Acts 13:31

Authorized King James Version

PDF

And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

Original Language Analysis

ὃς And he G3739
ὃς And he
Strong's: G3739
Word #: 1 of 20
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ὤφθη was seen G3700
ὤφθη was seen
Strong's: G3700
Word #: 2 of 20
to gaze (i.e., with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from g0991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from g1
ἐπὶ many G1909
ἐπὶ many
Strong's: G1909
Word #: 3 of 20
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
ἡμέρας days G2250
ἡμέρας days
Strong's: G2250
Word #: 4 of 20
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
πλείους G4119
πλείους
Strong's: G4119
Word #: 5 of 20
more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion
τοῖς G3588
τοῖς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 6 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συναναβᾶσιν of them which came up with G4872
συναναβᾶσιν of them which came up with
Strong's: G4872
Word #: 7 of 20
to ascend in company with
αὐτοῦ him G846
αὐτοῦ him
Strong's: G846
Word #: 8 of 20
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀπὸ from G575
ἀπὸ from
Strong's: G575
Word #: 9 of 20
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 10 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Γαλιλαίας Galilee G1056
Γαλιλαίας Galilee
Strong's: G1056
Word #: 11 of 20
galilaea (i.e., the heathen circle), a region of palestine
εἰς to G1519
εἰς to
Strong's: G1519
Word #: 12 of 20
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Ἰερουσαλήμ Jerusalem G2419
Ἰερουσαλήμ Jerusalem
Strong's: G2419
Word #: 13 of 20
hierusalem (i.e., jerushalem), the capitol of palestine
οἵτινες who G3748
οἵτινες who
Strong's: G3748
Word #: 14 of 20
which some, i.e., any that; also (definite) which same
εἰσιν are G1526
εἰσιν are
Strong's: G1526
Word #: 15 of 20
they are
μάρτυρες witnesses G3144
μάρτυρες witnesses
Strong's: G3144
Word #: 16 of 20
a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr"
αὐτοῦ him G846
αὐτοῦ him
Strong's: G846
Word #: 17 of 20
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
πρὸς unto G4314
πρὸς unto
Strong's: G4314
Word #: 18 of 20
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
τὸν G3588
τὸν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 19 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λαόν the people G2992
λαόν the people
Strong's: G2992
Word #: 20 of 20
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)

Analysis & Commentary

And he was seen many days (ὤφθη ἐπὶ ἡμέρας πλείους, ōphthē epi hēmeras pleious)—Paul emphasizes the plurality and duration of Christ's post-resurrection appearances, not a fleeting vision but sustained eyewitness encounters over forty days (Acts 1:3). The passive "was seen" implies divine initiative—Christ revealed himself deliberately to chosen witnesses.

Who are his witnesses unto the people (οἵτινες νῦν εἰσιν μάρτυρες αὐτοῦ, hoitines nyn eisin martyres autou)—These Galilean disciples became martyres (witnesses/martyrs), the foundation of apostolic testimony. Paul, though not among the original twelve, claims apostolic authority through his Damascus Road encounter (1 Corinthians 15:8). The resurrection is not theological abstraction but historical fact attested by multiple credible witnesses—the bedrock of Christian proclamation.

Historical Context

Paul delivered this sermon in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch (c. AD 47-48) during his first missionary journey. His audience included Jews and God-fearing Gentiles familiar with messianic prophecy. By grounding the resurrection in Galilean eyewitness testimony, Paul connected the risen Christ to his earthly ministry and fulfilled the prophetic requirement of multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

Topics

People

Bible Stories