Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
Parallel translations
- WEB Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.
- KJV Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
- NKJV Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
- NASB Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
- NLT So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul stands, gestures for attention, and addresses both Israelites and God-fearing Gentiles. He begins a sermon tracing Israel's history to Christ.
Overview
Paul's opening words acknowledge the mixed audience of Jews and Gentile God-fearers, both of whom need the message of salvation. The gesture and address recall the practice of ancient orators. This sermon, the first of Paul's recorded in Acts, parallels Stephen's in surveying Israel's story to show that it culminates in Jesus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 27
- Acts 12:17Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.
- Acts 13:26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
- Acts 10:2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
- Acts 2:22Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
- Rev 2:11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
- Rev 2:29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- Ps 49:1–3For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
- Rev 2:7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
- Acts 3:12And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
- Acts 2:14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.
- Deut 32:46–47he said to them, “Take to heart all these words I testify among you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law.
- Matt 11:15He who has ears, let him hear.
- Ps 135:20O house of Levi, bless the LORD; you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
- Acts 19:33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.
- Acts 22:22The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
- Acts 21:40Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:
- Ps 85:9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
- Luke 1:50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
- Rev 2:17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.
- Acts 10:35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
- Mic 3:8–9As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
- Acts 13:46Then 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.
- 1 Kgs 8:40so that they may fear You all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.
- Acts 13:42–43As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.
- Ps 67:7God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
- Ps 78:1–2A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.
- Luke 23:40But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment?
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 13:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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