Acts 13:24
What does Acts 13:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 13:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 13:24 means
Before Jesus’s public ministry began, John the Baptist had already prepared the way. John preached a 'baptism of repentance' to all the people of Israel, urging them to turn from their sins and prepare their hearts for the coming Messiah. His ministry was a divinely appointed precursor, a powerful call to spiritual readiness, highlighting the seriousness of sin and the necessity of a changed life before the arrival of the Savior. This served as an important testimony to Jesus's later appearance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For whose coming John made ready the way by preaching to all the people of Israel the baptism which goes with a change of heart.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862John having first preached, before his coming, a baptism of reformation to all the people of Israel;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752John first preaching, before his coming, the baptism of penance to all the people of Israel.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890John having proclaimed before the face of his entry [among the people] [the] baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Context
Following the crucial identification of Jesus as the promised Savior from David's line in verse 23, this verse introduces John the Baptist's preparatory ministry. This historical detail serves to authenticate Jesus's arrival, showing that His coming was anticipated and announced according to prophetic tradition. John's role as a forerunner, further elaborated in verse 25, provides a familiar and undeniable witness to the Jewish audience before Paul fully unpacks the significance of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 3:1
And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,
- Acts 10:37
that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judæa, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
- John 5:33
Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth.
- John 1:6
There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
- Acts 1:22
beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.
- Luke 3:2
in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
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