Acts 13:41 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "‘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.’"

NIV: " ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ "

NASB: ‘LOOK, YOU SCOFFERS, AND BE ASTONISHED, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’?'

CSB: Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you."

NLT: ‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’ '

KJV: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

NKJV: ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

Paul gave countless sermons in synagogues all over the Roman Empire (Acts 14:1; 17:17; 19:8); this completes the only transcription Luke gives us. Paul has been talking about how God literally saved the nation of Israel throughout their history, and how He has now sent Jesus to save them from their sins. He leaves them with this warning.

This verse quotes from Habakkuk 1:5: "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." Paul is, again, quoting the Septuagint which has slightly different wording.

Habakkuk is unique among the prophets in that the book is a back-and-forth exchange between the prophet and God. In Habakkuk 1:2–4, Habakkuk complains to God of all the injustice, destruction, and violence committed by the Jews in Judah. In Habakkuk 1:5–11, God says He will bring the Chaldeans—the Babylonians—to punish Judah. Habakkuk is startled by this information and asks how his nation can be punished by another that is even more wicked (Habakkuk 1:12—2:1). God tells Habakkuk to be patient, the Chaldeans will come to ruin (Habakkuk 2:2–20). In response, Habakkuk declares his faith in God (Habakkuk 3).

It's not clear, here, in what context Paul is using the verse. Certainly, there is a direct correlation in that within a few short decades Rome will destroy Jerusalem and the temple even more completely than Nebuchadnezzar had. And, like the Babylonians, Rome will eventually fall.

But Paul's emphasis is on God's saving work through Jesus Christ. It's possible Paul is just quoting Habakkuk as a general warning to listen and accept the message God has sent them. Some of the Jews and many of the Gentiles will, but the Jewish establishment, as usual, values their worldly influence more than spiritual salvation (Acts 13:42–52).

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.