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.
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.
- BSB Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
- ESV So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
- 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:
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 12:17But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place.
- Acts 13:26Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
- Acts 10:2a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
- Acts 2:22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
- Rev 2:11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.
- Rev 2:29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
- Ps 49:1–3For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
- Rev 2:7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
- Acts 3:12When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
- Acts 2:14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
- Deut 32:46–47He said to them, “Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you today, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
- Matt 11:15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
- Ps 135:20House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!
- Acts 19:33They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.
- Acts 22:22They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”
- Acts 21:40When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
- Ps 85:9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
- Luke 1:50His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
- Rev 2:17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.
- Acts 10:35but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
- Mic 3:8–9But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.
- Acts 13:46Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
- 1 Kgs 8:40that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.
- Acts 13:42–43So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
- Ps 67:7God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
- Ps 78:1–2A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
- Luke 23:40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
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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.
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Original language
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