What Does Acts 13:15 Mean?
And after the reading of the instruction and the prophets, the heads of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Men and brothers, if you have any word of urging for the people, speak.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.THE KEY
The reading opens space for a word that can both comfort the people and urge them forward.
THE MEANING
When instruction is heard, understanding can continue through words that steady or urge the gathered people. The invitation leaves the next word open: it may comfort the weary or call the community toward what comes next. Teaching and encouragement belong together.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the assumption that reading is the end of hearing: the text can be followed by a word that brings it close to the people.
THE ROOT
παράκλησις
paraklēsis
GROWS FROM
καλέω
kaleō
to call, invite, or summon
The Greek word for “exhortation” belongs to the same word family as comfort and urging. Its range holds both a steadying word and an appeal toward action, so the speech offered here can support the people while moving them forward.
ALSO GROWS
parakaleō: to comfort or urge
παρακαλέω
This verb shows the two-sided force of the invitation: words can steady someone and also encourage them onward.
paraklētos: comforter or advocate
παράκλητος
This related word carries the supportive side of the same family, showing how an appeal can come as comfort and help.
THE PATTERN
A word received after instruction can steady the weary and strengthen people gathered together.
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the trained, so that I might know how to sustain the faint one with a word. Morning by morning he rouses, he rouses my ear to hear and respond as the trained do.And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, urged the brethren with many words, and steadied them.And I urge you, brothers. Bear up under the word of urging, for I have written to you in a few words.THE THREAD
And I urge you, brothers. Bear up under the word of urging, for I have written to you in a few words.Hebrews uses the same Greek word, παράκλησις (paraklēsis), translated “exhortation” here. That shared root reveals that the invitation in Acts is for the very kind of word Hebrews names: an appeal that can comfort and urge its hearers.
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