Acts 13:44

On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul and Barnabas address a mixed assembly in Pisidian Antioch immediately after dismissing a synagogue meeting. The narrative records their movement to the following Sabbath when the urban population assembles to listen to their teaching.

The words — The Greek σχεδὸν (schedon) translates literally as "almost" or "nearly," modifying πᾶσα (pasa) "all" to describe the πόλις (polis) "city." This phrasing records a massive turnout that physically filled the gathering space.

The thread — The crowd's response aligns with the prophetic pattern of nations seeking the Messiah found in Isaiah 11:10 and the universal gathering described in Psalm 110:3. This public assembly marks the narrative shift from synagogue instruction to Gentile engagement.

Why it lands — The text records that widespread attention to grace inevitably provokes jealousy among established religious authorities. Readers must account for how mass receptivity to the word directly triggers the opposition recorded in the following verse.

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

τῷtōOn the δὲdenow ἐρχομένῳerchomenōcoming σαββάτῳsabbatōSabbath σχεδὸνschedonalmost πᾶσαpasaall ἡhēthe πόλιςpoliscity συνήχθηsunēchthēwas gathered together ἀκοῦσαιakousaito hear τὸνtonthe λόγονlogonword τοῦtou<the>κυρίου.kuriouof the Lord.

King James Version

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Cross-references

Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
Psalms 110:3 Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
Isaiah 11:10 On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
Isaiah 60:8 Who are these who fly like clouds, like doves to their shelters?