Acts 13:46

44 On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

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.

47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

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
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.
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.
WEB
Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
ASV
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.
DARBY
And Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly and said, It was necessary that the word of God should be first spoken to you; but, since ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the nations;
BLB
And Paul and Barnabas, having spoken boldly, said, “It was necessary [for] the word of God to be spoken first to you⁺. But since you⁺ thrust it away and do not judge yourselves worthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
ÅB
Da tok Paulus og Barnabas til orde og sa dem rent ut: Det var nødvendig at Guds ord ble talt først til dere; men siden dere støter det fra dere og ikke akter dere verdige til det evige liv, så vender vi oss nå til hedningene.
OTB
Da talte Paulus og Barnabas frimodig: "Det var nødvendig å tale Guds ord til dere først. Siden dere avviser det og ikke anser dere selv verdige til evig liv, vender vi oss nå til hedningene.
B1930
Da tok Paulus og Barnabas til orde og sa dem rent ut: Det var nødvendig at Guds ord blev talt først til eder; men siden I støter det fra eder og ikke akter eder verdige til det evige liv, så vender vi oss nu til hedningene.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 28:28

    Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

    Read in context
  • Matthew 21:43

    Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

    Read in context
  • Acts 18:5–6

    And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

    Read in context
  • Acts 26:20

    First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.

    Read in context
  • Acts 3:26

    When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

    Read in context
  • Romans 2:10

    but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek.

    Read in context
  • Acts 22:21

    Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:11–13

    I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

    Read in context