Acts 13:16
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Original Language Analysis
ἀναστὰς
stood up
G450
ἀναστὰς
stood up
Strong's:
G450
Word #:
1 of 16
to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
Παῦλος
Paul
G3972
Παῦλος
Paul
Strong's:
G3972
Word #:
3 of 16
(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χειρὶ
with his hand
G5495
χειρὶ
with his hand
Strong's:
G5495
Word #:
7 of 16
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by hebraism) a means or instrument)
Ἰσραηλῖται
of Israel
G2475
Ἰσραηλῖται
of Israel
Strong's:
G2475
Word #:
10 of 16
an "israelite", i.e., descendant of israel (literally or figuratively)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
φοβούμενοι
ye that fear
G5399
φοβούμενοι
ye that fear
Strong's:
G5399
Word #:
13 of 16
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Acts 12:17But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.Acts 10:2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.Acts 13:26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
Historical Context
Paul's sermon follows classical rhetorical structure (exordium, narratio, probatio, peroratio) while remaining thoroughly Jewish in content. The address to 'men of Israel and God-fearers' reflects typical diaspora synagogue composition. God-fearers (like Cornelius, Acts 10:2) represented Gentiles dissatisfied with paganism but hesitant about full Jewish conversion.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Paul's two-part address—Jews and God-fearers—demonstrate cultural awareness and strategic audience analysis?
- What role did God-fearers play in early Christianity's rapid expansion among Gentiles, and what contemporary parallels exist?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand (ἀναστὰς δὲ Παῦλος καὶ κατασείσας τῇ χειρί, anastas de Paulos kai kataseisas tē cheiri)—the participle κατασείσας (kataseisas, 'having motioned, gestured') describes the rhetorical gesture signaling a speaker's intention to address the assembly. Standing to speak follows synagogue protocol. Paul's hand gesture commands attention, a common oratorical technique in Greco-Roman culture. This introduces Paul's longest recorded sermon in Acts (vv. 16-41), his 'Romans in miniature.'
Men of Israel, and ye that fear God (Ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται καὶ οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν θεόν, Andres Israēlitai kai hoi phoboumenoi ton theon)—Paul addresses two distinct groups: ethnic Jews (Ἰσραηλῖται, Israēlitai) and God-fearers (φοβούμενοι τὸν θεόν, phoboumenoi ton theon)—Gentiles attracted to Judaism's monotheism and ethics but not full proselytes. God-fearers attended synagogue, observed some Torah, but avoided circumcision. They became Christianity's first major Gentile converts, forming the bridge between Jewish and Gentile missions.