Acts13

The Holy Ghost commissions Barnabas and Saul for missionary work from Antioch. In Cyprus, Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, blinds Elymas the sorcerer, leading the deputy Sergius Paulus to believe. In Pisidian Antioch, Paul preaches a sermon tracing Israel's history to Jesus' resurrection, offering forgiveness through faith. When the Jews reject their message, Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles, who gladly receive the word, though persecution ultimately forces the apostles to depart.

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Commissioning of Barnabas and Saul

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.

While 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.”

And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Ministry in Cyprus and Sergius Paulus

So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.

They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas

and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

Paul's Sermon in Pisidian Antioch

And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!

The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.

He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.

And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.

Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them forty years under Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin.

After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’

From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.

Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.

The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.

And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.

When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

But God raised Him from the dead,

and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.

And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers

He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’

In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’

For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.

But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:

‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

Rejection by Jews, Turning to Gentiles

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.

After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.

The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.

So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Study Notes for Acts 13

Verse 1

The list highlights the diversity of the Antioch leadership (including those from Africa and Cyprus), demonstrating the church's multi-ethnic character. Manaen's connection to Herod the tetrarch suggests the gospel had reached high social strata.

Verse 2

This is the first official, Spirit-directed missionary journey. The separation of Barnabas and Saul occurs while the church is engaged in worship and fasting, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's will before mission.

Verse 3

The laying on of hands signifies authorization and blessing, recognizing the divine call received by Barnabas and Saul for their specific work.

Verse 4

Luke emphasizes that they were 'sent forth by the Holy Ghost,' underscoring that the mission was divinely mandated, though carried out through the local church.

Verse 5

Following the pattern of 'to the Jew first,' Paul and Barnabas used the established structure of the Jewish synagogue as their initial point of contact in each city.

Verse 7

Sergius Paulus was the Roman proconsul of Cyprus. Luke's use of the specific title 'deputy' (proconsul) is historically accurate, confirming the political status of Cyprus at that time.

Verse 9

This verse marks the formal transition where Saul is henceforth referred to as Paul. This shift, from his Hebrew name to his Roman name, coincides with his ministry focus shifting decisively toward the Gentiles.

Verse 11

Paul’s infliction of temporary blindness on Elymas mirrors the blindness Paul himself experienced at his conversion (Acts 9), demonstrating the superior power of God over false magic.

Verse 12

The proconsul’s belief illustrates that signs and wonders serve to confirm the authority and truth of the gospel message (the 'doctrine of the Lord').

Verse 13

John Mark's unexplained departure becomes a source of later conflict between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:38). His return to Jerusalem may have been due to homesickness, fear, or disagreement over strategy.

Verse 14

Pisidian Antioch was an important Roman colony inland from the coast. Paul maintained his strategy of preaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Verse 16

Paul addresses two groups: 'Men of Israel' (ethnic Jews) and 'ye that fear God' (pious Gentiles, or 'God-fearers,' who were attracted to Judaism but had not fully converted).

Verse 20

Paul provides a concise survey of Israelite history, from the Exodus to the monarchy, establishing the context of God's faithfulness and covenant promises leading up to the Messiah.

Verse 22

Quoting 1 Samuel 13:14, Paul establishes David as the pivotal figure in Israel's history, whose lineage is the source of the promised Savior, Jesus.

Verse 27

Paul offers a profound theological insight: the Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus, though done in ignorance, ironically resulted in the precise fulfillment of prophetic scripture.

Verse 30

The resurrection is the central point of Paul's sermon, confirming Jesus' identity as the Messiah and the validity of the apostles' witness.

Verse 33

Paul applies Psalm 2:7, 'Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee,' to Jesus' resurrection, affirming that the resurrection is the ultimate confirmation of Jesus’ divine Sonship and Messianic installation.

Verse 39

This verse contains the first clear statement in Acts of the central Pauline doctrine: justification (being declared righteous) is achieved through belief in Christ, not by adherence to the Law of Moses.

Verse 41

Paul quotes Habakkuk 1:5, warning the synagogue members that failing to believe the news of Jesus' resurrection is an act of rejection that will bring judgment.

Verse 42

The Gentiles' request for the message the following week highlights their immediate interest in the gospel, contrasting sharply with the eventual opposition from the Jewish leaders.

Verse 46

This is a decisive turning point in the book of Acts. Paul and Barnabas officially declare their intent to pivot the mission toward the Gentiles, based on the Jewish rejection of the message.

Verse 47

Paul justifies his mission to the Gentiles by quoting Isaiah 49:6, applying the prophecy of the Servant (Messiah) being a 'light of the Gentiles' to his own apostolic calling.

Verse 48

The phrase 'as many as were ordained to eternal life believed' emphasizes God's sovereign purpose in salvation, while still requiring the human response of faith.

Verse 51

Shaking off the dust was a symbolic act, instructed by Jesus (Luke 9:5), signifying a complete separation from those who rejected the gospel and leaving them accountable for their own decision.

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Acts13

Commissioning of Barnabas and Saul

Ministry in Cyprus and Sergius Paulus

Paul's Sermon in Pisidian Antioch

Rejection by Jews, Turning to Gentiles

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