And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the 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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 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 1:3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
- Luke 24:48And ye are witnesses of these things.
- Matt 28:16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
- Acts 1:11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
- Acts 1:8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
- 1 Cor 15:5–7And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
- Acts 2:32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
- Acts 10:39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
- John 15:27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
- Mark 16:12–14After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
- Acts 3:15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
- Luke 24:36–42And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
- Acts 1:22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
- John 20:19–29Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
- John 21:1–14After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
- Heb 2:3–4How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
- Acts 5:32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
- Acts 10:41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink 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.