How to Combine Person, Phrase, and Proximity in a Bible Search

An idea for a power searching tip comes in an answer to a fellow Logos user’s question:

In Acts 11:30 the phrase “Barnabas and Saul” appears, whereas “Paul and Barnabas” occurs in Acts 13:43. Is there a way to find when Barnabas appears before Paul in verses and vice versa?

Questions like this really showcase the power of Logos searching, so I encourage you to give these steps a try:

• Click the Search icon to open the Search panel (A)
• Select Bible as the search type (B)
• Set the verse range to Acts (C)
• Select a Bible containing the interlinear option such as NASB, KJV, NKJV, ESV, LEB, etc. (D)
• Copy/Paste this query into the Search box: “<Person Barnabas> and” BEFORE 1 word  <Person Paul> (E)
• Press the Enter/Return key to generate the results (F)

• Open a second Search panel and use this query in it: “<Person Paul> and” BEFORE 1 word  <Person Barnabas> (G)

• Compare the results between the two searches (H)

Here is a brief explanation of the queries:

The first query is looking for a phrase beginning with any word referencing the person Barnabas followed by the word “and.” This phrase must then occur in a verse in Acts one word before any word referencing the person Paul.

The second query of course just places Paul before Barnabas.

There may be a couple of “false positives,” but primarily we have exactly what the questioner desired!

For more detailed instructions about searching inside Logos, please consider a subscription to mpseminars.com where you’ll find 1000’s of videos to help you become proficient in both the desktop and mobile formats of Logos Bible Software.