Acts — Chapter 13

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1Now 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.

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.”

3And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

4So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.

6They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

7an 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.

8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas

10and 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?

11Now 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.

12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

14And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.

15After 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.”

16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!

17The 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.

18He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.

19And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

20All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.

21Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.

22After 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.’

23From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.

24Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But there is One coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.

27The 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.

28And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.

29When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

30But God raised Him from the dead,

31and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.

32And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers

33He 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.’

34In 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.’

35So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’

36For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.

37But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

38Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

39Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:

41‘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.’”

42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.

43After 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.

44On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

46Then 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.

47For 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.’”

48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.

50The 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.

51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

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

1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

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

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

4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

6And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

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

9Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child 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 deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

13Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and 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, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

18And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

20And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

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

22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

23Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised 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 fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

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

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

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

30But God raised him from the dead:

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

32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also 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 said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39And by him all that believe are 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 of 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, though a man declare it unto you.

42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

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

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

49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

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 Ghost.

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 with the Holy Spirit.

1Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from childhood) and Saul.

2While they were serving 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, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off.

4So Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

5When they arrived in Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. (Now they also had John as their assistant.)

6When they had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

7who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.

8But the magician Elymas (for that is the way his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

9But Saul (also known as Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at him

10and said, “You who are full of all deceit and all wrongdoing, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness—will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

11Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time!” Immediately mistiness and darkness came over him, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand.

12Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed because he was greatly astounded at the teaching about the Lord.

13Then Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

14Moving on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.

15After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it.”

16So Paul stood up, gestured with his hand and said,“Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen:

17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay as foreigners in the country of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.

18For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

19After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave his people their land as an inheritance.

20All this took about 450 years. After this he gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.

21Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.

22After removing him, God raised up David their king. He testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who will accomplish everything I want him to do.’

23From the descendants of this man God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just as he promised.

24Before Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a baptism for repentance to all the people of Israel.

25But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly, ‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’

26Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.

27For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and they fulfilled the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning him.

28Though they found no basis for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.

29When they had accomplished everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb.

30But God raised him from the dead,

31and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses to the people.

32And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors,

33that this promise God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’

34But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be in a state of decay, God has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.’

35Therefore he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay.’

36For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay,

37but the one whom God raised up did not experience decay.

38Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

39and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.

40Watch out, then, that what is spoken about by the prophets does not happen to you:

41‘Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days,a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.’”

42As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath.

43When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.

44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled together to hear the word of the Lord.

45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they began to contradict what Paul was saying by reviling him.

46Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.

47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed.

49So the word of the Lord was spreading through the entire region.

50But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their region.

51So after they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, they went to Iconium.

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

1Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”

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

4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

5When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.

6When they had gone through the island to 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. This man summoned 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 the proconsul away from the faith.

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

10and said, “Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone 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. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

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

15After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”

16Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.

17The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.

18For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

19When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years.

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

21Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

23From this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise,

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

25As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.

27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

28Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.

29When they had fulfilled all things that were written about 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 by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

32We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,

33that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’

34“Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’

36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.

37But he whom God raised up saw no decay.

38Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,

39and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

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

41‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”

42So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached 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.

44The 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.

46Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

47For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”

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

49The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region.

50But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.

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

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

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

In Antioch, while the church worships and fasts, the Holy Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul for the work he has called them to, and the church commissions them with fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands (vv. 1-3). Sailing to Cyprus, Saul, now called Paul, confronts the sorcerer Elymas, who opposes their preaching, and strikes him blind, leading the proconsul Sergius Paulus to believe (vv. 4-12). The company sails on to Pisidian Antioch, where Paul preaches in the synagogue, surveying Israel's history from the exodus through David to Jesus, and proclaims that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is offered and justification comes by faith, not the law of Moses (vv. 16-41). Many Jews and God-fearing converts follow Paul and Barnabas, but the next week jealous Jewish leaders stir up opposition, so Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles, who rejoice and believe, and the word spreads through the region until the missionaries are expelled (vv. 42-52).

