‏ Acts 13

The Mission of Paul and Barnabas

This passage describes how Paul (then called Saul) and Barnabas were chosen by God to begin preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. The church at Antioch was guided by the Holy Spirit to send them out for this special mission. Their sending was marked by prayer, fasting, and the laying on of hands by other leaders in the church.

v. 1: The church in Antioch had many gifted leaders. There were prophets and teachers, such as Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who grew up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. These men were known for their wisdom, spiritual gifts, and dedication. Antioch was a large city with many believers, so it needed many teachers to help the church grow. Some leaders, like Manaen, gave up high positions in the world to serve Christ, showing that following Jesus is better than any job or title in society (Acts 11:20; Ephesians 4:11 ^a, Matthew 23:34 ^b).

v. 2: While these leaders were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. He said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them (Acts 13:2 ^c). This showed that only God can truly choose and appoint his servants. The task was not described in detail, but Barnabas and Saul already knew what God wanted from earlier calls (Acts 9:15; Acts 22:21 ^d, Galatians 2:7-9 ^e). Being chosen by the Holy Spirit means being set apart from other work to serve Christ and help spread the gospel.

v. 3: After fasting and praying, the other leaders placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them off (Acts 13:3 ^f). This meant they were officially given their mission and blessed by the church. Laying on hands was a way to show support, ask for God’s blessing, and release them from their current duties in Antioch. The church prayed for their success and for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit as they went to new places to share the good news (2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 14:26 ^g). This also shows the humility of Barnabas and Saul, who accepted the church’s prayers, and the unity among the leaders who supported their new mission.

The First Missionary Journey: Cyprus and the Conversion of Sergius Paulus

This section begins Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey, sent out by the Holy Spirit from the church in Antioch. They travel to the island of Cyprus, where they preach the gospel in the synagogues. They face opposition from a false prophet, but God shows His power through Paul. The gospel’s victory over sorcery and opposition demonstrates that God’s message is stronger than any earthly power.

v. 4–5: Paul and Barnabas, sent by the Holy Spirit, went to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John Mark was with them as their helper. This shows that the spreading of the gospel is the work of the Holy Spirit, and God uses His people to reach others.

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v. 6–7: As they traveled through the island to Paphos, they met a magician and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was with Sergius Paulus, the proconsul (a Roman governor). Sergius Paulus was an intelligent man who wanted to hear the word of God and invited Barnabas and Saul to speak to him. This teaches us that God’s message can reach those in high positions, and that some people are genuinely hungry to learn the truth.

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v. 8: But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. This shows that wherever the gospel is preached, there will be opposition. Those who serve God should not be surprised when they face difficulties or people who try to stop them.

v. 9–11: Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked seriously at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right. Will you never stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately, mist and darkness came over Elymas, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. This miracle showed that God’s power is greater than any magic or lies, and that opposing God’s work brings consequences.

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v. 12: When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, being amazed at the teaching about the Lord. This shows that the gospel changes lives, and that God can use miracles to confirm His message. Sergius Paulus’s faith is a reminder that even influential and educated people can come to believe in Jesus when they hear the truth and see God’s power at work.

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Paul Preaches in Antioch of Pisidia

This section describes how Paul and Barnabas, after leaving Cyprus, traveled to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and were invited to speak. Paul used this opportunity to explain how Jesus fulfilled the promises God made to Israel. He traced the history of God’s dealings with Israel and showed that Jesus is the long-awaited Savior. The message was first preached to the Jews, but it also reached the Gentiles, showing that the gospel is for everyone who believes.

v. 14–15: Paul and Barnabas traveled from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath, they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders invited them to speak, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.” This gave Paul an opportunity to share the message of Jesus with both Jews and Gentile worshippers gathered there.

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v. 16–22: Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and addressed the people of Israel and those who fear God. He reminded them of their history: how God chose their ancestors, rescued them from Egypt, and led them through the desert. He spoke about the time of the judges, the prophet Samuel, and how the people asked for a king. God gave them Saul, and later David, a man after God’s own heart. Paul was showing that God had a plan for Israel and was faithful to his promises.

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v. 23–25: Paul explained that from David’s descendants, God brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he had promised. Before Jesus came, John the Baptist preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. When John was finishing his work, he said, “Who do you think I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” Paul was pointing out that even John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

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v. 26–31: Paul addressed his listeners as “brothers, children of Abraham, and those who fear God.” He said that the message of salvation was sent to them. The people in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus and condemned him, fulfilling the words of the prophets. Though they found no proper reason for his death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. After Jesus was killed and placed in a tomb, God raised him from the dead. He was seen by many witnesses, who are now telling others about him. Paul’s message focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus as the heart of the gospel.

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v. 32–37: Paul said that he and Barnabas were bringing the good news that God fulfilled his promises made to the ancestors by raising Jesus from the dead. He quoted from the Psalms and the prophets to show that these promises pointed to Jesus. Paul explained that Jesus’ resurrection is proof that he is the Holy One who would not see decay, unlike David, who died and was buried. This showed that Jesus is greater than David and is the Savior whom God promised.

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v. 38–41: Paul concluded by saying that through Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and everyone who believes is set free from every sin—a freedom that the law of Moses could not give. He warned them not to reject this message, as the prophets had warned about ignoring God’s work. Paul urged them to believe in Jesus and receive the salvation God offers. The message was both an invitation and a warning, showing the importance of responding to the gospel.

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The Gospel Rejected by Jews, Received by Gentiles in Antioch

This section describes what happened after Paul’s sermon in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. Many people were interested in the message about Jesus, but not everyone responded the same way. Some Jews became jealous and opposed Paul and Barnabas, while many Gentiles eagerly accepted the good news. The result was that the message of salvation began to spread beyond the Jews to people of all nations, just as God had planned.

v. 42–43: As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, many people begged them to teach more about these things on the next Sabbath. Some of the Jews and many of the Gentile converts (those who already worshipped God but were not Jews by birth) followed them. Paul and Barnabas encouraged them to continue trusting in the grace of God. This shows that the message of Jesus was not only for Jews, but also for anyone who wanted to know God.

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v. 44–45: On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of God. When the Jewish leaders saw the large crowds, they became jealous and began to argue with Paul, speaking against what he said and even insulting him. Their jealousy blinded them to the truth and made them oppose the gospel, even though they claimed to be seeking God.

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v. 46–47: Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, telling the Jews that God’s plan was for them to hear the message of salvation first. But since they rejected it and did not consider themselves worthy of eternal life, Paul and Barnabas would now turn to the Gentiles. They quoted the prophet Isaiah, saying, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6 ^h). This showed that God had always planned to offer salvation to people from every nation.

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v. 48–49: When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and honored the word of the Lord. Many of them believed in Jesus and received eternal life, just as God had promised. The word of the Lord spread throughout the whole region. This shows that the gospel is powerful and can change the lives of all who believe, no matter who they are or where they come from.

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v. 50–52: But the Jewish leaders stirred up some important women and the leading men of the city, causing persecution against Paul and Barnabas and forcing them to leave the area. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet as a sign that they were leaving the responsibility with those who rejected the message. Then they went to the next town, Iconium. The disciples who believed in Jesus were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit, showing that God’s presence was with them even in the midst of opposition.