Acts 13:41
New International Version
“’Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

New Living Translation
‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’”

English Standard Version
“‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”

Berean Standard Bible
‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ ”

Berean Literal Bible
Behold, scoffers, and wonder and perish; for I am working a work in your days, a work that you would never believe, even if one should declare it to you.'"

King James Bible
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

New King James Version
‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
‘LOOK, YOU SCOFFERS, AND BE ASTONISHED, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’”

NASB 1995
‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’”

NASB 1977
‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
‘LOOK, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD RECOUNT IT TO YOU.’”

Amplified Bible
‘LOOK, YOU MOCKERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH and VANISH AWAY; FOR I AM DOING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, even IF SOMEONE DESCRIBES IT TO YOU [telling you about it in detail].’”

Christian Standard Bible
Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you. ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you.”

American Standard Version
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

Contemporary English Version
"Look, you people who make fun of God! Be amazed and disappear. I will do something today that you won't believe, even if someone tells you about it!"

English Revised Version
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
'Look, you mockers! Be amazed and die! I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if it were reported to you!'"

Good News Translation
'Look, you scoffers! Be astonished and die! For what I am doing today is something that you will not believe, even when someone explains it to you!'"

International Standard Version
Look, you mockers! Be amazed and die! Since I am performing an action in your days, one that you would not believe even if someone told you!'"

Majority Standard Bible
‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

NET Bible
Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.'"

New Heart English Bible
'Look, you scoffers, and be amazed, and perish; for I am working a work in your days, a work which you will not believe, if one tells it to you.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye will in no wise believe, though a man declare it to you.

Weymouth New Testament
Behold, you despisers, be astonished and perish, because I am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe, though it be fully declared to you.'"

World English Bible
‘Behold, you scoffers! Wonder and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
See, you despisers, and wonder, and perish, because I work a work in your days, a work in which you may not believe, though anyone may declare [it] to you.”

Berean Literal Bible
Behold, scoffers, and wonder and perish; for I am working a work in your days, a work that you would never believe, even if one should declare it to you.'"

Young's Literal Translation
See, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish, because a work I -- I do work in your days, a work in which ye may not believe, though any one may declare it to you.'

Smith's Literal Translation
See, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, which ye would not believe if any recount to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you will not believe, if any man shall tell it you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
‘You despisers! Look, and wonder, and be scattered! For I am working a deed in your days, a deed which you would not believe, even if someone were to explain it to you.’ ”

New American Bible
‘Look on, you scoffers, be amazed and disappear. For I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe even if someone tells you.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
‘Look, you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Be careful, O you despisers, for you shall wonder and perish: for I will do a great work in your day which you will not believe even if a man tell it to you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
'Behold, scorners, and marvel and be destroyed, for I will do a work in your days, which you will not believe even if a man reports it to you.' ''
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish. For I work a work in your days, a work which you will not believe, though one fully declare it to you.

Godbey New Testament
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and vanish away: because I work a work in your days, a work which you may not believe, though one may proclaim it to you.

Haweis New Testament
“Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I do a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though one declare it unto you.”

Mace New Testament
"consider you despisers, be surpriz'd and turn pale, for I shall perform a work in your days, which you will not believe, whoever shall declare it unto you."

Weymouth New Testament
Behold, you despisers, be astonished and perish, because I am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe, though it be fully declared to you.'"

Worrell New Testament
'Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; because I do a work in your days—a work which ye will by no means believe, though one should fully declare it to you.'

Worsley New Testament
"Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and vanish; for I do a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though any one should declare it unto you."

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
In Pisidian Antioch
40Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you: 41‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’” 42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.…

Cross References
Habakkuk 1:5
“Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.

Isaiah 29:14
Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”

Romans 1:16-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. / For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

1 Corinthians 1:18-24
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. / For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ...

Matthew 13:14-15
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

John 12:37-41
Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” / For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: ...

Romans 9:30-33
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; / but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. / Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, ...

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. / For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

Hebrews 2:1-4
We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. / For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, / how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, ...

Isaiah 53:1
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

John 5:39-40
You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, / yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

Romans 10:16-21
But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” / Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. / But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” ...

1 Peter 2:6-8
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” / To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” / and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it to you.

ye despisers.

Proverbs 1:24-32
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; …

Proverbs 5:12
And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

for.

Acts 13:47
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Acts 3:23
And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Acts 6:14
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

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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.














