Acts 13
The church at Antioch is a turning point. It is the first place where Jews and Gentiles worship together in the same room, breaking a barrier that had stood for centuries. Here, in worship and fasting, the Holy Spirit speaks: "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." The church lays hands on them. They are commissioned and sent.
Paul - still called Saul at the start of this journey - is about to step fully into his name and his calling. He will preach the gospel across the Mediterranean. Opposition will follow. Some will believe. Some will oppose. The pattern will repeat throughout his ministry. But the word spreads, and for the first time in Acts, the Gentiles - people outside the covenant of Israel - hear the gospel and are declared saved through Christ. The journey takes him first to Cyprus2, then across the Mediterranean to the cities of Asia Minor.
This chapter contains Paul's longest sermon in Acts, a sweeping rehearsal of Israel's history from Egypt to David to the present moment. It mirrors Stephen's sermon in Acts 7 but reaches a different conclusion: where Stephen's speech ended in judgment, Paul's ends with an open door - the forgiveness of sins and justification through the resurrection, now extended to all who believe.
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People in this chapter
A Roman citizen, a Pharisee trained under Gamaliel, and a hunter of the early church. Confronted by the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he became the missionary who carried the gospel across the Mediterranean and wrote thirteen of the New Testament’s twenty-seven books.
Joseph from Cyprus, renamed Barnabas ("son of encouragement") by the apostles. Sold a field for the early church. Brought Saul into the Jerusalem fellowship when others feared him. Led Paul on the first missionary journey. Split with Paul over John Mark - and then took John Mark with him.
Acts 13:1-3The Laying On of Hands
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.
The church at Antioch is gathered not for a quick decision or a casual meeting. They are fasting - denying themselves food to focus on prayer and listening. Fasting in Scripture is the body's way of saying: this matters more than feeding myself. The church takes the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas with that kind of seriousness.
The laying on of hands is an ancient sign of commissioning and blessing5. When the church lays hands on Paul and Barnabas, they are placing themselves with these two. This is not a dismissal - it is a covenant. Those who remain will pray. Those who go will preach. The work belongs to all of them.
Acts 13:4-12Cyprus: The Sorcerer and the Proconsul
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 man of understanding: who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
The Spirit sets Paul apart. Barnabas joins him. Two sent out, two witnesses. Now the word leaves Jerusalem's shadow and spreads to Cyprus. A new frontier opens.
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.
Bar-jesus means "son of Jesus" - an ironic name for a man who opposes the true Jesus. He is a sorcerer and a false prophet, a man who trades in spiritual deception. The fact that he is a Jew makes the opposition clearer: the false prophet and the true are both present, and the choice falls to Sergius Paulus1, a proconsul whose historical existence is confirmed by inscription.
Opposition is not absent from the gospel. From the start, there are those who withstand it. Elymas sees his influence threatened6. A proconsul interested in hearing the gospel is a proconsul no longer under the sorcerer's sway. The sorcerer does not argue - he tries to prevent the hearing of the word.
Acts 13:13-25Pisidian Antioch: A New Audience
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.
Paul has arrived at Pisidian Antioch3, a city in what is now Turkey. This is gentile territory - far from Jerusalem. Yet the synagogue is there, a gathering of Jews and God-fearers, Gentiles drawn to the faith of Israel. Paul is invited to speak. And what he does next is remarkable: he tells the entire history of Israel in a single sermon.
Acts 13:26-41The David Sermon: From Promise to Resurrection
26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 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.
Paul pivots from Israel's history to the resurrection. Everything that has been said about David is now said about David's greater Son - raised, never to see corruption.
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 asleep, 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.
Paul opens by naming his audience: "Men of Israel, and ye that fear God." He is speaking to two groups - Jews bound by the covenant, and Gentiles who have chosen to honor the God of Israel. Then he does something audacious: he claims that the promise made to Abraham, renewed to David, is now being fulfilled. Not at some future moment. Now. Today. In this risen Jesus.
Here is the pivot of Paul's sermon: the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed through Jesus. This is not a new truth - forgiveness has always been God's heart. But it is a new declaration: that forgiveness is now available to all who believe in the risen Christ, not through the law of Moses but through faith in Him. And something the law could never do, Christ accomplishes - justification, the legal declaration of righteousness before God.
Acts 13:42-52The Door Opens to the Gentiles
42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be spoken to them the next sabbath. 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 jealousy, 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.
The Gospel stirs joy in the city - but jealousy in the synagogue. Some believe; some rage. The same message splits crowds. Light exposes what was hidden.
48And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were appointed 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.
Opposition is not long in coming. What began as interest becomes jealousy. The synagogue leaders see the crowd and see their influence threatened. They resort to mockery and contradiction. But their opposition does not deter Paul. It clarifies the moment. The gospel is not rejected by all. It is rejected by these leaders. Others are listening.
The Gentiles are glad - a spontaneous joy at hearing that forgiveness and righteousness are available to them. They have been on the outside of the covenant for centuries. Now the door opens. They do not debate. They do not delay. They are appointed to eternal life, and they believe. This is the heart of Paul's gospel: the gospel that was first for the Jews is now - equally, unreservedly - for the Gentiles.
The gesture of shaking off dust is a sign of separation, a statement of judgment: "Your rejection of the gospel is noted. We leave it with you and move on." Yet it is not done in anger. Paul and Barnabas shake the dust and go to the next city. The gospel does not stay where it is refused. It moves to those who will hear.
Persecution has just begun - the crowd, the jealousy, the expulsion from the city. Yet the disciples are filled with joy. Not despite the persecution, but in the midst of it. They have been counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. That is not cause for despair. It is cause for rejoicing.
Further study
- Sergius PaulusBible Odyssey (SBL)Open-access SBL entry on the proconsul of Cyprus, with archaeological evidence for the historical figure.
- CyprusToposTextGazetteer of Cyprus with archaeological site data including Salamis and Paphos, locations in Acts 13:4-12.
- Antioch of PisidiaToposTextArchaeological site data for Pisidian Antioch, where Paul preached in the synagogue and the gospel reached the Gentiles.
- Saul / Paul Name ChangeIntertextual BibleCross-reference study tool for tracing the name Saul to Paul throughout Scripture and understanding its theological significance.
- Commissioning and Apostolic MissionCambridge UPStudy of laying on of hands and commissioning practices in early Christian communities and missionary sending.
- Analysis of conflict between apostolic power and pagan sorcery, particularly Elymas the sorcerer's resistance to Paul's preaching.