Authorship & Background

Author: Luke (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 13 begins the second half of Acts — the Gentile mission. It records the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul by the Antioch church (vv.1-3), their first missionary journey beginning in Cyprus (vv.4-12), and Paul's first recorded sermon at Pisidian Antioch (vv.13-52). From this point, "Saul" becomes "Paul" (v.9) and takes the lead over Barnabas.
Classification: Historical Narrative
Key Themes: a diverse leadership team fasting and worshipping when the Holy Spirit names two men by name, separate me Barnabas and Saul, a name change marked at the exact moment Saul confronts a sorcerer on Cyprus, then Saul, who also is called Paul, a sermon at Pisidian Antioch following the same shape as Peter's earlier sermons before landing on justification by faith rather than the law of Moses, envy named outright as the motive when the whole city turns out to hear the word the next week, and an expulsion answered not with despair but with joy, the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost
The Antioch Church (vv.1-3): A diverse leadership team — Barnabas (a Levite from Cyprus), Simeon called Niger (likely African), Lucius of Cyrene (North African), Manaen (raised with Herod), and Saul (a Pharisee from Tarsus). While they worshipped and fasted, the Holy Spirit said "Separate me Barnabas and Saul" (v.2). Missions are born in worship and prayer, not in committees.
Cyprus and Bar-jesus (vv.4-12): The first stop is Cyprus, Barnabas' home, and the confrontation there is with a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-jesus, who is attached to the Roman governor. Luke marks the change of name at exactly this point, then Saul, who also is called Paul, and from here on uses the Roman one. The rebuke is fierce, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, and the judgement fits the offence, blindness for a season on a man who had been obscuring the way of the Lord. The governor believes, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Into the Synagogue at Antioch (vv.13-15): Three verses of travel that carry two things worth noticing. John Mark departs from them and returns to Jerusalem, which Luke reports without explanation here and which will split Paul from Barnabas in chapter 15. Then the mechanics of the mission: they go into the synagogue on the sabbath and sit down, and the invitation to speak is extended by the rulers as ordinary hospitality to visitors, ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Paul's Sermon at Pisidian Antioch (vv.16-41): Paul's first recorded sermon follows the same pattern as Peter's sermons: Israel's history → Jesus' death and resurrection → the offer of forgiveness → a warning. The key theological statement: "By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (v.39) — justification by faith, not law.
The Next Sabbath, and the Envy (vv.42-45): The reception is enthusiastic and the invitation is to come back, and Luke gives the size of the second congregation, the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. That is what produces the opposition, and Luke names the motive without softening it, when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
The Turn to the Gentiles (vv.46-48): When the Jews reject the Gospel, Paul declares "lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (v.46). This becomes a pattern throughout Acts — the Gospel goes to Jews first, then to Gentiles when rejected.
Expelled, and Filled with Joy (vv.49-52): The word is published throughout all the region, and the counter-move is political rather than theological: the devout and honourable women and the chief men of the city are stirred up, and Paul and Barnabas are expelled out of their coasts. They shake the dust off their feet, which is the gesture Jesus prescribed. Then the last verse, and it is one of Luke's quiet reversals, and the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. The missionaries are thrown out and the congregation they leave behind is described as full.

Map & Geography

  • Antioch in Syria (v.1): The first missionary journey was launched from Antioch — the church's Gentile mission base, about 300 miles north of Jerusalem.
  • Cyprus (v.4): Barnabas' home island. They sailed from Seleucia to Salamis (east coast) and crossed to Paphos (west coast).
  • Antioch in Pisidia (v.14): An inland city in southern Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Paul preached in the synagogue here.
  • Perga in Pamphylia (v.13): A coastal city where John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Places on this map

  • AntiochAntakya, TurkeyOn the Orontes about 300 miles north of Jerusalem, with a port at the river mouth, the third city of the Roman empire. Disciples were first called Christians here, and it was the base every one of Paul's journeys started from. Wikipedia
  • JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
  • AramSyriaThe Syrian interior north-east of Israel, a set of city-states rather than one kingdom, with Damascus the strongest. Aramaic, its language, became the everyday speech of the whole region including Judea. Wikipedia
  • CyprusCyprusThe large island 60 miles off the Syrian coast, a copper source since the Bronze Age. Barnabas came from here, and it was the first stop of the first missionary journey. Wikipedia
  • Salamisnear Famagusta, CyprusCyprus's main eastern harbour and the landing point on the way from Antioch. Wikipedia
  • PaphosPaphos, CyprusThe Roman administrative seat at the western end of Cyprus, where the governor Sergius Paulus was persuaded. Wikipedia
  • Antioch in PisidiaYalvac, TurkeyA Roman colony 3,600 feet up on the Anatolian plateau, on the road east from Ephesus. Distinct from Syrian Antioch, and the first synagogue sermon Acts records in full was preached here. Wikipedia
  • Asia MinorTurkeyThe peninsula between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, a high dry plateau ringed by mountains with the Greek cities on its western coast. Roman Asia, the province Paul worked from Ephesus, was only its western end. Wikipedia
  • Perganear Antalya, TurkeyA city on the Pamphylian coastal plain, reached up a navigable river, where the road inland to Pisidia begins. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the Antioch commissioning, the Cyprus ministry, Paul's sermon structure, justification by faith, and the turn to the Gentiles.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Paul's Missionary Journeys: Acts 13-20
BibleProject

Acts 13-14 | Paul's Mission Begins | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Acts 13:1-12 - Sent Out by the Holy Spirit
David Guzik

Acts 13:13-41 - Sermon in a Synagogue
David Guzik

Acts 13:42-52 - Accepted and Rejected
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Acts -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Missions Born in Worship, Not Committees (v.2) — The Holy Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul for the first missionary journey while the Antioch leaders are worshiping and fasting, not planning strategy. How much of your outreach flows from time in God's presence versus human planning alone?
  • Justified From All Things (v.39) — Paul preaches that faith in Christ accomplishes a complete justification the law could never provide. Are you resting in that finished work, or still trying to earn your standing through performance?
  • Rejection Redirects Rather Than Stops God's Plan (v.46) — When the Jews reject the message, Paul simply turns to proclaim it to the Gentiles instead. Where has a closed door in your life redirected you toward something God had planned all along?
  • Sovereignty and Belief Held Together (v.48) — Luke notes that as many as were appointed to eternal life believed, holding God's election and human response together without tension. Does the doctrine of God's sovereignty motivate your evangelism or make you passive about it?
  • Shaking Off Rejection and Moving Forward (v.51) — When Paul and Barnabas are expelled from the city, they simply shake the dust from their feet and continue on. How do you handle rejection when you share your faith — do you carry it, or let it go and keep going?
  • Joy That Survives Persecution (v.52) — Despite being driven out of the region, the disciples are left full of joy and the Holy Spirit. Is your joy tied to your circumstances, or rooted in something deeper?