Acts 19:7

What does Acts 19:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 19:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 19:7 means

Luke notes there were about twelve men. The number underlines that God’s great works often begin with a small, specific group. It may subtly evoke the idea of a renewed people, though Luke avoids making symbolic claims. The focus is practical: a definite company has now been fully brought into the life of the Spirit. This brief verse closes the first scene and signals that the episode concerns real persons with names and stories, not abstract theology. Twelve men in a massive city—yet soon the whole region will feel the impact of the word of the Lord through Paul’s sustained teaching ministry.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they were in all about twelve men.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And all the men were about twelve.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they were in all about twelve men.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And there were about twelve of these men.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and all the men were, as it were, twelve.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And all the men were about twelve.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And all the men were about twelve.

Context

The enumeration caps the episode of the disciples of John receiving Christian baptism and the Holy Spirit. With this resolved, Luke shifts to Paul’s broader Ephesian ministry, starting in the synagogue. The coming verses portray months of bold reasoning, eventual opposition, and the move to daily teaching in the school of Tyrannus. This transition shows how private shepherding and public proclamation go hand in hand in advancing the gospel’s influence.

v.6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

v.7This passage

v.8And 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.

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