Bible Strands
Acts 13:26
Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses a mixed synagogue audience in Pisidian Antioch, explicitly naming them as "brothers," "children of Abraham," and "Gentiles who fear God" immediately after concluding his summary of John the Baptist’s ministry (Acts 13:25). He declares that the message of salvation is being directed to them at this specific moment.
The words — The text uses υἱοὶ (huioi), meaning "sons" or "children," and γένους (genous), meaning "family" or "race," to construct the phrase "children of Abraham" (Acts 13:26). This phrasing establishes a direct lineage claim for the Jewish listeners, while the preceding ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi), "brothers," opens the address to the broader covenant community.
The thread — The declared "message of salvation" (Acts 13:26) echoes the prophetic promise in Isaiah 46:13 that God will grant salvation without delay, and aligns with the announcement in Luke 1:69 and Luke 1:77 that God raised a horn of salvation in David’s house to give His people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness.
Why it lands — The text states that salvation is being sent to the listeners, which requires a reader to recognize that covenant identity no longer functions as an exclusive barrier but now serves as the primary conduit for the same message extended to Gentiles. A reader must therefore evaluate their own response to a salvation message that explicitly claims them by name.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 46:13 I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
- Luke 1:69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
- Luke 1:77 to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
- Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Colossians 1:5 the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel
- Psalms 147:19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
- Matthew 3:9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
- Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
- Luke 24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.