Acts 13:51
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
Original Language Analysis
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοὺς
them
G846
αὐτοὺς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 13
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
ἐπ'
against
G1909
ἐπ'
against
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
9 of 13
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
αὐτοὺς
them
G846
αὐτοὺς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 13
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
ἦλθον
and came
G2064
ἦλθον
and came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
11 of 13
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Cross References
Matthew 10:14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.Acts 18:6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.Luke 9:5And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.Acts 14:21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,Acts 14:1And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.Acts 14:19And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.Mark 6:11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.Acts 16:2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Historical Context
Pisidian Antioch was a Roman colony in Galatia where Paul preached in the synagogue (13:14-43). After initial interest, jealous Jewish leaders expelled Paul and Barnabas (13:50). Iconium, their next destination, was another major city in south-central Asia Minor along the Via Sebaste. This incident (c. AD 47-48) occurred during Paul's first missionary journey.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you needed to 'shake the dust off' and move forward after faithful witness was rejected?
- How does this gesture demonstrate both the seriousness of rejecting the gospel and the freedom of the messenger?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them (ἐκτιναξάμενοι τὸν κονιορτὸν τῶν ποδῶν)—Paul and Barnabas enacted Jesus's instruction from the sending of the Twelve (Luke 9:5) and the Seventy (Luke 10:11). The symbolic act of ektinassō (to shake off thoroughly) declared a solemn witness: the messengers had fulfilled their obligation, and the rejectors now bore full responsibility for refusing God's salvation.
This dramatic gesture testified that Pisidian Antioch's Jewish leaders, despite their covenant privileges, had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life (v. 46). The apostles turned to Iconium, continuing the pattern that would characterize Paul's missionary strategy—proclaim first to Jews, then to Gentiles when rejected. The shaken dust symbolized both judgment and release: the apostles were clean of their blood (Ezekiel 3:18-19).