Act 13:13 | KingComments | STEP | The fact that there is talk of “Paul and his companions” seems to indicate that there is a larger company than Paul and Barnabas. It is possible that people have come to faith together with the proconsul and some of them have joined Paul and Barnabas. The fact that there is ‘a company of Paul’ also means that from now on Paul takes the lead and Barnabas takes the second place. Paul puts his stamp on the company, the company continues under his leadership and responsibility. The company leaves the island of Cyprus. They boarded in Paphos and sailed to Pamphylia in southern Galatia. In Perga they go ashore. There John Mark leaves them. He has had enough of going with the two servants. They have to go on without him and his help. John is the picture of the unfaithful servant. It seems that he was not ready for this service. Barnabas and Paul did not notice that either. Without any remark on their part – at least we don’t read anything about that – they let John Mark go. They themselves go from Perga into the country. On their journey they arrive in the province of Pisidia in a city that is also called Antioch. At that time there were several cities that had this name. Also here Paul goes first to the synagogue. They know the customs in the synagogue and take place there. They know that after reading the law there will be an opportunity to speak to the Jews. We see how the service in the synagogue goes on. There is great freedom in the service, more than in many churches today. After the reading of the law there is a free preaching. The presence of Paul and Barnabas is noticed, and they are asked to speak a word that will serve to encourage the people.

‏ Acts 13:13

From Cyprus to Antioch in Pisidia

The fact that there is talk of “Paul and his companions” seems to indicate that there is a larger company than Paul and Barnabas. It is possible that people have come to faith together with the proconsul and some of them have joined Paul and Barnabas. The fact that there is ‘a company of Paul’ also means that from now on Paul takes the lead and Barnabas takes the second place. Paul puts his stamp on the company, the company continues under his leadership and responsibility.

The company leaves the island of Cyprus. They boarded in Paphos and sailed to Pamphylia in southern Galatia. In Perga they go ashore. There John Mark leaves them. He has had enough of going with the two servants. They have to go on without him and his help. John is the picture of the unfaithful servant. It seems that he was not ready for this service. Barnabas and Paul did not notice that either. Without any remark on their part – at least we don’t read anything about that – they let John Mark go. They themselves go from Perga into the country.

On their journey they arrive in the province of Pisidia in a city that is also called Antioch. At that time there were several cities that had this name. Also here Paul goes first to the synagogue. They know the customs in the synagogue and take place there. They know that after reading the law there will be an opportunity to speak to the Jews. We see how the service in the synagogue goes on. There is great freedom in the service, more than in many churches today. After the reading of the law there is a free preaching. The presence of Paul and Barnabas is noticed, and they are asked to speak a word that will serve to encourage the people.