For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about spreading the good news; it reveals that God's plan for salvation was always intended to reach the furthest corners of the earth, a truth already laid out in the Old Testament prophecies. Paul and Barnabas aren't inventing a new mission, but fulfilling a divine blueprint that anticipated the inclusion of all nations.
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the Jewish leaders in Antioch of Pisidia reject Paul's message and expel him and Barnabas, they quote from Isaiah to explain their new mission. This Scripture passage, originally spoken about God's Servant (understood by Paul to be Christ), declares the divine purpose for the Messiah to be a light and salvation for all people, not just Israel. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas now focus their ministry on the Gentiles, believing they are fulfilling God's prophetic command to spread salvation to the ends of the earth.
Why did Paul turn to an ancient prophecy to justify his mission to the Gentiles? It wasn't just a good quote; it was a divine mandate.
When Paul and Barnabas faced rejection from the Jews in Pisidian Antioch, Paul didn't just walk away defeated. He powerfully declared that their mission to the Gentiles was not an afterthought but part of God's original, unwavering plan. He quotes Isaiah 49:6, a passage where God speaks to His Servant (understood here as the Messiah, Jesus) and declares, 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'
This wasn't a new idea Paul was introducing; it was the fulfillment of prophecy. The Old Testament, often seen as solely for Israel, contained this germ of hope for all people. Paul saw that God's redemptive plan, revealed through Israel's story, was always intended to break out and encompass the whole world. This verse marks a pivotal moment where Paul clearly articulates this expansive vision, rooted in Scripture.
What does it truly mean for Jesus to be a 'light' and bring 'salvation'?
The prophecy Paul quotes describes the Messiah, Jesus, as a 'light' and the means of 'salvation.' This isn't just about providing information or a temporary fix.
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Paul and Barnabas are commissioned to be the bearers of this Light and the proclaimers of this Salvation, fulfilling the prophetic words spoken centuries before.
Understand the original words
soteria · Greek Noun
The act of divine rescue from sin, judgment, and death through the grace of God, made available exclusively through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
This verse isn't just a nice saying; it's Paul's bold declaration that the mission to the Gentiles, initially prophesied long ago and now being actively pursued, is God's direct command, rooted in ancient Scripture and confirmed by their experiences.
c. 700 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy of a Light to Nations
The prophet Isaiah foretells a future 'Servant of the Lord' who will be a 'light for the nations' and bring salvation to the ends of the earth, a prophecy later applied to the Messiah.
c. 400-150 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek (the Septuagint), making texts like Isaiah accessible to a wider, Hellenistic audience. This Greek translation of Isaiah 49:6 includes phrasing that emphasizes the mission to the Gentiles.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Commission
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, completes his earthly ministry, teaching and commissioning his disciples to spread the Gospel to all nations.
c. AD 45-48
Paul and Barnabas' First Missionary Journey
Paul and Barnabas embark on their first major mission, traveling to Cyprus and parts of Asia Minor, sharing the Gospel with both Jews and Gentiles.
c. AD 48-49
Council of Jerusalem
A crucial debate in Jerusalem addresses whether Gentile converts must follow Jewish law, affirming that salvation comes through faith in Christ for all people.
c. AD 49— this verse
Paul and Barnabas' Ministry in Antioch (Pisidia)
After facing rejection from many Jews in Antioch of Pisidia, Paul declares, 'We must turn to the Gentiles,' quoting Isaiah 49:6 to justify this pivotal shift in their mission strategy.
This is the direct source of the quotation, showing that the mission to the Gentiles was foretold in the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Servant of the Lord.
Isaiah 42:6This passage also speaks of the Servant being a light to the nations, echoing the theme of universal salvation found in Acts 13:47.
Matthew 28:19Jesus' Great Commission commands his followers to make disciples of all nations, directly aligning with the purpose of being a light to the Gentiles for salvation.
Romans 10:14-15Paul connects the preaching of the gospel to the fulfillment of prophecy about sending out messengers to the nations, mirroring the commission in Acts.
Luke 2:32Simeon prophesied that Christ would be a light of revelation to the Gentiles, reinforcing the long-standing divine plan for their salvation.
ellicottActs 13:47: "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth."
(47) I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles. —The context of the quotation has to be remembered as showing that St. Paul identified the “Servant of the Lord” in Isaiah 49:6 with the person of the Christ. (See Note on Acts 4:27 .) The citation. is interesting as the first example of the train of thought which led the Apost…
barnesActs 13:47: "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth."
For so ... - Paul, as usual, appeals to the Scriptures to justify his course. Here he appeals to the Old Testament rather than to the command of the Saviour, because the Jews recognized the authority of their own Scriptures, while they would have turned in scorn from the command of Jesus of Nazareth. I have set thee ... - I have…
This verse isn't just about spreading the good news; it reveals that God's plan for salvation was always intended to reach the furthest corners of the earth, a truth already laid out in the Old Testament prophecies. Paul and Barnabas aren't inventing a new mission, but fulfilling a divine blueprint that anticipated the inclusion of all nations.
After the Jewish leaders in Antioch of Pisidia reject Paul's message and expel him and Barnabas, they quote from Isaiah to explain their new mission. This Scripture passage, originally spoken about God's Servant (understood by Paul to be Christ), declares the divine purpose for the Messiah to be a light and salvation for all people, not just Israel. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas now focus their ministry on the Gentiles, believing they are fulfilling God's prophetic command to spread salvation to the ends of the earth.
After the Jewish leaders in Antioch of Pisidia reject Paul's message and expel him and Barnabas, they quote from Isaiah to explain their new mission. This Scripture passage, originally spoken about God's Servant (understood by Paul to be Christ), declares the divine purpose for the Messiah to be a light and salvation for all people, not just Israel. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas now focus their ministry on the Gentiles, believing they are fulfilling God's prophetic command to spread salvation to the ends of the earth.
"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”" — This verse isn't just about spreading the good news; it reveals that God's plan for salvation was always intended to reach the furthest corners of the earth, a truth already laid out in the Old Testa…
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Last reviewed October 2026