Acts 13:46-47

Context
13:46 Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously,¹ “It was necessary to speak the word of God² to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy³ of eternal life, we⁴ are turning to the Gentiles.⁵ 13:47 For this⁶ is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed⁷ you to be a light⁸ for the Gentiles, to bring salvation⁹ to the ends of the earth.’”¹⁰

[13:46] ¹tn Grk “Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out courageously and said.” The redundancy is removed in the translation and the verb “replied” is used in keeping with the logical sequence of events. The theme of boldness reappears: Acts 4:24-30; 9:27-28.

[13:46] ²tn Grk “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken.” For smoothness and simplicity of English style, the passive construction has been converted to active voice in the translation.

[13:46] ³tn Or “and consider yourselves unworthy.”

[13:46] ⁴tn Grk “behold, we.” In this context ἰδού (idou) is not easily translated into English.

[13:46] ⁵sn This turning to the Gentiles would be a shocking rebuke to 1st century Jews who thought they alone were the recipients of the promise.

[13:47] ⁶tn Here οὕτως (Joutws) is taken to refer to what follows, the content of the quotation, as given for this verse by BDAG 742 s.v. οὕτω/οὕτως 2.

[13:47] ⁷tn BDAG 1004 s.v. τίθημι 3.a has “τιθέναι τινὰ εἴς τι place/appoint someone to or for (to function as) someth….Ac 13:47.” This is a double accusative construction of object (“you”) and complement (“a light”).

[13:47] ⁸sn Paul alludes here to the language of the Servant in Isaiah, pointing to Isa 42:6; 49:6. He and Barnabas do the work of the Servant in Isaiah.

[13:47] ⁹tn Grk “that you should be for salvation,” but more simply “to bring salvation.”

[13:47] ¹⁰sn An allusion to Isa 42:6 and 49:6. The expression the ends of the earth recalls Luke 3:6 and Acts 1:8. Paul sees himself and Barnabas as carrying out the commission of Luke 24:27. (See 2 Cor 6:2, where servant imagery also appears concerning Paul’s message.)