Acts 13 48

Acts 13:48 kjv

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Acts 13:48 nkjv

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 13:48 niv

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Acts 13:48 esv

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 13:48 nlt

When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 48 Meaning

Acts 13:48 marks a pivotal moment where the gospel message, rejected by many Jews, finds widespread acceptance among the Gentiles in Antioch of Pisidia. The verse describes their joyous response to the message and highlights that salvation, leading to eternal life, is intimately linked to belief, with a specific emphasis on those who were divinely prepared or predisposed to receive it. It signifies the Spirit's work in preparing hearts and the sovereign hand of God in drawing people to Himself for eternal salvation through faith in Christ.

Acts 13 48 Context

Acts chapter 13 narrates Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey, beginning from Antioch. In Antioch of Pisidia, they preach in the synagogue, sharing the good news of Jesus, fulfilling prophecies concerning the Messiah. While some Jews and proselytes believe, many Jews vehemently reject their message and slander them. This resistance leads Paul and Barnabas to declare their shift of focus: "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46). Verse 48 immediately follows this pivotal statement, illustrating the receptive response of the Gentiles, in stark contrast to the hardened Jewish opposition, thereby vindicating the missionaries' decision and showing God's broader redemptive plan.

Acts 13 48 Word analysis

• And when the Gentiles (τὰ ἔθνη, ta ethnē) heard this:

  • Gentiles: Refers to non-Jews. This audience explicitly embraces the message, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about God's universal plan for salvation. The word emphasizes the widening scope of God's redemptive work beyond Israel.

• they were glad (ἔχαιρον, echaion):

  • Glad: Indicates joy and excitement. This is a common and appropriate response to receiving good news, particularly the liberating truth of the Gospel. It contrasts with the animosity and rejection encountered from some Jews.

• and glorified (ἐδόξαζον, edoxazon) the word (τὸν λόγον, ton logon) of the Lord:

  • Glorified: To honor, praise, or recognize the authority and majesty of something. Here, they attribute greatness and praise to God's message, acknowledging its divine origin and power.
  • Word of the Lord: Refers to the Gospel message about Jesus Christ. This glorification isn't merely intellectual ascent but a spiritual acknowledgment and adoration of the truth revealed.

• and as many as were appointed (τεταγμένοι, tetagmenoi) to eternal life (εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον, eis zōēn aiōnion) believed (ἐπίστευσαν, episteusan).

  • Appointed: tetagmenoi is a perfect passive participle of tasso (τάσσω), meaning "to arrange, order, fix, determine, assign."
    • The perfect tense suggests an action completed in the past with ongoing results, implying a settled, pre-arranged condition.
    • The passive voice indicates that the "appointing" was done to them, not by them. This points to an external agent performing the action, commonly understood to be God.
    • This term is central to the theological debate. Some interpret it as divine pre-appointment or predestination, indicating that God sovereignly chose and ordained these individuals for salvation before they heard the message. Others understand it as referring to those who had "set themselves in order," were "disposed," or "ripe" for eternal life through their responsiveness to truth and openness to God, suggesting a readiness cultivated through general revelation or spiritual longing. However, the passive voice makes the "set themselves" interpretation grammatically less likely. The consensus among many scholars is that it denotes divine activity.
  • Eternal life: Refers to a quality of life—spiritual life—that begins here and now with God and extends infinitely, characterized by relationship with God through Christ. It is the promised gift of salvation, contrasting with spiritual death.
  • Believed: episteusan (aorist active indicative) indicates a definite, decisive act of faith. This is the human response of trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation. This belief is shown to be the necessary conduit for receiving eternal life, yet the previous phrase "appointed" highlights God's role in enabling or initiating that belief.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord": This phrase highlights the stark contrast between the receptive, joyful response of the Gentiles and the rejection by many Jews in the previous verses. It shows the fruit of turning to the Gentiles as commissioned by God. Their immediate spiritual joy and praise underscore the profound impact of the Gospel message when received by open hearts.
  • "As many as were appointed to eternal life believed": This profound statement reveals the interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation. It teaches that while belief (human responsibility) is necessary for eternal life, this belief is intertwined with God's prior work of "appointing" or preparing hearts. It signifies that the effective reception of the Gospel is not random, but occurs among those whom God has ordained or enabled. This group received not just "information" but the very life-transforming power of the "word of the Lord."

Acts 13 48 Bonus section

• The passage's theological implications concerning predestination versus free will have been debated throughout church history. While "appointed" (τεταγμένοι) implies God's prior decision or arrangement, it is always understood within the biblical framework that belief is the necessary human response, and the Gospel call is genuinely extended to all (Rom 10:13). The verse portrays the effectiveness of God's sovereign working in bringing people to genuine faith.
• This verse represents a fulfillment of the "pivot to the Gentiles" that began to unfold more explicitly in Acts with Peter's vision and Cornelius's conversion (Acts 10) and solidified by the Holy Spirit's commission of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2-4). Antioch of Pisidia is where this missionary strategy is publicly declared and visibly implemented.
• The widespread conversion of Gentiles here served as a precursor to future growth of the early church predominantly among non-Jews, underscoring the universal nature of the Gospel and challenging Jewish exclusivism of the time. This shift laid groundwork for the theological discussions that would take place in Jerusalem regarding Gentile inclusion (Acts 15).

Acts 13 48 Commentary

Acts 13:48 is a deeply significant verse, encapsulating critical theological themes within a historical narrative. It demonstrates God's consistent plan for the salvation of all nations, as prophesied throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Isa 49:6). Following the Jewish rejection of the gospel in Antioch of Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles, confirming God's sovereign initiative to draw individuals from every people group.

The phrase "as many as were appointed to eternal life believed" stands as a theological cornerstone. The Greek verb tetagmenoi (appointed) points strongly to God's sovereign hand in salvation. It is not that some individuals "appointed themselves" or simply had a prior disposition by chance, but that God, in His gracious design, had designated or ordered certain individuals for salvation. This does not diminish human responsibility, as their belief (episteusan) was a genuine and active response. Rather, it suggests that the capacity or readiness to believe in saving faith is ultimately enabled by divine grace and prior working (Jn 6:44; Acts 16:14; Eph 2:8).

This verse highlights several realities:

1. Divine Sovereignty: God is actively involved in salvation, drawing and preparing hearts.
2. Human Responsibility: Individuals must still "believe" to receive eternal life.
3. Gracious Initiative: Salvation flows from God's gracious purpose, not human merit.
4. Inclusivity: God's plan extends beyond ethnic boundaries to include Gentiles.

The gladness and glorification of God's Word by the Gentiles serve as a model response to the gospel, showcasing a sincere spiritual transformation in contrast to mere intellectual acknowledgment. The profound implications for understanding God's method of bringing people to Himself continue to shape Christian theology and mission.