Acts 13 45

Acts 13:45 kjv

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Acts 13:45 nkjv

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

Acts 13:45 niv

When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

Acts 13:45 esv

But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.

Acts 13:45 nlt

But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 45 Meaning

Acts 13:45 reveals the strong opposition faced by Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch. Upon witnessing the massive crowds gathering to hear the apostles, the Jewish leaders and influential individuals were filled with deep envy. This envy spurred them to actively speak against Paul's preaching, engaging in direct contradiction and expressing blasphemous statements against the divine message and its proclaimed truths. It marks a critical turning point where personal jealousy and fear of losing influence led to open hostility against the gospel's expansion, particularly to the Gentiles.

Acts 13 45 Context

Acts 13 begins Paul's first missionary journey. In Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and upon invitation, Paul delivered a powerful sermon (Acts 13:16-41). His message traced Israel's history to its culmination in Jesus Christ as the promised Savior, offering forgiveness of sins and justification not possible through the Mosaic Law. Many Jews and proselytes responded positively (Acts 13:42-43). On the following Sabbath, almost the entire city, Jew and Gentile alike, gathered to hear the Word of God (Acts 13:44), demonstrating immense interest and the gospel's widespread appeal. This verse, Acts 13:45, describes the reaction of some of the Jews (likely synagogue leaders or those strongly attached to the established religious order) to this unprecedented Gentile interest and Paul's success. Historically, Judaism was an established religion in the Roman Empire with recognized privileges. The growing popularity of the Nazarene sect, particularly its inclusion of Gentiles without full proselyte conversion requirements (like circumcision), would have been perceived by many as a threat to their identity, authority, and theological distinctives. This set the stage for direct conflict between the Jewish religious establishment and the expanding Christian movement.

Acts 13 45 Word analysis

• But: (δὲ - de) A common connective, here signaling a strong contrast to the positive response of the previous verses (Acts 13:43-44).

• when: (ἴδοντες - idontes) A participle from horaō, "to see." Implies not merely passive observation, but perceiving or understanding the implications of what they saw—the sheer number and diversity of the crowd, indicating the immense popularity and traction Paul's message was gaining.

• the Jews: (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι - hoi Ioudaioi) Refers specifically to the group of Jews within the synagogue or community who were resistant and adversarial, often those holding influence or deeply attached to traditional structures and exclusivity. It does not refer to all Jews in the city, as some had already believed (Acts 13:43). This term in Acts often designates the religious authorities or hardened opposition.

• saw: (ἴδοντες - idontes) (covered above, part of "when...saw").

• the multitudes: (τοὺς ὄχλους - tous ochlous) Literally "the crowds." This refers to the vast number of people mentioned in Acts 13:44 ("almost the whole city"). It emphasizes the widespread appeal of Paul's message among the populace, including Gentiles and God-fearing proselytes, which was alarming to the Jewish leadership.

• they were filled with: (ἐπλήσθησαν - eplēsthēsan) A strong verb, indicating a complete engulfment or overwhelming emotion, suggesting this feeling dominated their disposition. It’s passive voice, showing something happened to them—they became overcome.

• envy: (ζήλου - zēlou) From zelos. While zelos can mean positive zeal or fervent devotion, here the context dictates its negative meaning: jealousy, envious rivalry, or bitter indignation. They were envious of Paul's popularity, the gospel's success, and perhaps the attention that Gentiles were now receiving from God through this new message. This wasn't godly zeal but a carnal, self-centered emotion.

• and spake against: (καὶ ἀντέλεγον - kai antelegon) From antilegō, meaning to speak against, contradict, or dispute. The imperfect tense indicates continuous or repeated action; they were persistently opposing and refuting Paul's teaching. This was active verbal opposition aimed at discrediting his message.

• those things which were spoken by Paul: (τοῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου λαλουμένοις - tois hypo tou Paulou laloumenois) Refers directly to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul was proclaiming, encompassing salvation, forgiveness of sins, and justification by faith (Acts 13:38-39). Their opposition was precisely to the substance of Paul's teaching.

• contradicting: (ἀντέλεγον - antelegon) (covered above, part of "spake against").

• and blaspheming: (καὶ βλασφημοῦντες - kai blasphemountes) From blasphēmeō. This is a very serious charge. It means to speak irreverently, impiously, or abusively against God, sacred things, or even against Christ himself. In this context, it could imply verbally insulting or denigrating Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit by whom Paul spoke, or the very gospel message, treating it as something vile or contemptible. It reveals a level of animosity that transcended mere theological disagreement to open contempt for divine revelation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy": This phrase highlights the root cause of the opposition: not a rational theological debate but an emotional, self-serving reaction. The numerical success of the gospel among the ochloi (crowds, often meaning common people, including many Gentiles) ignited the "zelos" (jealousy/envy) of certain Jews. This envy sprang from a perceived threat to their established authority, influence, and the exclusivity they attributed to their position before God.
  • "and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming": This describes the specific nature and escalation of their hostile reaction. Their opposition wasn't passive; they verbally "spoke against" (repeatedly "contradicting") Paul's message, attempting to discredit it. The inclusion of "blaspheming" shows a heightened level of defiance. They crossed the line from argument to sacrilegious abuse, directly dishonoring the message, its divine origin, and the person of Christ whom Paul proclaimed. This suggests a hardened heart rejecting divine truth, moving beyond mere unbelief to active vilification.

Acts 13 45 Bonus section

• The term "Jews" here is often understood in Acts not as every individual of Jewish descent but refers to those who actively rejected the Gospel message, particularly the religious leaders and their followers who became staunch opponents of the nascent Christian movement.
• This verse marks one of several instances in Acts where the pattern of initial positive Gentile reception followed by Jewish opposition, leading Paul to turn to the Gentiles, becomes clear (e.g., Acts 18:6; 28:28).
• The envy described is a carnal response, highlighting that opposition to God's truth can stem from selfish human emotions rather than intellectual conviction. It's a sobering reminder that religious devotion, when coupled with human pride or attachment to status, can become fertile ground for rejecting divine grace.
• The blasphemy charge against Paul and his message is ironic, as he was presenting Jesus as the very fulfillment of Jewish scripture and the pathway to true honor of God.

Acts 13 45 Commentary

Acts 13:45 is a pivotal moment illustrating the nature of spiritual opposition to the gospel. The sudden and massive attendance on the second Sabbath in Pisidian Antioch—"almost the whole city" coming to hear Paul—provoked a deeply negative response from certain Jewish individuals, specifically identified as "the Jews." Their reaction was driven not by reasoned theological objection alone, but primarily by intense envy (zelos). They saw their own authority and spiritual exclusivity threatened by the Gentile reception of the gospel message and Paul's burgeoning influence.

This envy quickly manifested in outward, aggressive verbal assault. They "spake against" Paul's message, not in respectful debate but in continuous contradiction (antelegon), attempting to refute or deny the truths he presented about Jesus. The severity escalated to "blaspheming" (blasphēmountes). This was more than just disagreement; it implied reviling or insulting God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit by associating the divine message with falsehood or evil, a serious rejection of divine revelation. This hostility indicates a hardened heart and a closed spirit to God's moving. It perfectly sets the scene for Paul's momentous decision in the very next verse to turn explicitly to the Gentiles, acknowledging that their rejection opened the door for God's redemptive plan to embrace those previously outside the covenant promises.