Acts 19:8

So Paul ¹  entered ²  the synagogue ³  and spoke out fearlessly ⁴  for three months, addressing ⁵  and convincing ⁶  them about the kingdom of God. ⁷ 

Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.

Paul then went straight to the meeting place. He had the run of the place for three months, doing his best to make the things of the kingdom of God real and convincing to them.

And he went into the Synagogue, and for three months he was preaching there without fear, reasoning and teaching about the kingdom of God.

He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

So Paul ¹  entered ²  the synagogue ³  and spoke out fearlessly ⁴  for three months, addressing ⁵  and convincing ⁶  them about the kingdom of God. ⁷ 

¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Grk “So entering the synagogue, he spoke out fearlessly.” The participle εἰσελθών (eiselqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

³ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

⁴ tn Or “boldly.”

⁵ tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 19:8. As G. Schrenk (TDNT 2:94-95) points out, “What is at issue is the address which any qualified member of a synagogue might give.” Other examples of this may be found in the NT in Matt 4:23 and Mark 1:21.

⁶ tn Or “addressing them persuasively.” The two participles διαλεγόμενος and πείθων (dialegomeno" and peiqwn) can be understood as a hendiadys (so NIV, NRSV), thus, “addressing them persuasively.”

⁷ sn To talk about Jesus as the Christ who has come is to talk about the kingdom of God. This is yet another summary of the message like that in 18:28.