“And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
My Notes
What Does Acts 13:15 Mean?
Paul and Barnabas are in a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers send them a message: if you have a word of exhortation, speak up. It's an open invitation. A platform offered. And Paul will deliver one of the most important sermons in Acts.
The phrase "after the reading of the law and the prophets" reveals the worship structure: Scripture was read first, then a visiting teacher might be invited to comment. Paul's sermon (verses 16-41) isn't unsolicited. It's requested. The synagogue opened the door. Paul walked through it.
The hospitality of the synagogue rulers — inviting strangers to speak — created the opportunity for the gospel. The institution that would later reject Paul's message was the institution that first gave it a platform. The synagogue's openness to visiting teachers became the mechanism for its own disruption.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When was the last time you were given a platform to share — and did you use it for the gospel?
- 2.How does the synagogue's hospitality (inviting strangers to speak) become the mechanism for its disruption — and what does that teach?
- 3.What 'open doors' are available to you right now that you're treating as routine?
- 4.How do you prepare for the moment when someone says 'if you have a word, say on'?
Devotional
"If ye have any word of exhortation, say on." The synagogue rulers invited Paul to speak. They had no idea what they were opening.
This is how the gospel spread through the ancient world: through existing institutions that offered platforms they couldn't control. The synagogue had a tradition of inviting visiting teachers to share after the Scripture reading. It was polite. It was expected. And Paul used it to deliver a sermon that would divide the city.
The Law and Prophets were read first. The foundation was laid. And then: do you have something to add? The invitation was to exhort — to encourage, to apply, to build on what was read. Paul built on it, all right. He built the entire case for Jesus as the fulfillment of everything they'd just heard.
There's something beautiful about the mechanics: the gospel entered the synagogue through an open door, not a forced entry. Paul didn't barge in. He was invited. The institution's own hospitality became the channel for its transformation.
God uses open doors. The opportunity you're given — to speak, to share, to exhort — might seem routine. A polite invitation. An expected courtesy. But what you carry through that door might change everything for the people sitting in the room.
When someone says "if you have a word, say on" — don't assume it's small. Paul walked through a routine invitation and changed a city. Your open door might do the same.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture