Acts 21:19

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

And {G2532} when he had saluted {G782} them {G846}, he declared {G1834} particularly {G2596}{G1520}{G1538} what things {G3739} God {G2316} had wrought {G4160} among {G1722} the Gentiles {G1484} by {G1223} his {G846} ministry {G1248}.

After greeting them, Sha’ul described in detail each of the things God had done among the Gentiles through his efforts.

Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.

This verse describes a pivotal moment in Paul's journey to Jerusalem, detailing his interaction with the leaders of the church there.

Context

Paul has arrived in Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey. He is welcomed by the believers and the following day meets with James and the elders of the church. This meeting is significant as it connects Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, with the leadership of the mother church in Jerusalem, which had a strong Jewish Christian base. The atmosphere, however, is charged with underlying tensions regarding Paul's ministry and his relationship with Jewish law, which is addressed in the verses immediately following this one.

Key Themes

  • Reporting Ministry Success: Paul's primary action is reporting the outcomes of his ministry. This highlights the practice of accountability and sharing within the early church leadership.
  • God's Work: Paul emphasizes that it was not his own power, but "what things God had wrought among the Gentiles," giving glory to God for the expansion of the gospel.
  • Gentile Inclusion: The focus on God's work "among the Gentiles" underscores the major theme of Acts and Paul's ministry – the inclusion of non-Jews into the covenant community through faith in Christ. This was a central point of discussion and sometimes contention in the early church (see Acts 15:12).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "had wrought" comes from the Greek word katergazomai, which means "to work out, accomplish, produce, effect." It implies a powerful and effective work. Paul attributes this powerful accomplishment not to himself, but directly to God's action through his ministry.

Reflection

Paul's example here teaches us the importance of reporting God's work in our lives and through our efforts, always giving Him the credit. It reminds us that the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church are fundamentally God's doing, using human instruments. It also celebrates the ongoing reality of God extending His grace to people from all backgrounds, just as He did among the Gentiles through Paul's ministry. We are called to participate in and testify to this same work of God in the world today, recognizing that it is God who works in us.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 14:27

    And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

  • Acts 1:17

    For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

  • Romans 15:18

    For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

  • Romans 15:19

    Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • Acts 20:24

    But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

  • Acts 15:12

    Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back