Acts 13:44

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. AND THE NEXT SABBATH DAY CAME ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY TOGETHER TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD - or 'of the Lord,' according to another reading; but the evidence for both is pretty equal. The intervening days had evidently been spent in further inquiry on the part of the congregation, and further instruction in private to such as sought it; and the excitement communicating itself to the Gentiles, they now for the first time crowded along with the stated worshippers into the synagogue....

44._And when the Sabbath came. _The great assembly of the people doth prove that Paul and Barnabas loitered not between the Sabbaths, and they did not take pains with the Gentiles in vain; for the studies and desires of the people had been so prepared, that they all desired to know the whole matter more surely, which they did hope would be, if it should be discussed among the Jews. For we may guess that though they were allured with some sweet taste, yet were they not as yet thoroughly persuaded to receive the doctrine of the gospel without doubting, (829) but that they came into the synagogue in a quandary, (830) between hope and desire....

42-52 The Jews opposed the doctrine the apostles preached; and when they could find no objection, they blasphemed Christ and his gospel. Commonly those who begin with contradicting, end with blaspheming. But when adversaries of Christ's cause are daring, its advocates should be the bolder. And while many judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, others, who appear less likely, desire to hear more of the glad tidings of salvation. This is according to what was foretold in the Old Testament. What light, what power, what a treasure does this gospel bring with it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises! Those came to Christ whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call effectual, Romans 8:30. As many as were disposed to eternal life, as many as had concern about their eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal life, believed in Christ, in whom Go...

Verse 44. _THE NEXT SABBATH DAY_] The good news had spread far and wide, by means of the converted Jews and proselytes. _ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY_] _Jews, proselytes_, and _Gentiles_, came together to hear τον λογον του θεου, _this doctrine of God_, this Divine teaching, by which so many of their kindred and acquaintance had become so wise and happy. It is not by _public_ discourses merely that people are converted to God; but by the _private_ teaching and godly conduct of those who have received the truth; for, as these are scattered throughout society, they are a _leaven_ in every place....

AND THE NEXT SABBATH-DAY - This was the regular day for worship, and it was natural that a greater multitude should convene on that day than on the other days of the week. CAME ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY - Whether this was in the synagogue is not affirmed; but it is probable that that was the place where the multitude convened. The news of the presence of the apostles, and of their doctrines, had been circulated, doubtless, by the Gentiles who had heard them, and curiosity attracted the multitude to hear them. Compare the notes on Acts 13:7....

EXPOSITION ACTS 13:1 _At Antioch., in the Church that was there _for _in the Church that was at Antioch, _A.V.; _prophets, _etc., for _certain prophets, _etc., A.V. and T.R.; _Barnabas, _etc., for _as Barnabas, _etc., A.V.; _Symeon _for _Simeon, _A.V.; _the foster-brother of _for _which had_ _been brought up with, _A.V. AT ANTIOCH, IN THE CHURCH, etc. Κατὰ τὴν οὖσαν ἐκκλησίαν rather means "the existing Church," just as at αἱ οὖσαι ἐξουσίαι_ _means "the existing powers," "the powers that be," in Romans 13:1, A.V. and T.R. _The then Church _seems mere the meaning than _the Church there. _Luke writes from the standpoint of

AND THE NEXT SABBATH DAY,.... The same which is before called the "sabbath between", which was between the first and tenth of Tisri, or between the beginning of the year, and the day of atonement: CAME ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY TOGETHER. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions leave out the word "almost", and read, the whole city came together; some out of curiosity, having heard much said of these men and their doctrines, others to cavil and quarrel, and others from a true affection to the Gospel, and an earnest desire of knowing more of it, and of receiving more advantage from it: though the end in all was, TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD; or "of the Lord", as the Alexandrian copy; that is, the doctrine of the Gospel, which comes from God, and, concerns the Lord Jesus Christ, his person, offices, grace, and righteousness....

Acts 13:13. _Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down._ They would be noticed as strangers who had come thither. The synagogue did not generally contain a very large assembly, and the Jews of the place would be well known to one another, and they would notice that two or three men had come in whom they had not been accustomed to see in their company. Acts 13:15. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and

ACTS 13:44 to.n lo,gon tou/ kuri,ou {C} Luke, as well as other New Testament writers, uses the expression o` lo,goj tou/ qeou/ more frequently than o` lo,goj tou/ kuri,ou. 278 In view of the rather evenly balanced external attestation, a majority of the Committee judged it more probable that the more frequently used phrase was substituted for the less frequently used one, than vice versa. ------------------------- 278 For statistics, see above, pp. 353 f., footnote 248[2]. 248 The two expressions occur 32 times in the manuscripts of Acts. In nine of these passages the manuscript tr...

PART III The Witness to the Gentiles. The Apostle to the Gentiles; his Ministry and Captivity. Chapter s 13-28 CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The Divine Choice. Barnabas and Saul separated unto the work (Acts 13:1)._ 2. The Beginning of the Journey and the events in Cyprus (Acts 13:4). 3. The Gospel in Galatia. Paul's Address (Acts 13:13). 4. The Gospel rejected by the Jews (Acts 13:42). The thirteenth chapter is the beginning of the third part of this book. The second great center of Christianity comes to the front. It is no longer Jerusalem, but the city of Antioch. The gospel which had been preached in