Acts 13:27
in Acts 13The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
KJV
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
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This verse in Acts 13
Commentary
9 notes on this verse"Not having known Him." He somewhat excuses them: they crucified Him, he says, not knowing who He was; because the crime was committed as a result of ignorance.
This site's exposition
The people of Jerusalem
on Acts 13:27-29
The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets. When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they laid Him in a tomb.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause of death in Him, yet desired they Pilate that He should be slain." On all occasions we find them making a great point of showing this, that the blessing is peculiarly theirs, that they may not flee from Christ, as thinking they had nothing to do with Him, because they had crucified Him. "Because they knew Him not," he says: so that the sin was one of ignorance. See how he gently makes an apology even on behalf of those crucifiers. And not only this: but he adds also, that thus it must needs be. And how so? "By condemning Him, they fulfilled the voices of the prophets." "Men and brethren," etc. For since they were possessed by fear, as having slain Him, and conscience made them aliens, the Apostles discourse not with them as unto Christicides, neither as putting into their hands a good which was not theirs, but one peculiarly their own. "For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers:" as much as to say, not ye, but they: and again, apologizing even for those, "Because they knew Him not, and the voices of the Prophets which are read every sabbath day, in condemning Him, they fulfilled them." A great charge it is against them that they continually hearing heeded not. […]
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For they that dwelt at Jerusalem, and their rulers,....
The preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles at their request, and upon the Jews' refusal of it, wherein the apostles justified themselves against the displeasure which the Jews conceived at it, and God owned them,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Because they knew him not - The statement in this verse is designed, not to reproach the Jews at Jerusalem, but to introduce the fact that Jesus had died, and had risen again. With great wisdom and tenderness, Paul speaks of the murderers of the Saviour in such a manner as not to exasperate, but, as far as possible, to mitigate their crime. There was sufficient guilt in the murder of the Son of God to fill the nation with alarm, even after all that could be said to mitigate the deed. See Act 2:23, Act 2:36-
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, &c.--The apostle here speaks as if the more immediate guilt of Christ's death lay with the rulers and people of the metropolis, to which he fondly hoped that those residing at such a distance as Antioch would not set their seal.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
children . . . of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God--Gentile proselytes. to you is the word of this salvation sent--both being regarded as one class, as "the Jew first," to whom the Gospel was to be addressed in the first instance.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Because they knew him not - A gentle excuse for the persecuting high priests, etc. They did not know that Jesus was the Christ, because they did not know the prophets: and why did they not know the prophets, which were read every Sabbath day? Because they did not desire to know his will; and therefore they knew not the doctrine of God: nor did they know that, in condemning Christ, they fulfilled those very Scriptures which were read every Sabbath day in their synagogues.
The words behind it
23 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οἱ | hoi | Those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| κατοικοῦντες | katoikountes | dwelling | G2730 → | 44 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἰερουσαλὴμ | ierousalem | Jerusalem | G2419 → | 76 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄρχοντες | archontes | rulers | G758 → | 37 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τοῦτον | touton | Him | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἀγνοήσαντες | agnoesantes | not having known | G50 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φωνὰς | phonas | voices | G5456 → | 139 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προφητῶν | propheton | prophets | G4396 → | 144 times |
| τὰς | tas | that | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατὰ | kata | on | G2596 → | 468 times |
| πᾶν | pan | every | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| σάββατον | sabbaton | Sabbath | G4521 → | 68 times |
| ἀναγινωσκομένας, | anaginoskomenas | are being read, | G314 → | 32 times |
| κρίναντες | krinantes | having condemned [Him] | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ἐπλήρωσαν· | eplerosan | they fulfilled [them]; | G4137 → | 86 times |
οἱThose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
κατοικοῦντεςdwelling
katoikountesG2730 →44 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἸερουσαλὴμJerusalem
ierousalemG2419 →76 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἄρχοντεςrulers
archontesG758 →37 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
τοῦτονHim
toutonG3778 →1381 times
ἀγνοήσαντεςnot having known
agnoesantesG50 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
φωνὰςvoices
phonasG5456 →139 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
προφητῶνprophets
prophetonG4396 →144 times
τὰςthat
tasG3588 →19766 times
κατὰon
kataG2596 →468 times
πᾶνevery
panG3956 →1235 times
σάββατονSabbath
sabbatonG4521 →68 times
ἀναγινωσκομένας,are being read,
anaginoskomenasG314 →32 times
κρίναντεςhaving condemned [Him]
krinantesG2919 →114 times
ἐπλήρωσαν·they fulfilled [them];
eplerosanG4137 →86 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 11:25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles…
it leads to
- Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- 2 Corinthians 3:14–16
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- Romans 16:25
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
- Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Zechariah 14:9–21
On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.
- Luke 21:24
Through
Acts 15:21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
it leads to
- Acts 13:15
After 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.”
- Acts 13:15
Through
Acts 3:17And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
it leads to
- Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- 1 Corinthians 2:8
None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
- Luke 23:34
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies19
On this verse
On this chapter
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 29; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.