Acts 13:48
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:48
Gentiles, hearing the message, respond with joy, glorifying the word of the Lord; “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Some English translations render this as “as many as were appointed unto eternal life believed,” highlighting divine sovereignty in salvation. The reaction of belief among the Gentiles contrasts with Jewish opposition earlier. The use of “ordained” (or “appointed”) points to God’s sovereign initiative in drawing people to faith, while human response remains genuine and real. The verse also reflects the biblical tension between divine election and human responsibility, a recurring theme in Acts and the broader New Testament. The outcome is a growing church in which belief becomes the first fruit of the Gentile mission.
Theologically, this verse threads together predestination and human faith, affirming that God’s plan includes responsive belief from those whom he calls. It maintains the agency of individuals who respond to the gospel, while recognizing that that response is initiated by God’s sovereign grace. It also reinforces the universality of salvation, now widely accessible to Gentiles who respond in faith.
Today, believers can take heart that God is at work in unseen ways, preparing hearts to believe. It invites humility and reliance on the Holy Spirit in evangelism, prayer that God would open minds, and patient cultivation of faith in new believers. Churches should celebrate conversions as God’s work, not merely human persuasion, and provide robust discipleship for new believers so that their initial faith matures into durable, lifelong trust in Christ.
Cross-References: Romans 8:29-30; John 6:37; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Ephesians 1:4-5