Acts 13:16
New International Version
Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!

New Living Translation
So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.

English Standard Version
So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

Berean Standard Bible
Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!

Berean Literal Bible
And Paul, having risen up and having made a sign with the hand, said, "Men of Israel and those fearing God, listen:

King James Bible
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

New King James Version
Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

New American Standard Bible
Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

NASB 1995
Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

NASB 1977
And Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

Legacy Standard Bible
So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

Amplified Bible
So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen!

Christian Standard Bible
Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen!

American Standard Version
And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:

Contemporary English Version
Paul got up. He motioned with his hand and said: People of Israel, and everyone else who worships God, listen!

English Revised Version
And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, "Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me.

Good News Translation
Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: "Fellow Israelites and all Gentiles here who worship God: hear me!

International Standard Version
Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen!

Majority Standard Bible
Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: ?Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!

NET Bible
So Paul stood up, gestured with his hand and said, "Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen:

New Heart English Bible
Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

Weymouth New Testament
So Paul rose, and motioning with his hand for silence, said, "Israelites, and you others who fear God, pay attention to me.

World English Bible
Paul stood up, and gesturing with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Paul having risen, and having beckoned with the hand, said, “Men, Israelites, and those fearing God, listen:

Berean Literal Bible
And Paul, having risen up and having made a sign with the hand, said, "Men of Israel and those fearing God, listen:

Young's Literal Translation
And Paul having risen, and having beckoned with the hand, said, 'Men, Israelites, and those fearing God, hearken:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Paul having risen, and shaken with the hand, said, Men, Israelites, and ye fearing God, hear ye.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Paul rising up, and with his hand bespeaking silence, said: Ye men of Israel, and you that fear God, give ear.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Paul, rising up and motioning for silence with his hand, said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen closely.

New American Bible
So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen.

New Revised Standard Version
So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: “You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So Paul stood up, and lifting his hands said, O men of Israel, and those of you who fear God, hear my words:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Paulus stood and lifted his hand and said, “Men, Sons of Israel and those who are worshipers of God, listen.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then Paul arose, and waving his hand, said: Men of Israel, and you who fear God, give audience.

Godbey New Testament
And Paul, rising up, and beckoning with his hand said; Israelitish men, and those fearing God, hear.

Haweis New Testament
Then Paul arose, and waving his hand, said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hear me.

Mace New Testament
thereupon Paul stood up, and having made sign with his hand for their attention, he said, men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

Weymouth New Testament
So Paul rose, and motioning with his hand for silence, said, "Israelites, and you others who fear God, pay attention to me.

Worrell New Testament
And Paul, standing up, and beckoning with his hand, said, "Men of Israel, and ye who fear God, hearken!

Worsley New Testament
Then Paul stood up, and made a sign with his hand, and said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
In Pisidian Antioch
15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.” 16 Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me! 17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.…

Cross References
Acts 7:2
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

Romans 9:4-5
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. / Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Deuteronomy 1:31
and in the wilderness, where the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way by which you traveled until you reached this place.”

1 Samuel 12:6-8
Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is the One who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. / Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers. / When Jacob went to Egypt, your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

Psalm 105:6-10
O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones. / He is the LORD our God; His judgments carry throughout the earth. / He remembers His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations— ...

Exodus 3:6-10
Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. / The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. ...

Nehemiah 9:7-8
You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. / You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.

Genesis 12:1-3
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Isaiah 41:8-9
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend— / I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you.

Joshua 24:2-3
And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods. / But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac,

Hebrews 11:8-9
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

2 Samuel 7:8-16
Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. / I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like that of the greatest in the land. / And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning ...

1 Chronicles 16:13-18
O offspring of His servant Israel, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones. / He is the LORD our God; His judgments carry throughout the earth. / Remember His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations— ...

Luke 1:54-55
He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, / as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”


Treasury of Scripture

Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience.

beckoning.

Acts 12:17
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Acts 19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

Acts 21:40
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

Men.

Acts 13:26
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

Acts 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Acts 3:12
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

and ye.

Acts 13:42,43,46
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath…

Acts 10:2,35
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway…

1 Kings 8:40
That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

give.

Acts 2:14
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Acts 22:1,22
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you…

Deuteronomy 32:46,47
And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law…

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Attention Audience Beckoned Beckoning Ear Fear Fearing Gentiles Getting Hand Hearken Israel Israelites Listen Making Motioned Motioning Others Paul Pay Risen Rising Rose Sign Silence Standing Stood
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Attention Audience Beckoned Beckoning Ear Fear Fearing Gentiles Getting Hand Hearken Israel Israelites Listen Making Motioned Motioning Others Paul Pay Risen Rising Rose Sign Silence Standing Stood
Acts 13
1. Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles.
6. Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer.
13. Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ.
42. The Gentiles believe;
44. but the Jews talked abusively against Paul,
46. whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe.
50. The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium.














