Devine Scripture

Acts 18:13

What does Acts 18:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 18:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 18:13 means

The charge is that Paul persuades people to worship God contrary to the law. The accusers likely mean Jewish religious law, though they hope Rome will see it as socially disruptive. Their wording presents Christianity as a deviation rather than fulfillment. Yet Paul’s message is that Jesus is the Christ—the true continuation of God’s promises, not rebellion. The accusation shows the heart of the conflict: Who defines right worship? The gospel claims Jesus as Lord; opponents deem this unlawful. In legal terms, they seek to criminalize preaching. This moment tests whether Roman officials will punish Christian proclamation as a civil offense or treat it as an intra-Jewish theological debate.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Saying, This man is teaching the people to give worship to God in a way which is against the law.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

saying--`Against the law this one doth persuade men to worship God;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Saying: This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

saying, This [man] persuades men to worshipGod contrary to the law.

Context

The complaint crystallizes the synagogue leaders’ opposition and pushes Paul into Roman jurisdiction. Verse 13 readies the reader for Gallio’s decisive stance. Before Paul even gives a defense, Gallio will frame the issue as religious semantics rather than criminal behavior. That dismissal will have practical effects, pushing the case out of civil court and getting the accusers expelled from the judgment seat.

v.12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,

v.13This passage

v.14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 25:8

    while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.

  • Acts 6:13

    and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:

  • Acts 24:5

    For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

  • Acts 18:15

    but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.

  • Acts 21:28

    crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.

  • Acts 18:4

    And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.

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