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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Acts 13:43 - 13:43
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
When the synagogue broke up (lutheisēs tēs sunagōgēs). Genitive absolute of first aorist passive participle of luō. Apparently Paul and Barnabas had gone out before the synagogue was formally dismissed.
Of the devout proselytes (tōn sebomenōn prosēlutōn). Of the worshipping proselytes described in Act 13:16, Act 13:25 as “those who fear God” (cf. Act 16:14) employed usually of the uncircumcised Gentiles who yet attended the synagogue worship, but the word prosēlutoi (pros, ēlutos verbal from erchomai, a new-comer) means usually those who had become circumcised (proselytes of righteousness). Yet the rabbis used it also of proselytes of the gate who had not yet become circumcised, probably the idea here. In the N.T. the word occurs only in Mat 23:15; Act 2:10; Act 6:5; Act 13:43. Many (both Jews and proselytes) followed (ēkolouthēsan, ingressive aorist active indicative of akoloutheō) Paul and Barnabas to hear more without waiting till the next Sabbath. So we are to picture Paul and Barnabas speaking (proslalountes, late compound, in N.T. only here and Act 28:20) to eager groups.
Urged (epeithon). Imperfect active of peithō, either descriptive (were persuading) or conative (were trying to persuade). Paul had great powers of persuasion (Act 18:4; Act 19:8, Act 19:26; Act 26:28; Act 28:23; 2Co 5:11; Gal 1:10). These Jews “were beginning to understand for the first time the true meaning of their national history” (Furneaux), “the grace of God” to them.