Acts 13
Paul's First Missionary Journey
(Acts 15:36-41; Acts 18:23-28)
1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
At his ascension, Jesus told his disciples that they would take the gospel first to Jerusalem (Chapter 2), then to Judea (Acts 8), then to Samaria (Acts 10), and then to the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 13-28).
Antioch is the new headquarters of the Church for Gentile evangelism. There were two kinds of leaders in the early church, prophets and teachers. The New Testament was incomplete at this time, so there were prophets who received their information directly from God. Teachers studied and taught the word of God. Charismatics use this verse to claim that there are still modern day prophets in the Church. However, once again, Luke is recording the history of the early church. The doctrine for the modern church is found in Paul's epistles.
Barnabas was an apostle and a prophet.
Simeon is a Hebrew name, meaning that he was Jewish. Niger is a Latin name meaning black, meaning that he was from Africa. There is no evidence in Scripture to suggest that this is the same Simeon that carried the cross.
Lucius of Cyrene is from Africa. He may have been the founder of the Antioch church.
Manaen is a transliteration of the Hebrew name Menachem, meaning that he was Jewish. A foster-brother means that he was brought up in the royal house of Herod.
Saul was a prophet and a teacher, but he had not yet given any prophecies, so he is listed as a teacher.
The early church, like the modern church, operated under a plurality of elders. These five men were the elders of the church of Antioch.
2 And 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.”
The Greek word for "ministered" is λειτουργέω (letourgeo), meaning to minister as a priest in the Tabernacle. Barnabas and Saul were to be Levitical priests to the Gentiles.
There is no command in the New Testament for believers to fast. New Testament believers possess the liberty to either fast or not fast. Some charismatics teach that fasting places you in a special relationship with God to maybe receive more supernatural power from above, but this is unbiblical and charismatic superstition.
The Holy Spirit spoke through one or all three of these prophets. Since the Holy Spirit can speak, then he is a personality and not an active force. Charismatics will also use this verse to mislead others into thinking that the Holy Spirit still speaks through modern day prophets as well. However, once again, Luke is recording the history of the early church during the apostolic era before the New Testament was completed. Believers are to receive the doctrine of the modern church from Paul's letters.
Barnabas and Paul received a special commission to travel and minister on the first missionary trip of Acts 13-14. Barnabas was mentioned first, because he was the main leader. Later on, the Holy Spirit will reverse the names when Paul becomes the leader.
3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Laying on of hands was a Jewish method of identification. The church of Antioch was identifying that they were with Barnabas and Saul on this trip. Some charismatics use this verse as a pretense for laying on of hands as a transfer of spiritual power. This again in not in Scripture and is charismatic superstition.
When Barnabas and Saul went away, they were under the authority of the Antioch church. The laying on of hands identified them as such.
On Cyprus
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Seleucia was a seaport city that was sixteen miles from Antioch.
Cyprus was the third largest Greek island in the Mediterranean. Jews had been living there for over 200 years, so the Jewish population was very large.
5 And 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.
Salamis was the largest city on the island of Cyprus. Notice that Barnabas and Saul were called to Gentile missionary, but they always went to the Jews first. John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, was the cousin of Barnabas and the servant of Barnabas and Saul. He learned a lot from both of these men during his travels with them. He also learned much from Simon Peter.
6 And 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,
Paphos was a cultic center on the island of Cyprus. The Aphrodite prostitution cult was worshiped here. The occult was very prevalent in the Roman world.
The Greek word for "sorcerer" is μάγος (magus), meaning an occultist from the Persian culture. The prophet Daniel was enrolled in one of their schools while he was captive in Babylon.
Bar-Jesus is an Aramaic name, meaning the Son of Jesus. Satan and his demons will take on the name of Jesus or the Holy Spirit in order to perform their occultic practices. Many times, demons enter charismatic churches and perform satanic miracles in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Holy Spirit. Benny Hinn often glorifies the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not accept glory. Instead, the Holy Spirit does glorify Christ.
7 who 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.
Cyprus was under the control of the Roman Senate. Sergius Paulus was the proconsul chosen by the Senate to rule the province. He was a man of understanding, meaning that he had a keen intellect. He wanted to hear the word of God from Barnabas and Saul.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
Demons do not want anyone to hear the word of God. They will often work through human agents to sterilize the word of God.
9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
Because of anti-Semitism, most Jews carried two names, a Jewish and Gentile name. Among Jews, the apostle used his Jewish name of Saul. Among Gentiles, he used his Latin name of Paul. Paul now took the lead and his name will usually be listed as first.
Paul is filled, or controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for "fastened" is ἀτενίζω (atenizo), meaning to stare intensely. Paul was not intimidated by this man of Satan.
