Paul and Barnabas, eager to hear more ([Acts 13:43](/acts/13-43 "Positive Response to Paul's Preaching")). However, the following Sabbath brought intense opposition. When "almost the whole city" gathered to hear the word, some Jews, filled with envy, began to contradict and blaspheme Paul's teachings ([Acts 13:44-45](/acts/13-44-45 "Jewish Opposition in Pisidian Antioch")). Verse 46 is the apostles' decisive and Spirit-led response to this escalating hostility, marking a formal turning point in their missionary strategy for this region and setting a precedent for future endeavors.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Pisidian Antioch was a significant Roman colony in the province of Galatia, strategically located on a major trade route. As a Roman colony, it enjoyed certain privileges and had a diverse population, including a substantial Jewish community with a synagogue, which served as the initial point of contact for Paul's evangelism. The Jewish people, as God's chosen covenant people, had historically been the recipients of God's revelation and promises. The expectation, rooted in Old Testament prophecy, was that the Messiah would come to Israel first. Paul, as a devout Jew and an apostle to the Gentiles, consistently followed this pattern of going "to the Jew first" ([Romans 1:16](/romans/1-16 "The Gospel for Jew First and Then Gentile")). However, the repeated pattern of Jewish rejection of the Messiah and the gospel message, as seen here and elsewhere, necessitated a re-evaluation of missionary priorities, leading to the formal inclusion of Gentiles on a wider scale. This decision, while divinely ordained, was also a pragmatic response to the immediate cultural and religious landscape of the diaspora synagogues.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 13:46 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Acts and Pauline theology. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Priority and Human Responsibility**, emphasizing that God's word was first offered to Israel, but their rejection carried severe consequences. This rejection, however, does not thwart God's plan but rather redirects it, highlighting the theme of **God's Unstoppable Mission and Universal Salvation**. The turning to the Gentiles underscores the inclusive nature of the gospel, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the nations coming to God ([Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "Isaiah's Prophecy of Light to the Gentiles")). Furthermore, the apostles' "waxing bold" exemplifies the theme of **Spirit-Empowered Witness**, a recurring motif throughout Acts where believers are enabled to proclaim the truth fearlessly in the face of opposition ([Acts 4:29-31](/acts/4-29-31 "Prayer for Boldness and Spirit's Empowerment")). This verse also sets a crucial precedent for Paul's future missionary strategy, solidifying the shift towards Gentile evangelism that would define much of his apostolic ministry, as seen in later declarations in [Acts 18:6](/acts/18-6 "Paul's Declaration in Corinth") and [Acts 28:28](/acts/28-28 "Paul's Final Declaration in Rome")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **bold (Greek, _parrhēsiázomai'_):** This word signifies speaking openly, freely, and with full confidence, often in public or before hostile audiences. It conveys a sense of courage and fearlessness, indicating that Paul and Barnabas were not intimidated by the opposition but rather spoke with divine authority and conviction, empowered by the Holy Spirit to declare a difficult truth.
* **judge (Greek, _krínō'_):** Properly meaning "to distinguish" or "to decide," in this context, it carries the sense of making a judgment or decision about oneself. The Jews, by their actions of rejecting the gospel, implicitly or explicitly declared themselves unworthy of the eternal life offered through Christ. This is not a judgment imposed by Paul, but a self-condemnation enacted by their own refusal.
* **Gentiles (Greek, _éthnos'_):** This term refers to "a race" or "a tribe," specifically a foreign or non-Jewish people, often implying pagan or non-covenant individuals. The turning "to the Gentiles" signifies a deliberate and formal shift in missionary focus from the Jewish synagogue to the broader non-Jewish population, marking a significant expansion of the gospel's reach beyond its initial, ethnically defined boundaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said,"**: This opening clause highlights the apostles' courageous and Spirit-empowered response to the intense opposition they faced. Their boldness (parrēsiázomai) was not reckless defiance but a divinely inspired confidence to speak truth in the face of escalating hostility and blasphemy from some in the Jewish community. It sets the tone for the profound declaration that follows.
* **"It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you:"**: This statement affirms God's established order for the spread of the gospel, acknowledging the historical and theological priority of the Jewish people as the initial recipients of God's saving message. It underscores that Paul and Barnabas were acting in accordance with divine necessity and prophetic fulfillment, having faithfully offered the message to Israel first.
* **"but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,"**: This clause presents the reason for the strategic shift. The phrase "put it from you" (apōthéomai) denotes a deliberate and active rejection, a pushing away of the divine offer. By this rejection, the Jewish audience implicitly or explicitly made a self-judgment, deeming themselves "unworthy" (áxios) of the "everlasting life" (aiṓnios zoḗ) offered through the gospel. This is a sobering indictment of their spiritual state, emphasizing human responsibility in accepting or rejecting God's grace.
* **"lo, we turn to the Gentiles."**: This concluding declaration is a dramatic and pivotal pronouncement. "Lo" (idoú) draws immediate attention to the momentous nature of the statement. "We turn" (stréphō) signifies a complete reversal or reorientation of their missionary efforts. This is not a casual decision but a formal, apostolic declaration of intent to shift their primary evangelistic focus from the Jewish communities to the non-Jewish world, signaling the expansion of the gospel to all nations in fulfillment of God's universal redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 13:46 is rich in literary devices that amplify its significance. The phrase "waxed bold" employs **Emotive Language** and **Hyperbole** to convey the apostles' heightened courage and conviction in a moment of intense confrontation, emphasizing their divine empowerment. The structure of the statement, moving from divine necessity ("It was necessary") to human rejection ("ye put it from you") and culminating in a decisive action ("we turn to the Gentiles"), functions as a powerful **Rhetorical Declaration**. This declaration also serves as a **Turning Point** in the narrative of Acts, marking a formal and strategic shift in the early church's missionary endeavors from a primary focus on Jewish evangelism to a broader, more intentional outreach to the Gentiles. Furthermore, there is an element of **Dramatic Irony** in the Jewish community "judging themselves unworthy," as their rejection of the Messiah, intended to preserve their distinct identity, paradoxically opened the door for the inclusion of the very Gentiles they often disdained, thus fulfilling God's larger redemptive purpose.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 13:46 is a watershed moment, illustrating the tension between God's particular covenant with Israel and His universal plan of salvation. Theologically, it underscores the principle that while God's word was first presented to His chosen people, their rejection does not nullify His purposes but rather redirects the flow of His grace. This turning to the Gentiles is not an abandonment of Israel, but an expansion of the divine invitation, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to redeem humanity from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. It highlights the profound truth that salvation is by grace through faith, accessible to all who respond, and that human rejection, while tragic, cannot ultimately thwart the sovereign will of God to bring His saving message to the ends of the earth. This event is a crucial step in the unfolding of the Great Commission, demonstrating the practical outworking of the gospel's global mandate.

