Acts 13:41
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”
- KJV
- Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
- WEB
- ‘Behold, you scoffers! Wonder and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”
- ASV
- Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.
- DARBY
- Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish; for *I* work a work in your days, a work which ye will in no wise believe if one declare it to you.
- BLB
- ‘Behold, scoffers, and wonder and perish; for I am working a work in your⁺ days, a work that you⁺ would never believe, even if one should declare it to you⁺.’”
- ÅB
- Se, dere foraktere, og undre dere og bli til intet! for en gjerning gjør jeg i deres dager, en gjerning som dere ikke vil tro om noen forteller dere det.
- OTB
- 'Se, dere spottere,
se i undring og forsvinn,
for jeg skal gjøre noe i deres dager
som dere aldri ville tro,
selv om noen fortalte dere det.'" - B1930
- Se, I foraktere, og undre eder og bli til intet! for en gjerning gjør jeg i eders dager, en gjerning som I ikke vil tro om nogen forteller eder det.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Habakkuk 1:5
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
Read in context1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Read in contextRomans 11:7–14
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Read in contextIsaiah 28:14–22
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
Read in contextColossians 1:26–27
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Read in contextProverbs 5:12
And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
Read in contextMatthew 22:7–10
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Read in contextLuke 21:20–26
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Read in context