So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said 'Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
So Paul stood up
The act of standing up signifies readiness and authority. In the context of Jewish synagogues, it was customary for teachers or speakers to stand when delivering a message. This act by Paul indicates his role as a teacher and leader. The Greek word for "stood up" is "anistemi," which implies rising to a position of prominence or importance. Historically, Paul, formerly Saul, was a Pharisee and well-versed in Jewish law, which gave him credibility among his Jewish audience.

and motioning with his hand
This gesture was a common rhetorical technique used to capture attention and signal the beginning of an important discourse. The Greek word "kataseio" means to shake or wave, suggesting a deliberate action to engage the audience. In the cultural context of the time, such gestures were essential for public speaking, especially in a setting where oral communication was the primary means of conveying information.

said
The Greek word "lego" is used here, which means to speak or to say. This word is often used in the New Testament to introduce significant teachings or proclamations. Paul's speech is not just casual conversation; it is a deliberate and authoritative declaration meant to convey a message of great importance.

Men of Israel
This phrase directly addresses the Jewish members of the audience. "Men" (Greek: "aner") refers specifically to males, which was typical in addressing a Jewish congregation. "Israel" signifies the descendants of Jacob, the chosen people of God, and highlights the continuity of God's covenant with them. Paul, being a Jew himself, establishes a connection with his audience by acknowledging their shared heritage.

and you Gentiles who fear God
This phrase acknowledges the presence of Gentiles, or non-Jews, who were known as "God-fearers." These were Gentiles who admired and followed Jewish religious practices without fully converting to Judaism. The Greek term "phoboumenoi ton Theon" indicates a reverence and respect for the God of Israel. By addressing them, Paul demonstrates the inclusivity of the Gospel message, which is a central theme in the Book of Acts.

listen to me
The imperative "listen" (Greek: "akouo") is a call to pay attention and understand. It is not merely hearing but involves an active engagement with the message being delivered. Paul is urging his audience to open their hearts and minds to the truth he is about to proclaim. This call to listen is reminiscent of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4, where Israel is commanded to hear and obey the Lord, thus linking Paul's message to the foundational Jewish confession of faith.

(16) Beckoning with his hand.--The gesture was rather that of one who waves his hand to command silence and attention than what we commonly describe as beckoning. (Comp. Acts 12:17.) The graphic touch of description would seem to indicate, as does the full report of the speech, that they came in the first instance from one who had been present. A like touch is found again in connection with St. Paul in Acts 21:40. It was, probably, like the "fixing of the eye," in Acts 13:9, just one of the personal characteristics on which the painter-historian loved to dwell. We may assume, as almost certain, that throughout this journey St. Paul used Greek as the common medium of intercourse. The verbal coincidences in Acts 13:17-18, already referred to in the Note on Acts 13:15, make it, in this instance, absolutely certain.

Men of Israel, and ye that fear God.--The latter phrase denotes, as in Acts 10:2; Acts 10:22, those who, though in the synagogue, were of heathen origin, and had not become proselytes in the full sense of the term, but were known as the so-called "proselytes of the gate." . . .

Verse 16. - And for then, A.V.; the for Ms, A.V.; hearken for give audience, A.V. Beckoning with the hand (see Acts 12:17, note). Ye that fear God; addressed to the devout heathen who attended the synagogue service (see Acts 10:2, note, and 22; ver. 43 of this chapter; Acts 15:21; 16:14; 17:4, 17; 18:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Paul
Παῦλος (Paulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

stood up,
Ἀναστὰς (Anastas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 450: To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.

motioned
κατασείσας (kataseisas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2678: From kata and seio; to sway downward, i.e. Make a signal.

with [his]
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

hand,
χειρὶ (cheiri)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5495: A hand.

[and] began to speak:
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Men
Ἄνδρες (Andres)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.

[of] Israel
Ἰσραηλῖται (Israēlitai)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2475: An Israelite, one of the chosen people of Israel, a Jew. From Israel; an 'Israelite', i.e. Descendant of Israel.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[you Gentiles] who
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

fear
φοβούμενοι (phoboumenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5399: From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere.

God,
Θεόν (Theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

listen [to me]!
ἀκούσατε (akousate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.


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Acts 13:15
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