Acts 13:41
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Acts 13:41
In Acts 13:41, Paul shapes a prophetic warning and a declaration of divine activity. The verse quotes from Isaiah 41:11–12 and echoes themes familiar to Jewish readers: God’s work among his people is both astonishing and judgmental to those who refuse to respond. The immediate setting is the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, where Paul has announced Jesus as the Messiah. The message is twofold: God is moving in ways that should provoke belief, yet those who resist will experience perplexing astonishment and, ultimately, peril. The phrase “behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish” highlights three responses: contempt, awe, and judgment. The “work” God is doing refers to the decisive, gracious mission of gospel proclamation—something unprecedented and beyond human predictability. The emphasis that it will be “in your days” signals proximity in time; God is acting now, not in a distant future. The audience is confronted with the possibility of rejecting the very messenger who brings life. The verse functions both as indictment of unbelief and invitation to faithful reception of God’s unfolding plan through Jesus.
Theologically, this verse foregrounds God’s sovereignty and the human responsibility to respond to revelation. It underscores that salvation history is active and ongoing, not static old stories. The warning against despising or merely marveling without belief presses readers to trust God’s chosen agent (Jesus) and his apostolic proclamation. The “work” God “will do in your days” points to the inclusive, surprising reach of the gospel—breaking expectations and redefining who is invited into God’s plan. The sentence also foreshadows judgment for those who reject God’s gracious initiative while leaving room for repentance among those who respond in faith. It centers on the gravity of hearing and responding to divine truth and the seriousness of spiritual receptivity.
Today, the verse invites believers to examine how we respond to God’s working in our era. Do we treat God’s acts as mere spectacle, or do we align with his invitation to faith? Practice involves discerning God’s activity in everyday moments—church gatherings, conversations, opportunities to serve—and choosing belief and obedience rather than skepticism or despair. For those open to faith, it’s an invitation to deepen trust in Jesus as the Messiah and to participate in God’s mission rather than merely observing it. For while the text warns against contempt, it also offers hope: God is at work now, inviting all to respond. Practically, this could look like sharing the gospel with a neighbor who’s “hard to reach,” or choosing to engage in acts of service with a spirit of expectancy that God may be moving through ordinary people and ordinary events.
Cross-References: Isaiah 42:6; Acts 13:42; Acts 13:46; Romans 9:31-33; 1 Peter 2:7-8