* [Romans 1:16](/romans/1-16 "The Gospel for Jew First and Then Gentile")
* [Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "Prophecy of Light to the Gentiles")
* [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "The Kingdom Taken from Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 13:46 offers profound insights for contemporary believers regarding God's mission, human responsibility, and courageous witness. It reminds us that while God initiates salvation and extends His gracious invitation, human beings bear the responsibility to respond. The sobering truth that individuals can "judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life" by rejecting the gospel serves as a powerful warning against apathy, pride, or deliberate unbelief. For the church today, this verse is a clarion call to embrace God's universal mission, recognizing that the gospel is for all people, regardless of background, ethnicity, or social standing. It challenges us to break down any self-imposed barriers to evangelism and to actively pursue the lost, just as Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles. Furthermore, the apostles' "boldness" in the face of opposition is a model for us. In a world that may be indifferent or hostile to the Christian message, we are called to speak the truth of God's Word with courage, conviction, and compassion, trusting in the Holy Spirit's empowerment rather than human strength.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might individuals or communities today "judge themselves unworthy" of God's grace by their actions or attitudes towards the gospel?**
* **How does the turning to the Gentiles in Acts 13:46 challenge any exclusive or insular tendencies within the contemporary church?**
* **What specific situations in your life or ministry call for the kind of "boldness" demonstrated by Paul and Barnabas in proclaiming God's truth?**

### FAQ
**Was the turning to the Gentiles a complete abandonment of the Jews by Paul?**

Answer: No, the turning to the Gentiles in Acts 13:46 was not a complete abandonment of the Jewish people by Paul. While it marked a strategic shift in primary focus due to widespread rejection in certain Jewish communities, Paul consistently maintained a deep love and concern for his kinsmen according to the flesh ([Romans 9:1-5](/romans/9-1-5 "Paul's Anguish for Israel")). He continued to preach in synagogues first whenever he entered a new city, as seen in [Acts 14:1](/acts/14-1 "Paul Preaches in Iconium") and [Acts 17:1-2](/acts/17-1-2 "Paul Preaches in Thessalonica"). Paul's theological understanding, articulated most fully in [Romans 9-11](/romans/9-11 "God's Plan for Israel"), reveals that he believed in a future restoration for Israel, and that the inclusion of the Gentiles would ultimately provoke Israel to jealousy, leading to their eventual salvation. The shift was more about missionary priority and strategy in response to current receptivity, rather than a permanent theological rejection of Israel.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 13:46, while a declaration by Paul and Barnabas, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the universal scope of Jesus' redemptive work and His Great Commission. The "necessity" of the word being spoken first to the Jews reflects Christ's own ministry, which was primarily to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" ([Matthew 15:24](/matthew/15-24 "Jesus' Mission to Israel")). However, the rejection of the Messiah by many within Israel, tragically leading them to "judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life," ultimately paved the way for the full revelation of Christ as the Savior of all humanity. Jesus himself prophesied that the gospel would be preached "to all nations" ([Matthew 24:14](/matthew/24-14 "The Gospel to All Nations")), and His death on the cross was not just for Israel but for "the sins of the whole world" ([1 John 2:2](/1_john/2-2 "Christ's Atonement for the World")). The apostles' turning to the Gentiles is thus a direct outworking of Christ's finished work and His command to make disciples of all nations ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "The Great Commission")). It demonstrates that in Christ, the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile has been broken down ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Christ Breaks Down the Dividing Wall")), creating one new humanity united under the Lordship of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, regardless of their ethnic origin ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 28:28

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.

Acts 26:20

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Matthew 21:43

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Acts 18:5

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews [that] Jesus [was] Christ.

Acts 18:6

And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook [his] raiment, and said unto them, Your blood [be] upon your own heads; I [am] clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Acts 3:26

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Romans 2:10

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: