and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.
Parallel translations
- WEB and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.
- KJV And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
- ESV and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
- NKJV He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
- NASB and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people.
- NLT And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.
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
The risen Jesus appeared for many days to those who came with him from Galilee, and they are now his witnesses. Eyewitnesses confirm the resurrection.
Overview
Paul appeals to the many credible witnesses who saw the risen Christ over a period of days, grounding the resurrection in verifiable testimony. These Galilean followers now bear witness to the people. The emphasis on eyewitnesses shows that Christian faith rests on historical reality, not legend.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Acts 1:3After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
- Luke 24:48You are witnesses of these things.
- Matt 28:16Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated.
- Acts 1:11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
- Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- 1 Cor 15:5–7and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.
- Acts 2:32God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.
- Acts 10:39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
- John 15:27And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
- Mark 16:12–14After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.
- Acts 3:15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.
- Luke 24:36–42While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
- Acts 1:22beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
- John 20:19–29It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.
- John 21:1–14Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way:
- Heb 2:3–4how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
- Acts 5:32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
- Acts 10:41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 13:31 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.