Acts 26:20

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Instead, I preached first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and then to all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐν Δαμασκῷ πρῶτον, καὶ Ἱεροσολύμοις, εἰς πᾶσάν τε τὴν χώραν τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τοῖς Ἔθνεσιν, ἀπήγγελλον μετανοεῖν καὶ ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν, ἄξια τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα πράσσοντας.

Transliteration

But to those in Damaskō prōton, and Hierosolymois, to all te the chōran of Ioudaias, and to the Ethnesin, I apēngellon to metanoein and to epistrephein to the Theon, worthy of the metanoias erga prassontas.

Grammar Details

• *Damaskō*: dative, feminine, singular - Damascus
• *prōton*: adverb - first
• *Hierosolymois*: dative, neuter, plural - Jerusalem
• *te*: conjunction - and/also
• *chōran*: accusative, feminine, singular - region/country
• *Ioudaias*: genitive, feminine, singular - Judea
• *Ethnesin*: dative, neuter, plural - Gentiles/nations
• *apēngellon*: imperfect active, 1st singular - I was proclaiming
• *metanoein*: present active infinitive - to repent
• *epistrephein*: present active infinitive - to turn
• *Theon*: accusative, masculine, singular - God
• *metanoias*: genitive, feminine, singular - repentance
• *erga*: accusative, neuter, plural - works/deeds
• *prassontas*: present active participle, accusative, masculine, plural - doing/practicing

Word Meanings

• *prōton*: first/firstly/at first
• *chōran*: region/country/land
• *Ethnesin*: Gentiles/nations/peoples
• *apēngellon*: I was proclaiming/declaring/announcing
• *metanoein*: to repent/to change one's mind
• *epistrephein*: to turn/to return/to convert
• *metanoias*: repentance/change of mind
• *erga*: works/deeds/actions
• *prassontas*: doing/practicing/performing

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But showed first to those of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works fitting for repentance.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  but declared both to them of Damascus first and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  but shewed fyrst vnto them of Damasco and at Ierusalem and thorow out all the costes of Iewry and to the gentyls that they shuld repent and turne to God and do the ryght workes of repentaunce.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  but shewed it first vnto them at Damascon, and at Ierusale, and in all the coastes of Iewry, and to the Heythen, that they shulde do pennaunce, and turne vnto God, and to do the righte workes of pennaunce.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But shewed first vnto them of Damascus, and at Hierusalem, & throughout all the coasts of Iudea, & then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turne to God, and doe workes worthy amendement of life.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But shewed first vnto them of Damascus, & at Hierusalem, and throughout all the coastes of Iurie, and then to the gentiles, that they shoulde repent, and turne to God, and do such workes as become them that repent.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  but to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  but declared both to them of Damascus first and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  but declared both to them of Damascus first and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But I went about, first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, and through all the country of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, preaching a change of heart, so that they, being turned to God, might give, in their works, the fruits of a changed heart.

• World English Bible (2000)

  but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.