Look, you scoffers
The word "scoffers" is translated from the Greek word "kataphronētai," which refers to those who mock or disdainfully reject something. In the context of Acts 13, Paul is addressing the Jewish audience in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, quoting from Habakkuk 1:5. Historically, scoffers were those who rejected the prophets and the message of God. This phrase serves as a warning to those who dismiss the work of God, urging them to pay attention and reconsider their stance.

wonder and perish
The Greek word for "wonder" is "thaumazō," which implies being amazed or astonished. The term "perish" comes from "aphanizō," meaning to vanish or be destroyed. This phrase highlights the dual response to God's work: it is both awe-inspiring and, for those who reject it, ultimately leads to destruction. The historical context here is crucial, as Paul is warning his listeners of the consequences of disbelief, echoing the fate of those who ignored prophetic warnings in the past.

for I am doing a work in your days
This phrase emphasizes the immediacy and relevance of God's actions. The "work" refers to the unfolding plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, which was occurring in the very time of Paul's audience. The historical context is the early Christian church's expansion and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The phrase underscores God's active involvement in human history, inviting the audience to recognize and participate in His divine plan.

that you would never believe
The Greek word "pisteuō" means to have faith or trust. This phrase indicates the incredulity of the people towards God's work, despite its unfolding before their eyes. It reflects a common biblical theme where God's actions surpass human understanding and expectation. Historically, this disbelief was evident in the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by many of His contemporaries, despite the signs and wonders He performed.

even if someone told you
This phrase underscores the stubbornness and hardness of heart that can prevent people from accepting the truth, even when it is clearly presented to them. It reflects the prophetic tradition where messengers of God were often ignored or persecuted. In the context of Acts, Paul is highlighting the resistance of many Jews to the Gospel message, despite the testimony of the apostles and the fulfillment of prophecy in Christ.

(41) Behold, ye despisers.--The quotation is from the LXX. version, the Hebrew giving "Behold, ye among the heathen." So, in the next clause, "wonder, and perish" takes the place of "wonder marvellously." The fact that St. Paul quotes from the prophet (Habakkuk 1:5) whose teaching (Habakkuk 2:4) that "the just by faith shall live" becomes henceforth the axiom of his life, is not without a special interest. The "work" of which the prophet spoke was defined in the following verse as the raising up the Chaldeans, "that bitter and hasty nation," to execute God's judgment. St. Paul may have had in his thoughts the like judgment about to be executed by the Romans, and already known as foretold by Christ (Matthew 24:2-28), or may have thus dimly indicated that which was so closely connected with it--the rejection of Israel, because they, as a nation, had rejected Christ. The sharp tone of warning, as in St. Stephen's speech (see Note on Acts 7:51), suggests the thought that signs of anger and impatience had already begun to show themselves.

Verse 41. - If one for though a man, A.V. "Though" best expresses the ἐὰν and the כּי of the Hebrew. The passage is quoted nearly verbatim from the LXX. of Hebrews 1:5. The difference from the Hebrew arises from the LXX. having read in their copy בֹּגדְיִם, proud, arrogant men (καταφρονητάι), for בַגּוים, among the heathen, as is clear from their rendering the Hebrew בוגֵד, in Habakkuk 1:13 and Habakkuk 2:5, by the same word (καταφρονοῦντας and καταφρονητής). The rendering καὶ ἀφανίσθητε, and perish, for the Hebrew תְּמָהוּ (another form of the preceding verb הִתַּמְהוּ, which in the A.V. is construed with it, and the two together rendered "wonder marvelously"), is not so easily explained. The two best explanations seem to be

(1) that the LXX. read תְּמָהוּ וְהתַּמְהוּ instead of the present order of the words, and so rendered the first word θαυμάσατε, wonder, and, taking the next word from another root, תָמַם, rendered it ἀφανίσθητε, perish;

(2) that, reading the words in the same order in which they now stand in the Hebrew text, they rendered the first θαυμάσατε, or, with the intensive addition, θαυμασίᾳ, and took the second in the sense it has in Arabic, "to be altered" or "changed for the worse," and expressed it by ἀφανίσθητε, meaning" change countenance from fear and astonishment." And in favor of this explanation the use of ἀφανίζουσι τὰ πρόσωπα in Matthew 6:16 ("they disfigure their faces") is quoted (see Rosenmüller on Habakkuk 1:5). St. Paul took the LXX. as he found it. Perhaps he saw signs in some of that unbelief and perverse opposition which afterwards broke out (ver. 45), and so was led to close his sermon with words of awful warning.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
‘Look,
Ἴδετε (Idete)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

[you]
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.

scoffers,
καταφρονηταί (kataphronētai)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2707: A despiser, scorner. From kataphroneo; a contemner.

wonder
θαυμάσατε (thaumasate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2296: (a) intrans: I wonder, marvel, (b) trans: I wonder at, admire. From thauma; to wonder; by implication, to admire.

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

perish;
ἀφανίσθητε (aphanisthēte)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 853: From aphanes; to render unapparent, i.e. consume, or disappear.

for
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am doing
ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2038: To work, trade, perform, do, practice, commit, acquire by labor.

a work
ἔργον (ergon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

days
ἡμέραις (hēmerais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

[that]
ἔργον (ergon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.

you would never believe,
πιστεύσητε (pisteusēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

even if
ἐάν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

someone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

told
ἐκδιηγῆται (ekdiēgētai)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1555: To narrate at length, declare. From ek and a compound of dia and hegeomai; to narrate through wholly.

you.’”
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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