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Acts 19:8

in Acts 19

Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.

KJV

And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

This verse in Acts 19

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

What does "boldly" mean? He exposed himself to dangers or began to speak even more clearly, without obscuring his teaching. Look: everywhere Paul enters the synagogues and always comes out the same way, since everywhere he wished to take advantage of the opportunity.

This site's exposition

spoke boldly there for three months

on Acts 19:8-10

After three months in the synagogue, Paul moved his disciples to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. His two years there carried the word to the whole province of Asia, the province of the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 41 · Written before 407.

proposed

"And having entered in to the synagogue," etc. But why did he speak boldly? It means, he was ready to confront dangers, and disputed more openly, not veiling the doctrines. "But when some were hardened, and spake evil of the way, having departed from them, he separated the disciples." He put a stop, it means, to their evil-speaking: he did not wish to kindle their envy, nor to bring them into more contention. Hence let us also learn not to put ourselves in the way of evil-speaking men, but to depart from them: he did not speak evil, when himself evil spoken of. "He disputed daily," and by this gained the many, that, being evil intreated and evil spoken of, he did not utterly break away from them, and keep aloof. The evil-speakers are defeated. They calumniated the doctrine itself; therefore so as neither to rouse the disciples to wrath, nor disturb them, he withdrew, showing that everywhere alike they repel salvation from them.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 41 · Written before 407.

proposed

See him in every place forcing his way into the synagogue, and in this manner departing thence. For in every place, he wished to have the occasion given him by them. He wished to separate the disciples thence, and to have the beginning for ceasing to assemble with them, given by the Jews themselves. He was henceforth "provoking them to jealousy." For both the Gentiles readily received him, and the Jews, upon the Gentiles receiving him, repented. This is why he continually made a stir among them, "for three months arguing and persuading concerning the kingdom of God": for you must not suppose because you hear of his "speaking boldly," that there was any harshness: it was of good things that he discoursed, of a kingdom: who would not have heard him?

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He showed them their obligations to God and interest in him, as the Creator, by which the kingdom of God was set up,--the violation of those obligations, and the forfeiture of that interest, by sin, by which the kingdom of God was pulled down,--and the renewing of those obligations and the restoration of man to that interest again, by the Redeemer, whereby the kingdom of God was again set up.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

); after they were ended, he continued for some time in the country about, preaching; therefore he might justly reckon it in all three years, as he does, ch. xx. The gospel hereby spread far and near (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation

And he went into the synagogue,....
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Spake boldly - three months - We have often remarked that St. Paul, in every place, made his first offers of salvation to the Jews; and it was only when they rejected it, that he turned to the Gentiles; see Act 18:6. And the same line of conduct he pursues here: he goes to the school of Tyrannus, at least a public place, to which all might resort, when they obstinately rejected the Gospel in the synagogue.
Persuading the things - Endeavoring to persuade them of the truth of what was affirmed respecting the kingdom of God.

The words behind it

18 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 1:3

    Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all…

    it leads to

    • 1 Timothy 6:12

      Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

    • Philippians 1:27

      Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…

    • Jude 1:20

      But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

    • 2 Timothy 1:13

      Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

    • Titus 1:4

      To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

  • Through

    Acts 1:3

    After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 15:5–7

      and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.

    • Acts 13:31

      and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.

    • John 20:26

      Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 41; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire.