Acts 13:40 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

NIV: Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

NASB: Therefore, see that the thing spoken of in the Prophets does not come upon you:

CSB: So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:

NLT: Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,

KJV: Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

NKJV: Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

"Beware," or "take care," starts the last of the five sections of Paul's sermon. It is the only synagogue message whose words Luke recorded. Paul and Barnabas are in Pisidian Antioch, speaking to a group of Jews and God-serving Gentiles. The group knows of John the Baptist, how he exhorted people to repent of their sins. They either do not know of Jesus, or they do not know who He really is and what He came to do.

Revealing this is the purpose of Paul's message. He started with an overview of how God saved the Jews in the past and His promise of a Savior to come (Acts 13:16–25). Then he told Jesus' story (Acts 13:26–31) and explained how the Scriptures validate that story (Acts 13:32–37). The fourth, and most difficult, section dealt with a redefinition of God's "salvation"; in the Old Testament, God saved His people from slavery, enemies, and hardships—now He will save them from their sins (Acts 13:38–39). Finally, Paul warns them to accept what the prophets had said.

The message of the prophets has always been that obedience to God brings blessing, disobedience brings curses, and repentance brings restoration. This verse introduces verse 41: "Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you." It is a quote of Habakkuk 1:5, but from the Septuagint which has slightly different wording.

Although the context of Habakkuk doesn't exactly match that of Paul's audience, the meaning stands. God is doing astounding work by sending Jesus to save the people from their sins. It will be very difficult for the Jews to accept this, but those who scoff at His offer will perish. This group of Jews and Gentiles who read from the prophets every week should be able to see how Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the prophecies they are reading. Some will, but some will succumb to jealousy and reject their intended Savior.

Acts 13:16–41 gives the transcript of Paul's message in Pisidian Antioch. It is the only recording of Paul's many synagogue sermons. Paul's message can be broken into five parts, each identified with a call to heed Paul's words: 1. God's saving work in Israel's history and promise of a future Savior (Acts 13:16–25); 2. The Savior's story (Acts 13:26–31); 3. The prophecies of the Savior (Acts 13:32–37); 4. The nature of ''salvation'' (Acts 13:38–39); 5. A warning to accept the Savior (Acts 13:40–41). Some Jews and many Gentiles do accept the message, but the synagogue leaders drive Paul and Barnabas out of town (Acts 13:42–51).

Acts 13 transitions Luke's account (Acts 1:1) fully into a record of Paul's ministry to spread the news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit calls Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. They teach about Jesus' offer of forgiveness of sins on the island of Cyprus and in the district of Pisidia in modern-day south-central Asia Minor. Along the way, they face opposition, desertion, and persecution: themes that will follow Paul throughout his life. But they also experience the joy of watching the people they'd least expect come to a saving faith in Jesus.

The first chapters of Acts, save for a quick account of Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1–31), cover the ministry of the apostles, particularly Peter. Those passages also detail the spread of the news about Jesus from His followers. That message goes to the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 2—7) and Judea (Acts 8:26–40; 9:32–43), the Samaritans (Acts 8:4–25), and God-fearing Gentiles (Acts 10—11). Now, Paul's contribution to the ''end of the earth'' portion of Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8 begins, as he and Barnabas start their first missionary journey. Luke will record two more of Paul's journeys (Acts 15:36—18:22 and 18:23—20:38) before settling in on his return to Jerusalem, arrest, and sea voyage to Rome (Acts 21—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.