Acts 26:20

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  but{G235} declared{G518} both to them{G3588} of{G1722} Damascus{G1154} first{G4412} and{G2532} at Jerusalem,{G2414} and{G5037} throughout{G1519} all{G3956} the country{G5561} of Judaea,{G2449} and{G2532} also to the Gentiles,{G1484} that they should repent{G3340} and{G2532} turn{G1994} to{G1909} God,{G2316} doing{G4238} works{G2041} worthy{G514} of repentance.{G3341}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G235} shewed{G518}{(G5723)}{(G5625)}{G518}{(G5707)} first{G4412} unto them of{G1722} Damascus{G1154}, and{G2532} at Jerusalem{G2414}, and{G5037} throughout{G1519} all{G3956} the coasts{G5561} of Judaea{G2449}, and{G2532} then to the Gentiles{G1484}, that they should repent{G3340}{(G5721)} and{G2532} turn{G1994}{(G5721)} to{G1909} God{G2316}, and do{G4238}{(G5723)} works{G2041} meet{G514} for repentance{G3341}.

• 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 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance:
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
• Acts 2:38 : 38 Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Matt 9:13 : 13 But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
• Acts 9:35 : 35 And all who dwelt in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
• Acts 11:18 : 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life.
• Acts 11:26-30 : 26 And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout the world, which happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers dwelling in Judea: 30 Which they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
• Acts 13:46-48 : 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
• Acts 14:15-21 : 15 And saying, Men, why do you do these things? We also are men with similar passions as you and preach to you that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things in them, 16 Who in the past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness, He did good, giving us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings, they barely kept the people from sacrificing to them. 19 Then certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the people, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, as the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and entered the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
• Acts 15:19 : 19 Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those who from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
• Acts 17:30 : 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
• Acts 20:21 : 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Acts 22:17-22 : 17 And it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance, 18 And saw him saying to me, Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and kept the clothes of those who killed him. 21 And he said to me, Depart, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles. 22 And they listened to him until this word, and then lifted up their voices and said, Away with such a person from the earth, for it is not fit for him to live.
• Acts 26:17 : 17 Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
• Rom 2:4 : 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
• Rom 11:18-20 : 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
• 2 Cor 3:16 : 16 Nevertheless, when it turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
• 2 Cor 7:10 : 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world produces death.
• Eph 4:17-5:25 : 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 If indeed you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 And that you put on the new man, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 Nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Be therefore followers of God, as beloved children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But sexual immorality, and all impurity, or greed, let it not even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse joking, which are not fitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no sexually immoral, unclean, 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 comes upon the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers 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 and righteousness and truth;) 10 Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light: for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore he says, Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. 15 See then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting to one another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is also the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. 24 Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it;
• Eph 6:1-9 : 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. 4 And, you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; 8 Knowing that whatever good thing anyone does, the same shall they receive from the Lord, whether they are bond or free. 9 And, you masters, do the same things to them, refraining from threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
• 1 Thess 1:9 : 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
• 2 Tim 2:25-26 : 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
• Titus 2:2-9 : 2 That the older men be sober, dignified, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. 3 The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded. 7 In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, dignity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he who is of the opposite side may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering back; 10 Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ;
• 1 Pet 1:14-16 : 14 As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; 15 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct; 16 Because it is written, "Be holy; for I am holy."
• 1 Pet 2:9-9 : 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 Who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I urge you as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul; 12 Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
• 1 Pet 4:2-5 : 2 That he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have done the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in sensuality, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 They shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.
• 2 Pet 1:5-8 : 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge self-control; and to self-control patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are in you and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Rev 2:5 : 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
• Rev 2:21 : 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
• Rev 3:3 : 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.
• Rev 16:11 : 11 and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
• Matt 21:30-32 : 30 And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that tax collectors and harlots go into 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 harlots believed him, and when you had seen it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.
• Mark 6:12 : 12 And they went out, and preached that people should repent.
• Luke 1:16 : 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
• Luke 3:8-9 : 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father: for I say to you, That God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answered and said to them, He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise. 12 Then the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? 13 And he said to them, Collect no more than what is appointed to you. 14 And the soldiers likewise asked of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no man, nor accuse anyone falsely; and be content with your wages.
• Luke 13:3 : 3 I tell you, No: but unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.
• Luke 13:5 : 5 I tell you, No: but unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.
• Luke 15:7 : 7 I say to you, that likewise there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
• Luke 15:10 : 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
• Luke 19:8-9 : 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore it fourfold. 9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.
• Luke 24:46-47 : 46 And said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Ps 22:27 : 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.
• Isa 55:7 : 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
• Jer 31:19-20 : 19 Surely, after I was turned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, says the LORD.
• Lam 3:40 : 40 Let us search and examine our ways and turn back to the LORD.
• Ezek 18:30-32 : 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord GOD: therefore turn yourselves, and live.
• Hos 12:6 : 6 Therefore, turn to your God: keep mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually.
• Hos 14:2 : 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so we will offer the sacrifice of our lips.
• Matt 3:2 : 2 And saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.
• Acts 9:15 : 15 But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
• Acts 9:19-29 : 19 And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all who heard him were amazed, and said, Isn't this he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. 23 And after many days were completed, the Jews conspired to kill him: 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Hellenists: but they attempted to kill him.
• Matt 4:17 : 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.