Acts 13:44

44 The next Shabbat almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.

Acts 13:44 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 13:44

And the next sabbath day
The same which is before called the "sabbath between", which was between the first and tenth of Tisri, or between the beginning of the year, and the day of atonement:

came almost the whole city together.
The Syriac and Ethiopic versions leave out the word "almost", and read, the whole city came together; some out of curiosity, having heard much said of these men and their doctrines, others to cavil and quarrel, and others from a true affection to the Gospel, and an earnest desire of knowing more of it, and of receiving more advantage from it: though the end in all was,

to hear the word of God;
or "of the Lord", as the Alexandrian copy; that is, the doctrine of the Gospel, which comes from God, and, concerns the Lord Jesus Christ, his person, offices, grace, and righteousness.

Acts 13:44 In-Context

42 So when the Yehudim went out of the synagogue, the Goyim begged that these words might be preached to them the next Shabbat.

43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Yehudim and of the devout proselytes followed Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Shabbat almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Yehudim saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Sha'ul, and blasphemed.

46 Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba spoke out boldly, and said, "It was necessary that God's word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Goyim.