As for when, A.V.; God for the Lord, A.V. and T.R. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed . This can only refer to the predestination or election of God, viewed as the moving cause of their faith (comp. Ephesians 1:4 , Ephesians 1:5 , Ephesians 1:11 , Ephesians 1:12 ; Philippians 1:6 ; 2 Timothy 2:9 ; 1 Peter 1:2 . See the Seventeenth Article of Religion). read more
When the Gentiles heard this - Heard that the gospel was to be preached to them. The doctrine of the Jews had been that salvation was confined to themselves. The Gentiles rejoiced that from the mouths of Jews themselves they now heard a different doctrine.They glorified the word of the Lord - They honored it as a message from God; they recognized and received it as the Word of God. The expression conveys the idea of praise on account of it, and of reverence for the message as the Word of... read more
Acts 13:48. And when the Gentiles heard this That such things had been prophesied concerning them many ages ago, and that the way was now open for their admission into covenant with the true God, and that the Lord Jesus had commanded his apostles to receive them into his church, and to admit them to all the benefits of the Messiah’s kingdom, without subjecting them to the law of Moses; they were glad And well they might be so, for they had now the door of faith set wide open to them; and... read more
To Antioch in Pisidia (13:13-52)When the trio arrived at Perga on the mainland of Asia Minor, John Mark, for some unknown reason, left the other two and returned to Jerusalem. Paul considered this a serious failure on Mark’s part (13; see 15:38).From Perga, Paul and Barnabas moved north into the province of Galatia and came to the town of Antioch, often referred to as Pisidian Antioch to distinguish it from Antioch in Syria. There they preached in the synagogue just as they had done in the... read more
ordained = appointed. Greek. tasao. Here, Acts 15:2 ; Acts 22:10 ; Acts 28:23 .Matthew 28:16 . Luke 7:8 . Romans 13:1 . 1 Corinthians 16:15 . eternal . Greek. aionios. read more
And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.Thus success attended the campaign in Antioch; but with that success came the bitter opposition of the Jews who simply determined not to have it so.As many as were ordained to eternal life believed ... As Milligan said, this means that "As many as were disposed to accept God's plan, according to... read more
Acts 13:48. As many as were ordained to eternal life— We observe, 1st, upon this text, that whatever the exact meaning of the word rendered ordained may be, it does not here refer to the decrees of God, but to the disposition of the minds of these Gentiles; as is very evident, from its being used by way of antithesis to the persons mentioned, Act 13:46 that is, to the unbelieving Jews; who, by their obstinacy and wickedness, condemned themselves as unworthy of eternal life; whereas, on the... read more
48. when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad—to perceive that their accession to Christ was a matter of divine arrangement as well as apostolic effort. and glorified the word of the Lord—by a cordial reception of it. and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed—a very remarkable statement, which cannot, without force, be interpreted of anything lower than this, that a divine ordination to eternal life is the cause, not the effect, of any man's believing. read more
Ministry in Antioch of Pisidia 13:14-52Paul and Barnabas proceeded north from the coast about 100 miles to Antioch of Pisidia. The road took them from sea level to 3,600 feet elevation through bandit-infested country. [Note: Blaiklock, p. 105.] They arrived on a lake-filled plateau. Paul later wrote to the Galatians that he had preached the gospel to them at first because of a weakness of the flesh (Galatians 4:13). This seems to indicate that Paul was not in good health when he ministered in... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:44-52
Jewish opposition overruled to the world's good. I. THE TEST OF SINCERITY applied to the professedly zealous. The city stirred by those who "followed not with them." The true zeal is that which is actuated by the true charity, which "rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in truth." II. The best success is that which is obtained by simply FOLLOWING DIVINE DIRECTION . " It was necessary" to encounter the prejudice of the Jews, but the work of the world's evangelization... read more