Acts 13ASV
Books
All books

Acts13

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant.

6And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus;

7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.

8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.

9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,

10and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

14But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:

17The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm led he them forth out of it.

18And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.

19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:

20and after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

21And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.

22And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom also he bare witness and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who shall do all my will.

23Of this man’s seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;

24when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.

26Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.

27For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain.

29And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.

30But God raised him from the dead:

31and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people.

32And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers,

33that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.

35Because he saith also in another psalm, Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see corruption.

36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.

38Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins:

39and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets:

41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

42And as they went out, they besought that these words might be spoken to them the next sabbath.

43Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44And the next sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.

45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.

46And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth.

48And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.

50But the Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders.

51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 13.

Full AI study →

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The mission of Paul and Barnabas. (1–3). Elymas the sorcerer. (4–13). Paul's discourse at Antioch. (14–41). He preaches to the Gentiles, and is persecuted by the Jews. (42–52).

vv1-3

What an assemblage was here! In these names we see that the Lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life; and zeal for his glory induces men to give up flattering connexions and prospects to promote his cause. It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father. They are separated to take pains, and not to take state. A blessing upon Barnabas and Saul in their present undertaking was sought for, and that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost in their work. Whatever means are used, or rules observed, the Holy Ghost alone can fit ministers for their important work, and call them to it.

vv4-13

Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many. Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elymas his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit and mischief together, make a man indeed a child of the devil. And those who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. There are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set others against these ways. They commonly are so hardened, that they will not cease to do evil. The proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ astonishes; and the more we know of it, the more reason we shall see to wonder at it. Those who put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdom of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endure hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.

vv14-31

When we come together to worship God, we must do it, not only by prayer and praise, but by the reading and hearing of the word of God. The bare reading of the Scriptures in public assemblies is not enough; they should be expounded, and the people exhorted out of them. This is helping people in doing that which is necessary to make the word profitable, to apply it to themselves. Every thing is touched upon in this sermon, which might best prevail with Jews to receive and embrace Christ as the promised Messiah. And every view, however short or faint, of the Lord's dealings with his church, reminds us of his mercy and long-suffering, and of man's ingratitude and perverseness. Paul passes from David to the Son of David, and shows that this Jesus is his promised Seed; a Saviour to do that for them, which the judges of old could not do, to save them from their sins, their worst enemies. When the apostles preached Christ as the Saviour, they were so far from concealing his death, that they always preached Christ crucified. Our complete separation from sin, is represented by our being buried with Christ. But he rose again from the dead, and saw no corruption: this was the great truth to be preached.

Cross References

Acts 13
v33Psalms 2:7quotation

Directly quoted by Paul to prove Christ's resurrection is the fulfillment of divine Sonship.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v34Isaiah 55:3quotation

Quoted by Paul ('sure mercies of David') to confirm the everlasting nature of Christ's resurrection.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v35Psalms 16:10quotation

Quoted to show that the Messiah was destined to rise without seeing bodily corruption.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v41Habakkuk 1:5quotation

Direct quotation warning the despisers of God's work of imminent judgment and unbelief.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v47Isaiah 49:6quotation

Direct quotation of the prophetic commission to be a light of the Gentiles.

v8Exodus 7:11-13thematic

Elymas's magical opposition to the gospel parallels the Egyptian magicians' resistance to Moses.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v221 Samuel 13:14allusion

Paul's historical summary quotes God's testimony of David as a man after His own heart.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v39Galatians 2:16thematic

Parallels Paul's central argument that justification is by faith in Christ, not by Moses' law.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v40Habakkuk 1:5quotation

Quoted as a solemn warning against rejecting God's work, drawing on prophetic judgment.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v46Acts 18:6thematic

Parallel transition in Corinth where Paul opposes blaspheming Jews and turns to the Gentiles.

v46Acts 28:28thematic

Paul's final solemn declaration in Rome turning to the Gentiles due to Jewish unbelief.

v51Matthew 10:14thematic

Direct obedience to Jesus' command to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony.

v1Galatians 2:9thematic

Barnabas and Saul recognized as key teachers/apostles, maintaining fellowship and mutual ministry partitions.

Supported by John Calvin

v1Ephesians 4:11thematic

Calvin highlights the distinction and overlap between NT 'prophets and teachers' referenced in Antioch.

Supported by John Calvin

Parallels the listing of spiritual offices, specifically prophets and teachers, in the church.

Supported by John Calvin

v2Hebrews 5:4thematic

Underlines the divine authority of the call, proving the supreme divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Supported by JFB

v2Romans 1:1thematic

Paul describes himself as 'separated unto the gospel of God,' echoing his Antioch separation.

Supported by JFB

v14Acts 13:27thematic

The regular reading of the prophets in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v211 Samuel 8:5-22thematic

The historical account of Israel desiring a king, which Paul references at the start.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v22Acts 13:36thematic

Connects David's temporal service and death to the eternal, incorruptible reign of Jesus.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v232 Samuel 7:12fulfillment

The foundational covenant promise that God would raise up David's seed to establish his kingdom.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v27Acts 2:27thematic

Peter's Pentecost sermon uses the same Davidic resurrection proof from Psalm 16.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v39Romans 3:20thematic

Confirms the inability of the Mosaic law to justify, emphasizing faith in Christ.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v46Romans 1:16thematic

Theological principle that the gospel must be offered to the Jew first, then the Greek.

v46Acts 13:26thematic

Reinforces Paul's earlier statement in this sermon that the word of salvation was sent to them.

v46Matthew 21:43thematic

Jesus' warning that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to others.

v48Ephesians 1:4thematic

Theological parallel linking belief with God's sovereign choice and ordaining grace before time.

Connects belief of the truth with being chosen/ordained by God unto salvation from the beginning.

v1Luke 8:3thematic

Connects Manaen's courtly association (Herod's foster brother) with other royal connections like Chuza.

Supported by JFB

v3Acts 6:6thematic

The laying on of hands as the solemn apostolic commissioning of those chosen.

Supported by JFB

v3Acts 14:26thematic

Explains 'sent them away' as recommending them to the grace of God for their work.

Supported by JFB

v13Acts 15:38thematic

Details the fallout of John Mark's departure from them at Pamphylia.

Supported by JFB

v18Deuteronomy 1:31allusion

Paul's phrasing of God 'bearing' or 'suffering' Israel in the wilderness echoes Moses' words.

Supported by JFB

v19Deuteronomy 7:1allusion

Explicitly names the seven nations of Canaan that God destroyed before Israel.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Matthew 3:11allusion

Echoes John's declaration of baptism and unworthiness to loose the Messiah's sandals.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v26Acts 13:46thematic

Illustrates the progression of preaching 'this salvation' to Jews first, then to Gentiles.

Supported by Matthew Poole