Acts 11:18
What does Acts 11:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 11:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 11:18 means
Upon hearing Peter's ordered explanation and the irrefutable evidence of the Holy Spirit's outpouring on the Gentiles, the contentious Jewish believers in Jerusalem ceased their objections. They responded by glorifying God, recognizing that He had now granted repentance unto life to Gentiles as well. This moment marked a pivotal theological shift in the early church, as the leadership acknowledged God's inclusive plan, paving the way for a broader missionary movement unhindered by strict Jewish legal requirements. It was a recognition of God's universal grace.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And hearing these things they said nothing more, but gave glory to God, saying, Then to the Gentiles as to us has God given a change of heart, so that they may have life.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they, having heard these things, were silent, and were glorifying God, saying, `Then, indeed, also to the nations did God give the reformation to life.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Having heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying: God then hath also to the Gentiles given repentance, unto life.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when they heard these things they held their peace, and glorifiedGod, saying, Then indeedGod has to the nations also granted repentance to life.
Context
This verse dramatically concludes the first major section of the chapter, detailing the Jerusalem church's response to Peter's defense. Their silence and subsequent glorification of God signify a crucial acceptance of Gentile inclusion. This resolution sets the stage for the second half of the chapter, which will describe the practical outworking of this acceptance as the gospel spreads effectively among Gentiles, particularly in Antioch, as the evangelists continue their mission.
v.17If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?
v.18This passage
v.19They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 22:21
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.
- Joshua 22:30
And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them well.
- Acts 20:21
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Jeremiah 31:18
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.
- Acts 21:20
And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law:
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
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