10 and said, “O full of all guile and all villainy, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
Notice that Paul was filled, or controlled by the Holy Spirit. Bar-Jesus was full of guile and villainy and he was controlled by the devil. His sin was that he perverted the right ways of God.
11 And 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.
Bar-Jesus was to suffer temporary physical blindness. Charismatics cannot strike people blind today.
12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
The Greek word for "believed" is ἐπίστευσεν (episteusen), an aorist active indicative verb, meaning that he was persuaded as a one-time completed action of the past and it is a 100% statement of fact. The aorist tense is the verb of eternal security. When one believes in the aorist tense, it is a completed action and it cannot be undone. The moment the proconsul believed, then he instantly possessed eternal life.
In Pisidian Antioch
13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit listed the name of Paul first, as he has now become the major leader. Notice that this company was under the authority of Paul.
Perga is located in modern day Turkey. John Mark left the group at this time. Some commentators speculate that he was angry, because Paul took the leadership from his cousin Barnabas. Some speculate that he did not enjoy Gentile evangelism. Some claim that he did not like the danger. Others say that he was homesick for his mother. Others say that he was discouraged at Paul's sickness. The text does not say why he left, so all of these views are pure speculation. What we do know is that Paul did not think that Mark had a good reason for leaving.
14 But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidian, and they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.
Pisidain was 100 miles north of Perga in the region of Galatia. Pisidian possessed many retired war veterans and a large Jewish population. Paul and his company did not preach the gospel in Perga, because they wanted to return quickly to their home headquarters in Antioch. However, they did preach in Perga on their return trip. Notice that Paul once again took the gospel to the Jews first.
15 And 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.”
Paul was invited to be the guest speaker at the Jewish synagogue in Antioch. This is the only sermon recorded in the Bible by the Apostle Paul.
16 And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, “Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken.”
Paul stood up and began his sermon. His introduction was made to fellow Jews and to Gentiles who feared God, but were not Jewish proselytes.
17 “The 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.”
God chose Israel, exalted them in Egypt, and then delivered them from slavery in Egypt via the ten plagues.
18 “And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.”
God nursed the infant Israel in the wilderness for forty years.
19 “And 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.”
God vomited the Canaanites out of the land. The Greek word for "gave" is κατακληρονομέω (kataklaironomeo), meaning that he gave as an inheritance and had them draw by lot.
20 “And after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.”
Samuel was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets.
21 “And 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.”
Saul ruled for forty years. This is the first time the length of Saul's reign is mentioned in the Bible. Josephus confirmed Saul's length of reign.
22 “And 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.’”
David was made king, and he was to have a son who would rule forever.
23 “Of this man's seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.”
Jesus is the Son of David who will reign on earth forever.
24 “When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.”
The Greek word for "preached" is προκηρύσσω (prokarusso), meaning to herald or to announce beforehand. John the Baptist was the herald who was announcing the Messianic King to Israel.
25 “And 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.’”
Many thought that John might be the Messiah, but he denied it. The prophet coming after him was to be the Messiah.
26 “Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.”
The audience of Paul were Jewish brothers, not believing brothers. The audience of Paul came from the loins of Abraham. Those that fear God were the Gentiles in the audience. Paul was bringing both groups words that could lead to their salvation.
27 “For 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.”
The Jews in Jerusalem did not know Jesus, nor did they listen to the prophets who were read in their synagogues every Sabbath. Therefore, in their ignorance, they condemned their own Messiah. However, their ignorance does not excuse them.
28 “And though they found no cause of death in him, yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain.”
The Sanhedrin condemned their own Messiah for blasphemy, but they could not find two witnesses who could agree on these charges. Therefore, they turned their own Messiah over to Gentile leaders to be executed.
29 “And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.”
The prophets who read in the synagogues every week predicted all of these events. The Messiah was taken off the cross and buried in a tomb. Paul did not use the word "cross", because it was offensive to the Jews.
30 “But God raised him from the dead,”
This statement is the center of the gospel and the apex of history. Jehovah Witnesses use this verse to show that Jehovah raised Jesus from the dead, so Jesus must be less than deity. According to this verse, God raised Jesus from the dead. According to Romans 6:4, "Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father." According to John 2:19, Jesus said "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. According to Romans 8:11, "the Spirit of Him raised Jesus from the dead." Therefore, Jesus was raised from the dead by the Triune Creator God.
31 “and 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.”
For a forty day period, Jesus appeared to over 500 men. These men were witnessing about his resurrection all over the Roman Empire.