Referenced Verses

• Matt 3:8 : 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Repent, therefore, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.
• Acts 2:38 : 38 Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Matt 9:13 : 13 'Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'
• Acts 9:35 : 35 All the people who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
• Acts 11:18 : 18 When they heard this, they became silent and glorified God, saying, 'So then, God has granted repentance leading to life even to the Gentiles.'
• Acts 11:26-30 : 26 When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year, they met with the church and taught a large number of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. 27 During this time, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and, through the Spirit, predicted that a severe famine would spread across the entire world. This happened during the reign of Claudius. 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 They did this, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
• Acts 13:46-48 : 46 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, 'It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles.' 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
• Acts 14:15-21 : 15 They cried out, 'Men, why are you doing these things? We are also humans with the same nature as you, proclaiming the good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.' 16 In past generations, he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet, he did not leave himself without a witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling you with food and gladness in your hearts. 18 Even with these words, they barely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them. 19 But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived, persuaded the crowds, and they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day, he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached the gospel in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
• Acts 15:19 : 19 Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.
• Acts 17:30 : 30 In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
• Acts 20:21 : 21 'I testified both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.'
• Acts 22:17-22 : 17 After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. 18 I saw Him saying to me, 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.' 19 But I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You in the synagogues. 20 And when the blood of Your servant Stephen was being shed, I stood there, giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' 21 Then He said to me, 'Go, because I am sending you far away to the Gentiles.' 22 They listened to him until this statement. Then they raised their voices, shouting, 'Rid the earth of this man! He should not be allowed to live!'
• Acts 26:17 : 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them,
• Rom 2:4 : 4 Or do you disrespect the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
• Rom 11:18-20 : 18 do not boast against the branches. If you do boast, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 Then you will say, 'Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.' 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
• 2 Cor 3:16 : 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
• 2 Cor 7:10 : 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow produces death.
• Eph 4:17-5:25 : 17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to put off your former way of life, the old self, which is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must steal no longer; instead, he must labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, shouting, and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. 1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial offering to God, a pleasing aroma. 3 But sexual immorality, all impurity, or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Nor should there be filthiness, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For you know this with certainty, that no sexually immoral, impure, or greedy person—who is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore, do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.) 10 Prove what is well-pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of what they do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is made visible is light. 14 Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be very careful, then, how you walk—not as unwise but as wise. 16 Make the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
• Eph 6:1-9 : 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may go well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with sincerity of heart, as you would Christ. 6 Do not work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to people, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way, without threatening them, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
• 1 Thess 1:9 : 9 For they themselves tell about how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
• 2 Tim 2:25-26 : 25 Gently instruct those who oppose you, in the hope that God might grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
• Titus 2:2-9 : 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance. 3 Likewise, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of good things. 4 They are to encourage the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, committed to their homes, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be slandered. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In all things, present yourself as an example of good works, with integrity, dignity, and incorruptibility in your teaching. 8 Let your speech be sound and beyond reproach, so that any opponent may be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us. 9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, aiming to be well-pleasing and not argumentative. 10 They must not pilfer but must demonstrate complete faithfulness, so that they may make the teaching of God our Savior attractive in every way. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 while we await the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
• 1 Pet 1:14-16 : 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as the One who called you is holy, so also be holy in all your conduct. 16 For it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
• 1 Pet 2:9-9 : 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once, you were not a people, but now you are God's people. Once, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from fleshly desires, which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
• 1 Pet 4:2-5 : 2 As a result, you should no longer live the rest of your earthly life for human desires but instead for the will of God. 3 For you have already spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
• 2 Pet 1:5-8 : 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; to virtue, knowledge; 6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Rev 2:5 : 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
• Rev 2:21 : 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
• Rev 3:3 : 3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it and repent. If you are not alert, I will come unexpectedly like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
• Rev 16:11 : 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, but they refused to repent of their deeds.
• Matt 21:30-32 : 30 The man then went to the second son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.' 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. And even when you saw it, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
• Mark 6:12 : 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.
• Luke 1:16 : 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel back to the Lord their God.
• Luke 3:8-9 : 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 9 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees, so every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 10 The crowds were asking him, "What, then, should we do?" 11 He replied to them, "Anyone who has two tunics must share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food must do the same." 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He told them, "Do not collect anything more than what is required." 14 Then some soldiers also questioned him, saying, "And what should we do?" He replied to them, "Do not extort money from anyone or accuse anyone falsely; be content with your wages."
• Luke 13:3 : 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.
• Luke 13:5 : 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.
• Luke 15:7 : 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
• Luke 15:10 : 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
• Luke 19:8-9 : 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! I am giving half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham."
• Luke 24:46-47 : 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Ps 22:27 : 27 The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever!
• Isa 55:7 : 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the LORD, so that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
• Jer 31:19-20 : 19 After I turned away, I repented; after I came to understand, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim my dear son, my precious child? For as often as I speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore, my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the LORD.
• Lam 3:40 : 40 Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
• Ezek 18:30-32 : 30 Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
• Hos 12:6 : 6 The LORD, the God of hosts—the LORD is his name of renown.
• Hos 14:2 : 2 Return, Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your sins.
• Matt 3:2 : 2 and saying, 'Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.'
• Acts 9:15 : 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.
• Acts 9:19-29 : 19 And after taking food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 Immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." 21 All who heard him were amazed and said, "Isn’t this the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And didn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22 But Saul grew stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. 23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him. 24 But Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him.
• Matt 4:17 : 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'