Texts in Conversation
Acts 13 quotes the Greek Septuagint translation of Habakkuk, changing a prophecy about the Chaldeans into a call to avoid unbelief. The original describes judgment through a foreign power, but Acts omits the history and applies it rhetorically.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Habakkuk 1:5
Septuagint
4 Therefore the law is frustrated, and judgment does not proceed effectually, for the ungodly man prevails over the just; therefore perverse judgment will proceed. 5 Look, you despisers, and see, and wonder marvelously, and vanish: for I work a work in your days, which you will in no way believe, though a man declares it to you. 6 Therefore, look, I stir up against you the Chaldeans, the warriors, the bitter and hasty nation, that walks upon the breadth of the earth, to inherit tabernacles not his own. 7 He is terrible and famous; his judgment shall proceed of himself, and his dignity shall come out of himself.
Date: 100–1 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Acts 13:41
New Testament
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you. 40 Watch out, then, that what is spoken about by the prophets does not happen to you: 41 ‘Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.’” 42 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.
Date: 70–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Other texts serve to explain how Israelite unbelief should not be a surprise but reflects a divine pattern of either Israel’s or humanity’s response to God (Psalm 2:1–2 in Acts 4:25–26; Isaiah 6:9–10 in Acts 28:25–28; the various allusions in Acts 7, where the theme is stated in Acts 7:51–53). According to Stephen (Acts 7), Israel’s misunderstanding of the role of the tabernacle or temple reflects such a pattern. Some texts warn of the danger of unbelief and urge response to the gospel as a result (Deuteronomy 18:19 in Acts 3:23; Leviticus 23:29 in Acts 3:23; Habakkuk 1:5 in Acts 13:41). It is a dangerous thing to scoff at God’s work ..."
Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids, eds., Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997), 1189.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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