Acts 13:45
in Acts 13But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
KJV
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
⋯
This verse in Acts 13
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
They were filled with envy - Greek: “zeal.” The word here denotes “wrath in dignation,” that such multitudes should be disposed to hear a message which they rejected, and which threatened to overthrow their religion. Spake against - Opposed the doctrine that Jesus was the Messiah; that the Messiah would be humble, lowly, despised, and put to death. Contradicting - Contradicting the apostles. This was evidently done in their presence, Act 13:46, and would cause great tumult and disorder. And blaspheming - See the notes on Mat 9:
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and contradicted the things spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." See malice wounded in wounding others: this made the Apostles more conspicuous - the contradiction which those offered. In the first instance then they of their own accord besought them to speak (and now they opposed them): "contradicting," it says, "and blaspheming." O recklessness!
Why did they not contradict before this? Do you observe who on all occasions they were moved by passion? And they not only contradicted, but blasphemed also. For indeed malice stops at nothing.
The Medieval Church1 voice
So great is the intolerance of envy! Many utterly grow faint and die from seeing others held in honor. And people of this sort are capable of opposing not only man, but also the will of God.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But when the Jews saw the multitudes,.... The vast number of people, the inhabitants of the city, the Gentiles, that were assembled together to hear the word.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the next sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God--the intervening days having been spent in further inquiry and instruction, and the excitement reaching the Gentiles, who now for the first time crowded, along with the usual worshippers, into the synagogue.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
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
But when the Jews--those zealots of exclusive Judaism. saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy--rather, "indignation," and broke out in their usual manner. contradicting and blaspheming--There is nothing more awful than Jewish fury and execration of the name of Jesus of Nazareth, when thoroughly roused.
The Jews - were filled with envy - See on Act 5:17 (note). These could not bear the Gentiles, who believed in Christ, to be equal with them; and yet; according to the Gospel, it was really the case. Contradicting - The arguments and statements brought forward by the disciples; and blaspheming, speaking impiously and injuriously of Jesus Christ. This is probably what is meant.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἰδόντες | idontes | Having seen | G1492 → | 374 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαῖοι | ioudaioi | Jews | G2453 → | 192 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄχλους | ochlous | crowds | G3793 → | 175 times |
| ἐπλήσθησαν | eplesthesan | they were filled | G4130 → | 24 times |
| ζήλου | zelou | with jealousy | G2205 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀντέλεγον | antelegon | were contradicting | G483 → | 9 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| Παύλου | paulou | Paul | G3972 → | 158 times |
| λαλουμένοις | laloumenois | spoken | G2980 → | 294 times |
| βλασφημοῦντες. | blasphemountes | denigrating [him]. | G987 → | 34 times |
ἰδόντεςHaving seen
idontesG1492 →374 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἸουδαῖοιJews
ioudaioiG2453 →192 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ὄχλουςcrowds
ochlousG3793 →175 times
ἐπλήσθησανthey were filled
eplesthesanG4130 →24 times
ζήλουwith jealousy
zelouG2205 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀντέλεγονwere contradicting
antelegonG483 →9 times
τοῖςthe [things]
toisG3588 →19766 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
ΠαύλουPaul
paulouG3972 →158 times
λαλουμένοιςspoken
laloumenoisG2980 →294 times
βλασφημοῦντες.denigrating [him].
blasphemountesG987 →34 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
Jude 1:10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:12
These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 1:21–22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- 2 Peter 2:12
Through
Acts 18:6But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 33:4
Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.
- 2 Samuel 1:16
For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”
- Ezekiel 33:8–9
If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity,…
- Ezekiel 18:13
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.
- Acts 13:51
So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
- Ezekiel 33:4
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:16hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
it leads to
- Acts 17:13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
- Acts 17:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies21
About Acts

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, Homily on Acts 30; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
