Acts 26:20
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New International Version (©1984)
First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.

New Living Translation (©2007)
I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God--and prove they have changed by the good things they do.

English Standard Version (©2001)
but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

International Standard Version (©2008)
Instead, I first told the people in Damascus and Jerusalem, then all the people in Judea-and after that the gentiles-to repent, turn to God, and perform deeds that are consistent with such repentance.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Instead, I spread the message that I first told to the [Jewish] people in Damascus and Jerusalem and throughout the whole country of Judea. I spread the same message to non-Jewish people. Both groups were expected to change the way they thought and acted and to turn to God. I told them to do things that prove they had changed their lives.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
But showed first to 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
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
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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.

Darby Bible Translation
but have, first to those both in Damascus and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judaea, and to the nations, announced that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

English Revised Version
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Weymouth New Testament
but I proceeded to preach first to the people in Damascus, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God, and live lives consistent with such repentance.

World English Bible
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
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;

Geneva Study Bible

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.

People's New Testament

26:20 First to them of Damascus. He not only was baptized by Ananias in Damascus, but, after some preparation, he began to preach.

And then at Jerusalem. Where he disputed against the Grecians (Ac 9:27-29).

Throughout the region of Judaea. Just when he preached there we are not informed. Hackett thinks it was when he came up with help at the time of the famine (Ac 11:30).

That they should repent. He preached more than a theory; he preached a new life.

Wesley's Notes

26:20 I declared - From that hour to this, both to Jew and Gentile, that they should repent - This repentance, we may observe, is previous both to inward and outward holiness.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. showed . to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem-omitting Arabia; because, beginning with the Jews, his object was to mention first the places where his former hatred of the name of Christ was best known: the mention of the Gentiles, so unpalatable to his audience, is reserved to the last.

repent and return to God, and do works meet for repentance-a brief description of conversion and its proper fruits, suggested, probably, by the Baptist's teaching (Lu 3:7, 8).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

26:12-23 Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who are yet ignorant of them. A world that lies in wickedness must be sanctified and reformed; it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed; not enough to be turned from darkness to light, but they must be turned from the power of Satan unto God. All who are turned from sin to God, are not only pardoned, but have a grant of a rich inheritance. The forgiveness of sins makes way for this. None can be happy who are not holy; and to be saints in heaven we must be first saints on earth. We are made holy, and saved by faith in Christ; by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, and give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. The cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the Jews, and they were in a rage at Paul's preaching the fulfilling of the Old Testament predictions. Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead; the Head or principal One. Also, it was foretold by the prophets, that the Gentiles should be brought to the knowledge of God by the Messiah; and what in this could the Jews justly be displeased at? Thus the true convert can give a reason of his hope, and a good account of the change manifest in him. Yet for going about and calling on men thus to repent and to be converted, vast numbers have been blamed and persecuted.


Matthew 3:8 "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;
Luke 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
Acts 3:19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
Acts 9:19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
Acts 9:26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
Acts 13:46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
Acts 22:17 "It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, (NASB ©1995)

Appropriate Change Coasts Consistent Country Damascus Declared Deeds First Gentiles Heart Jerusalem Judaea Judea Kept Live Meet Perform Performing Preach Preached Preaching Proceeded Prove Region Repent Repentance Shewed Showed Throughout Turn Works Worthy


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.

first. 9:19-22 11:26 *etc:

and at. 9:28,29 22:17,18

and then. 17 13:46-48 14:16-21 22:21,22 Ro 11:18-20

repent. 2:38 3:19 11:18 17:30 20:21 Jer 31:19,20 Eze 18:30-32 Mt 3:2 Mt 4:17 9:13 21:30-32 Mr 6:12 Lu 13:3,5 15:7,10 24:46,47 Ro 2:4 2Co 7:10 2Ti 2:25,26 Re 2:5,21 3:3 16:11

turn. 9:35 14:15 15:19 Ps 22:27 La 3:40 Ho 12:6 14:2 Lu 1:16 2Co 3:16 1Th 1:9

and do. Isa 55:7 Mt 3:8 Lu 3:8-14 19:8,9 Eph 4:17-32 5:1-25 6:1-9 Tit 2:2-13 1Pe 1:14-16 2:9-12 4:2-5 2Pe 1:5-8

Bible Gateway: Acts Chapter 26 Verse 20 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: all also and appropriate at both but by Damascus declaring deeds even First Gentiles God I in Jerusalem Judea kept of performing preached prove region repent repentance should that the their then they those throughout to turn

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