Acts 18:28
in Acts 18For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for he powerfully confuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
KJV
For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
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This verse in Acts 18
Commentary
11 notes on this verseHe mightily convinced the Jews - Ευτονως διακατηλεγχετο; He vehemently confuted the Jews; and that publicly, not in private conferences, but in his public preaching: showing by the scriptures of the Old Testament, which the Jews received as divinely inspired, that Jesus, who had lately appeared among them, and whom they had crucified, was the Christ, the promised Messiah, and that there was salvation in none other; and that they must receive him as the Messiah, in order to escape the wrath to come. This they refused to do; and we know the consequence.
This site's exposition
wrote to the disciples there
on Acts 18:27-28
When Apollos crossed to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples there to welcome him, an early letter of commendation. At Corinth a faction later claimed his name, and Paul answers those divisions in 1 Corinthians 1 and 3.
This site's exposition
proving from the Scriptures
The Greek verb behind powerfully refuted appears only here in the New Testament, and it means to confute thoroughly. Apollos argued from the same Scriptures to the same conclusion as Paul at 17:3 and 18:5. Paul later writes that Apollos watered what he planted, at 1 Corinthians 3:6.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Methodius of OlympusMethodius Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna · Written before 311.
proposed
For all things are placed under Thee as their Cause and Author, as He who brought all things into being out of nothing, and gave to what was unstable a firm coherence; as the connecting Band and Preserver of that which has been brought into being; as the Framer of things by nature different; as He who, with wise and steady hand, holds the helm of the universe; as the very Principle of all good order; as the irrefragable Bond of concord and peace. For in Thee we live, and move, and have our being.
"For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Now by this, that he "publicly" convinced them, his boldness was shown: by the clearness of his arguing, his power was declared: by his convicting them out of the Scriptures, his skill of learning. For neither boldness by itself contributes aught, where there is not power, nor power where there is not boldness. "He mightily convinced," it says.
The Medieval Church2 voices
For he strongly refuted the Jews, publicly showing through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. In Greek, it is written: Publicly and from house to house showing; which is of an excellent teacher, thus to teach many generally, so as not to cease to …
"He powerfully refuted the Jews publicly, proving from the Scriptures." To refute "publicly" means to show boldness; to refute powerfully means to manifest strength; and to refute "proving from the Scriptures" means to bear witness to one's knowledge. Neither does boldness accomplish anything without strength, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For he mightily convinced the Jews,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Thus his ministry would be as good as another visitation to the Achaian churches by the apostle himself (see 1Co 3:6) and the more as, in so far as he was indebted for it to Priscilla and Aquila, it would have a decidedly Pauline cast.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For he mightily convinced the Jews - He did it by strong arguments; he bore down all opposition, and effectually silenced them. And that publicly - In his public preaching in the synagogue and elsewhere. Showing by the scriptures - Proving from the Old Testament. Showing that Jesus of Nazareth corresponded with the account of the Messiah given by the prophets. See the notes on Joh 5:39. That Jesus was Christ - See the margin. That Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εὐτόνως | eutonos | Powerfully | G2159 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαίοις | ioudaiois | Jews | G2453 → | 192 times |
| διακατηλέγχετο | diakatelegcheto | he was refuting | G1246 → | |
| δημοσίᾳ | demosia | publicly | G1219 → | 4 times |
| ἐπιδεικνὺς | epideiknus | showing | G1925 → | |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γραφῶν | graphon | Scriptures | G1124 → | 49 times |
| εἶναι | einai | to be | G1511 → | 123 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χριστὸν | christon | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| Ἰησοῦν.¶ | iesoun | Jesus. | G2424 → | 908 times |
εὐτόνωςPowerfully
eutonosG2159 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τοῖςthe
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἸουδαίοιςJews
ioudaioisG2453 →192 times
διακατηλέγχετοhe was refuting
diakatelegchetoG1246 →
δημοσίᾳpublicly
demosiaG1219 →4 times
ἐπιδεικνὺςshowing
epideiknusG1925 →
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
γραφῶνScriptures
graphonG1124 →49 times
εἶναιto be
einaiG1511 →123 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
χριστὸνChrist
christonG5547 →523 times
Ἰησοῦν.¶Jesus.
iesounG2424 →908 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
Luke 24:44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,…
it leads to
- Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They…
- Luke 24:26–27
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”
- Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of…
- Psalms 110:1–7
The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
- Acts 13:33
He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’
- Zechariah 12:10
Through
Acts 9:22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
it leads to
- Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
- Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- Acts 18:5
Through
Acts 18:5And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:14
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
- 2 Corinthians 5:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About Acts
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 40; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Methodius of Olympus, Methodius Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna; R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, Expositor's Greek Testament and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.