Acts 19:8

8 So he entered into the synagogue [and] was speaking boldly for three months, discussing and attempting to convince [them] concerning the kingdom of God.

Acts 19:8 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 19:8

And he went into the synagogue
Of the Jews at Ephesus, for it seems to have been a private house, where he had met with the twelve baptized disciples, and had laid his hands on them; and these being Jews, as it seems most likely, by their having been baptized into John's baptism, the apostle went along with them to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his usual custom; having a very great desire, and an affectionate concern, for the welfare of his countrymen the Jews:

and spake boldly for the space of three months;
that is, he used great freedom of speech, and showed much courage and intrepidity of mind, in preaching the Gospel at the synagogue every sabbath day as it returned, during this space of time; some manuscripts read, "three days":

disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God;
the kingdom of the Messiah, the Gospel dispensation, the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel, and the Gospel church state, often signified by the kingdom of God, and of heaven, in Scripture; and concerning the glory of a future state, the way and right unto it, and meetness for it; and these things he reasoned upon in such a strong and nervous manner, and made use of such powerful arguments, in proof and demonstration of them, as were very persuasive, and engaged many to believe them, and give their assent unto them.

Acts 19:8 In-Context

6 And [when] Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.
7 (Now the total [number] [of] men was about twelve.)
8 So he entered into the synagogue [and] was speaking boldly for three months, discussing and attempting to convince [them] concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when some became hardened and were disobedient, reviling the Way before the congregation, he departed from them [and] took away the disciples, leading discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
10 And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("entered") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [b]. The present tense participle has been translated as a conative present ("attempting to convince")
  • [c]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [d]. Some manuscripts have "[of] the things concerning"
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