Acts 13
13
1#The impulse for the first missionary effort in Asia Minor is ascribed to the prophets of the Antiochene community, under the inspiration of the holy Spirit. Just as the Jerusalem community had earlier been the center of missionary activity, so too Antioch becomes the center from which the missionaries Barnabas and Saul are sent out. Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.
First Mission Begins in Cyprus. 4#13:4–14:27] The key event in Luke’s account of the first missionary journey is the experience of Paul and Barnabas at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14–52). The Christian kerygma proclaimed by Paul in the synagogue was favorably received. Some Jews and “God-fearers” (see note on Acts 8:26–40) became interested and invited the missionaries to speak again on the following sabbath (Acts 13:42). By that time, however, the appearance of a large number of Gentiles from the city had so disconcerted the Jews that they became hostile toward the apostles (Acts 13:44–50). This hostility of theirs appears in all three accounts of Paul’s missionary journeys in Acts, the Jews of Iconium (Acts 14:1–2) and Beroea (Acts 17:11) being notable exceptions. So they, sent forth by the holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had John#John: that is, John Mark (see Acts 12:12, 25). also as their assistant. 6When they had traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a magician named Bar-Jesus who was a Jewish false prophet.#A magician named Bar-Jesus who was a Jewish false prophet: that is, he posed as a prophet. Again Luke takes the opportunity to dissociate Christianity from the magical acts of the time (Acts 13:7–11); see also Acts 8:18–24. 7He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who had summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them in an attempt to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But Saul, also known as Paul,#Saul, also known as Paul: there is no reason to believe that his name was changed from Saul to Paul upon his conversion. The use of a double name, one Semitic (Saul), the other Greco-Roman (Paul), is well attested (cf. Acts 1:23, Joseph Justus; Acts 12:12, 25, John Mark). filled with the holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right, full of every sort of deceit and fraud. Will you not stop twisting the straight paths of [the] Lord? 11Even now the hand of the Lord is upon you. You will be blind, and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately a dark mist fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he came to believe, for he was astonished by the teaching about the Lord.
Paul’s Arrival at Antioch in Pisidia. 13From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.#15:38. 14They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered [into] the synagogue and took their seats. 15After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
Paul’s Address in the Synagogue. 16#This is the first of several speeches of Paul to Jews proclaiming that the Christian church is the logical development of Pharisaic Judaism (see also Acts 24:10–21; 26:2–23). So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing,#Who are God-fearing: see note on Acts 8:26–40. listen. 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.#Ex 6:1, 6; 12:51. With uplifted arm he led them out of it 18and for about forty years he put up with#Put up with: some manuscripts read “sustained.” them in the desert.#Ex 16:1, 35; Nm 14:34. 19When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance#Dt 7:1; Jos 14:1–2. 20at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.#At the end of about four hundred and fifty years: the manuscript tradition makes it uncertain whether the mention of four hundred and fifty years refers to the sojourn in Egypt before the Exodus, the wilderness period and the time of the conquest (see Ex 12:40–41), as the translation here suggests, or to the time between the conquest and the time of Samuel, the period of the judges, if the text is read, “After these things, for about four hundred and fifty years, he provided judges.” After these things he provided judges up to Samuel [the] prophet.#Jgs 2:16; 1 Sm 3:20. 21Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.#1 Sm 8:5, 19; 9:16; 10:1, 20–21, 24; 11:15. 22Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’#1 Sm 13:14; 16:12–13; Ps 89:20–21. 23From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.#Is 11:1. 24John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel;#Mt 3:1–2; Mk 1:4–5; Lk 3:2–3. 25and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’#Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:20, 27.
26“My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent. 27The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets that are read sabbath after sabbath. 28For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him put to death,#Mt 27:20, 22–23; Mk 15:13–14; Lk 23:4, 14–15, 21–23; Jn 19:4–6, 15. 29and when they had accomplished all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.#Mt 27:59–60; Mk 15:46; Lk 23:53; Jn 19:38, 41–42. 30But God raised him from the dead,#2:24, 32; 3:15; 4:10; 17:31. 31and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.#1:3, 8; 10:39, 41; Mt 28:8–10, 16–20; Mk 16:9, 12–20; Lk 24:13–53; Jn 20:11–29; 21:1–23. These are [now] his witnesses before the people.#The theme of the Galilean witnesses is a major one in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts and is used to signify the continuity between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the church and to guarantee the fidelity of the church’s teachings to the words of Jesus. 32We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors 33he has brought to fulfillment for us, [their] children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you.’#Ps 2:7. 34And that he raised him from the dead never to return to corruption he declared in this way, ‘I shall give you the benefits assured to David.’#Is 55:3. 35That is why he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not suffer your holy one to see corruption.’#Ps 16:10. 36Now David, after he had served the will of God in his lifetime, fell asleep, was gathered to his ancestors, and did see corruption.#2:29; 1 Kgs 2:10. 37But the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38You must know, my brothers, that through him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, [and] in regard to everything from which you could not be justified#Justified: the verb is the same as that used in Paul’s letters to speak of the experience of justification and, as in Paul, is here connected with the term “to have faith” (“every believer”). But this seems the only passage about Paul in Acts where justification is mentioned. In Lucan fashion it is paralleled with “forgiveness of sins” (a theme at Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43) based on Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 13:37) rather than his cross, and is put negatively (Acts 13:38). Therefore, some would translate, “in regard to everything from which you could not be acquitted…every believer is acquitted.” under the law of Moses, 39in him every believer is justified.#Rom 3:20. 40Be careful, then, that what was said in the prophets not come about:
41‘Look on, you scoffers,
be amazed and disappear.