32 “And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers,”
The Greek word for "good tidings" is εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizo), meaning to proclaim the good news, or the gospel. The promise was the promises of the prophets, who predicted the preexistence, incarnation, birth, life, seat, and resurrection of the Messiah.
33 “that 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.’”
Paul quoted Psalm 2:7, which was regarded by rabbis as a messianic Psalm. This verse teaches that God has a Son. The Greek word for "begotten" is γεννάω (gennao), meaning to give birth. The Hebrew word is יָלַד (yeled), meaning to bring forth in birth. This is a prophecy about the incarnation of Jesus. Jesus was God and he became a man at his incarnation. He was born of the Virgin Mary. As a little baby, he could have spoken the universe out of existence.
34 “And 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.”
God raised the Messiah from the dead. Therefore, the human body of Jesus will never see corruption.
Paul quoted Isaiah 55:3, referencing the Davidic Covenant. The Davidic Covenant promised four eternal things: an eternal house, an eternal kingdom, an eternal throne, and an eternal descendant. The eternal descendant was Jesus.
35 “Because he saith also in another Psalm, ‘Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption.’”
Paul quoted from Psalm 16:10. The psalmist predicted that the Messiah would die, but his body would not see corruption. Why? The Messiah will be raised from the dead with a new body.
36 “For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.”
Paul pointed out that the psalmist could not have been speaking about David, because David died and his body returned to dust.
37 “But he whom God raised up saw no corruption.”
Therefore, the psalmist must have been speaking about Jesus.
38 “Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins.”
Paul called his audience brothers, because they were all Jewish. He expressed the humanity of Christ and his role in the atonement.
39 “And by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.”
Paul informed his Jewish brothers that the Law of Moses could not justify them. Justification comes by grace alone by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ.
40 “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets.”
Paul offered a warning to the unbelieving Jews in his audience.
41 “Behold, 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.”
The Greek word for "behold" is Ἴδετε (idete), an aorist imperative active verb, meaning that I command you immediately, that you need to perceive with your spiritual eyes, what I am about to say. Paul quoted from Habakkuk 1:5. Habakkuk warned those in Judah who despised the word of God that they were going to perish when the Babylonians came upon their city. Paul was using this verse to warn the Jews who rejected his message that they were going to perish in the Temple destruction of 70 A.D. Paul warned them not to make this same mistake that their fathers did.
The Gentiles Ask to Hear the Gospel
42 And as they went out, they besought that these words might be spoken to them the next Sabbath.
Paul gave a tough message, but the Jews asked him to return on the next Sabbath. This request most likely came from the elders, who desired a week to check out Paul's message.
43 Now 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.
Many of the Jews and Gentile proselytes were saved by Paul's message and they wanted to hear more right away.
44 And the next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
The news spread throughout the city. The synagogue was packed the next Sabbath.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
The people valued Paul's teaching of grace over the Jewish unbeliever's teaching of Law. This large following produced jealousy among the unbelieving Jews. They began to blaspheme Jesus.
46 And 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.”
The Greek word for "it was necessary" is ἀναγκαῖος (anagkaios), meaning that it was essential to bring the gospel to the Jew first, as according to Romans 1:16. After the Jews rejected the message. Paul took the gospel to the Gentiles.
47 “For 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.’”
To prove that the Jewish Messiah was to be a light to the Gentiles, Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:6.
48 And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
The Greek word for "ordained" is τάσσω (tasso), meaning to appoint a military assignment. This is a perfect passive participle, meaning that the believers were appointed to salvation in the past and the appointment continues forever. This one little Greek word and tense proves to doctrines of election, predestination, and eternal security.
49 And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.
The Greek word for "spread abroad" is διαφέρω (diaper), meaning to carry in different directions. The gospel was carried into all directions of Antioch.
50 But 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.
The Greek word for "urged" is παροτρύνω (parotruno), meaning to excite.
The Greek word for "devout" is σέβομαι (sebomai), meaning respected or worshiped. These women were respected and almost worshipped by the community by human standards, but not by divine standards. The Jewish unbelievers exalted these women, who were mostly wives of the city government. The city government began a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. Paul did not give a seeker-friendly sermon. He taught the truth from the word of God and the city officials kicked him out of the city. If Paul taught this message in many churches today, he would not be invited back.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
Jesus commanded his disciples that if a city rejected the gospel of salvation by grace, then the apostles were to dust off their feet. This meant that the disciples would take off their sandals and shake off the dust towards the city. This was a symbolic message to the city that they had received the offer of salvation by their own Jewish Messiah, but they had rejected it.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The new disciples in the church of Antioch in Pisidian were filled with joy, because they had received salvation. The persecution caused the opposite effect, as these new believers began to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. They were doing the work that God called them to do.
