Acts 13 41

Acts 13:41 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.

Acts 13:41 nkjv

'Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.' "

Acts 13:41 niv

"?'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'"

Acts 13:41 esv

"'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"

Acts 13:41 nlt

'Look, you mockers,
be amazed and die!
For I am doing something in your own day,
something you wouldn't believe
even if someone told you about it.' "

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 41 Meaning

Acts 13:41 is a severe prophetic warning quoted by Paul from Habakkuk 1:5, directed at those who despise and reject God's "work" or divine activity, specifically referring to the salvation offered through Jesus Christ and its extension to the Gentiles. It proclaims that God is performing an unprecedented work that unbelievers will never comprehend or accept, and this rejection will lead to their marveling in disbelief, followed by their spiritual and potentially physical ruin. The verse underscores the grave consequences of spurning God's revelation and action.

Acts 13 41 Context

Acts chapter 13 begins Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey. Upon arriving in Pisidian Antioch, they are invited to speak in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Paul delivers a sermon outlining salvation history, from the call of Abraham, through the Exodus, the judges, Samuel, and King David, emphasizing God's faithfulness to Israel and His promise to raise up a Savior from David's lineage. He explicitly presents Jesus as the fulfillment of these promises, focusing on His crucifixion and resurrection as the key events. Paul passionately declares that through Jesus, forgiveness of sins and justification are available, something the Mosaic Law could not provide (Acts 13:38-39). Verse 40 issues a strong warning: "Beware, therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you." This sets the stage for the direct quotation from Habakkuk 1:5 in verse 41, which functions as Paul's final, climactic, and ominous warning to his Jewish audience regarding their potential rejection of this unprecedented work of God.

Historically, this occurs in the early years of the Christian movement, when the gospel was primarily preached to the Jews. Their cultural expectation was often a political Messiah who would liberate them from Roman rule, making a crucified Savior, and one who offered salvation outside the strictures of the Law, a significant stumbling block.

Acts 13 41 Word analysis

• Behold (Ἴδετε - Idete): A strong imperative, meaning "look!", "see!", or "pay attention!". It serves to capture immediate attention, emphasizing the seriousness and gravity of the subsequent warning. It signifies something astounding is about to be revealed.
• you despisers (οἱ καταφρονηταί - hoi kataphrontai): Plural nominative, meaning "scorners," "contemptuous ones," "those who look down on or undervalue." This refers to those who show contempt for God's message, dismissing it with disdain or a sense of superiority, often rooted in unbelief.
• marvel (θαυμάσατε - thaumasate): An aorist imperative, meaning "be astonished," "be amazed," or "wonder." It suggests a state of bewildered awe or shock, but in this context, it's not a pleasant wonder, rather one arising from incomprehension and the impending consequences.
• and perish (καὶ ἀφανίσθητε - kai aphanisthete): Aorist imperative, meaning "and be brought to nothing," "vanish," "be utterly destroyed," "disappear." This is a severe judgment, indicating utter ruin and disappearance, emphasizing divine consequence for their despising. It implies both spiritual and potentially national destruction.
• For I work a work (ὅτι ἔργον ἐργάζομαι ἐγὼ - hoti ergon ergazomai ego): "For I (God) am doing a work." The phrase "ergon ergazomai" uses the cognate accusative (a noun and verb from the same root), highlighting the definite and powerful nature of the divine action. It signifies God is actively engaged in an extraordinary act.
• in your days (ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν - en tais hēmerais hymōn): This makes the prophecy intensely personal and immediate to Paul's audience. It's not a distant event but something God is accomplishing in their very lifetime, before their eyes.
• A work which you will by no means believe (ἔργον ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε - ergon ho ou mē pisteusēte): The Greek uses a double negative (οὐ μή - ou mē) with the aorist subjunctive, which expresses the strongest possible denial. It emphatically states that they absolutely will not believe this work, no matter how much evidence is given. Their unbelief is deep-seated and persistent.
• Though one declares it to you (ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται ὑμῖν - ean tis ekdiēgētai hymin): Even if someone fully explains and expounds this work to them in detail, they still won't believe it. This underscores the willful nature of their unbelief, not simply a lack of information.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish": This phrase combines a stark attention-grabber, a sharp accusation, and two severe imperatives. It sets a confrontational tone, directly indicting the audience's attitude and predicting their grim fate. The 'marvel' here is a horror-stricken awe at impending judgment, not joyful wonder.
• "For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe": This establishes the "work" as divine and currently unfolding, not future. The emphatic double negative stresses the profound and seemingly unshakeable nature of their unbelief concerning this specific work of God—referring to the new covenant era inaugurated by Christ, especially the inclusion of Gentiles and justification by faith apart from law.

Acts 13 41 Bonus section

This quote from Habakkuk 1:5, particularly the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) version that Paul likely used, emphasizes that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension and expectation. What might appear as a "strange work" or a "strange act" (cf. Isa 28:21) to human logic or traditional understanding is, in fact, God's sovereign and righteous doing. The application by Paul here suggests an inherent human tendency to disbelieve divine action when it diverges from pre-conceived notions or comfortable traditions. The irony is profound: God's ultimate act of salvation is met with the very unbelief foretold in the Scriptures themselves. This verse stands as a timeless admonition, not only to Paul's original hearers but to all generations, about the peril of hardened hearts and intellectual scorn toward the unexpected, glorious works of God. It's a call to humility and receptive faith rather than skeptical dismissiveness, for such contempt brings only destruction.

Acts 13 41 Commentary

Acts 13:41 serves as a pivotal warning in Paul's sermon, drawing from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk (1:5) to address the skepticism and rejection among his Jewish audience. God's "work" here primarily refers to the redemptive plan centered on Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, extending salvation not only to Israel but also to Gentiles. Paul applies Habakkuk's prophecy, which originally concerned God's unbelievable use of the Babylonians as an instrument of judgment against Israel's wickedness, to the new, unexpected, and seemingly unbelievable reality of Christ crucified as Messiah.

The "despisers" are those who look down on, scorn, or simply dismiss the Gospel message. Their response of "marveling" will not be one of joyful acceptance but of shock, horror, or incredulous disbelief as they witness God's new plan unfolding outside their expectations, particularly its inclusivity. This marvel leads directly to "perish," implying spiritual ruin, loss of salvation, and even temporal destruction, as happened to those in Habakkuk's time who disbelieved God's prior work. The core issue is the utter certainty of their unbelief ("by no means believe"), despite the clear declaration of the truth. This is not due to a lack of evidence, but a willful resistance of heart. This powerful warning highlights that rejection of God's clear revelation through His Son has severe, eternal consequences. It challenges any notion of passive acceptance of divine action, demanding instead a humble, believing response.