For I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will never believe even if someone tells you.’”#Hb 1:5.
42As they were leaving, they invited them to speak on these subjects the following sabbath. 43After the congregation had dispersed, many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.
Address to the Gentiles. 44On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46#3:26; Rom 1:16. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.#The refusal to believe frustrates God’s plan for his chosen people; however, no adverse judgment is made here concerning their ultimate destiny. Again, Luke, in the words of Paul, speaks of the priority of Israel in the plan for salvation (see Acts 10:36). 47For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’”#Is 49:6.
48The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. 51#Mt 10:14; Mk 6:11; Lk 9:5; 10:11. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.#See note on Lk 9:5. 52The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit.
Currently Selected:
Acts 13: NABRE
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Acts 13
13
Barnabas and Saul Commissioned
1#Ac 11:22–27; 4:36In the church that was in Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2#Ac 9:15; 2Ti 1:11As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3#Ac 6:6; 14:26Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The Apostles Preach in Cyprus
4#Ac 4:36; 13:2So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5#Ac 13:14; 9:20When they arrived at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as an assistant.
6#Mt 7:15When they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7#Ac 13:12; 19:38who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8#Ac 13:6–7; 2Ti 3:8But Elymas the sorcerer (which is his name by interpretation) opposed them, trying to divert the proconsul from the faith. 9#Ac 4:8; 2:4Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him and said, 10#Hos 14:9; Mt 13:38“You son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, full of deceit and of all fraud, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11#Ex 9:3; Ps 32:4Now, look! The hand of the Lord is against you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
Immediately mist and darkness fell on him, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12#Ac 13:7When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia
13#Ac 2:10; 12:12Now when Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14#Ac 16:13; 13:5But they departed from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15#Ac 15:21; Mk 5:22After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”
16#Ac 12:17; 10:2Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17#Dt 7:6–8; Ps 105:23–24The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt, and with great power He led them out of it. 18#Ac 7:36; Dt 9:7For about forty years He endured their conduct in the desert. 19#Ps 78:55; Dt 7:1; Jos 14:1When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an inheritance by lot.
20#Jdg 2:16; 1Sa 3:20“After about four hundred and fifty years, God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21#1Sa 10:1Then they requested a king. And God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22#1Sa 16:1; 15:23; 15:26When He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified, saying, ‘I have found David#Ps 89:20. the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will fulfill My entire will.’#1Sa 13:14.
23#Mt 1:1; Ps 132:11“From this man’s descendants God has raised a Savior for Israel, Jesus, according to His promise. 24#Ac 1:22Before His coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25#Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But look! He is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’#Jn 1:20, 27.
26#Ac 4:12; 13:46“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those of you who fear God, the word of this salvation has been sent to us. 27#Ac 3:17; Lk 24:20Because those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, did not know Him, in condemning Him they have fulfilled the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath. 28#Mt 27:22–25Though they found in Him no cause worthy of death, yet they asked Pilate to have Him killed. 29#Lk 23:53; Mt 27:57–60; Mk 15:45–46When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and placed Him in a tomb. 30#Ac 2:24; Mt 28:6But God raised Him from the dead, 31#Lk 24:48; Ac 1:3and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
32#Ac 26:6; Ro 4:13“We preach to you good news: The promise which was made to the fathers, 33#Ps 2:7; Heb 5:5God has fulfilled to us, their children, raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.’#Ps 2:7.
34#Isa 55:3; Ro 6:9That He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way:
‘I will give You the holy and sure blessings of David.’#Isa 55:3.
35#Ps 16:10So He says in another Psalm:
‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’#Ps 16:10.
36#1Ki 2:10; Ac 2:29“For after David had served by the counsel of God in his own generation, he fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw decay. 37#Ac 13:30; 2:24But He whom God raised up saw no decay.
38#Lk 24:47; Ac 2:38“Therefore, brothers, let it be known to you that through this Man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39#Ro 8:3; Gal 2:16and by Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses. 40Therefore beware, lest what is spoken of in the prophets come upon you:
41#Hab 1:5 ‘Look, you scoffers,
marvel and perish!
For I will perform a work in your days
which you will never believe,
even if someone declares it to you.’#Hab 1:5.”
42When Paul and Barnabas went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles asked that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43#Ac 11:23; 6:5When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. 45#Ac 18:6; 5:17But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, blaspheming and contradicting what Paul was saying.
46#Ac 3:26; 28:28Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first. But seeing you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47#Isa 49:6; Lk 2:32For thus has the Lord commanded us:
‘I have established you to be a light of the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’#Isa 42:6; 49:6.”
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And all who were ordained to eternal life believed.
49The word of the Lord was spread throughout the entire region. 50#Ac 14:2; 14:19But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them from their region. 51#Mt 10:14; Ac 18:6So they shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52#Ac 2:4; Mt 5:12And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Military Bible Association