Acts 13:41

Acts 13:41 Meaning and Explanation

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

King James Version (KJV)

Read this verse in context with translation switching:

Read Full Chapter →

Paul quotes the prophets' warning that scoffers will perish, marveling at a work they refuse to believe.

What Does Acts 13:41 Mean?

Paul cites the prophet's words to the scoffers: behold, wonder, and perish, for God is doing a work in their days that they will refuse to believe even when it is plainly told them. The warning aimed at an earlier generation now sounds afresh in their ears.

Unbelief is a peril precisely when God is most at work. The danger is not ignorance but the hardened refusal to believe what is clearly declared. God was doing a marvelous thing in Christ, yet some would scorn it. The warning calls every hearer to open eyes and a soft heart, lest the very moment of God's saving work pass them by because they would not receive it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 13:41

What does Acts 13:41 mean?

Paul quotes the prophets' warning that scoffers will perish, marveling at a work they refuse to believe.

Keep Studying Acts 13

Read the whole chapter in KJV, ASV, or WEB, or go deeper with the chapter study guide and key themes.