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Acts 13

Now 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.

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

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

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

And 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.

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

Which 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.

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

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

And 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?

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.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

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

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

And 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.

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

The 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.

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

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

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

And 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.

And 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.

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

And 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.

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

For 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.

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

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

But God raised him from the dead:

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

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

God 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.

And 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.

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

For 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:

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

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

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Behold, 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.

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

Now 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.

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

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

Then 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.

For 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.

And 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.

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

But 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.

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

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

What does Acts 13:1 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:1 speaks about the early Christian community in Antioch, highlighting the diversity within the leadership of the church.

This verse identifies five individuals by name who were prophets and teachers within the church: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, and Saul (later known as Paul the Apostle).

These men played crucial roles in the church at Antioch, which was a significant hub of early Christianity.

Prophets in this context were individuals recognized for their ability to receive and proclaim messages from God, while teachers were responsible for instruction and the spreading of Christian doctrine.

The verse also provides an intriguing glimpse into the wider societal connections of the early church, mentioning that Manaen had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, connecting him with the political realm of the Herodian family.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Antioch was one of the most important cities of the ancient world, located in what is now Turkey.

As the third-largest city of the Roman Empire, it was a cultural melting pot and a strategic location for the spread of Christianity.

The church at Antioch was not only significant because of its size but also because of its role in early missionary work, notably sending Paul and Barnabas on their first mission trip.

This verse exemplifies the church's multicultural nature, as the named individuals likely represent varied ethnic and social backgrounds.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse demonstrates the movement of the Holy Spirit in the early church, guiding and equipping diverse leaders. The presence of prophets signifies the continued activity of the Spirit in revealing God's will.

Additionally, the inclusion of individuals from different regions and walks of life speaks to the inclusive nature of the early Christian message and the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles.

Practical Applications

In today's context, Acts 13:1 can inspire modern churches to embrace diversity within their leadership and community, recognizing the value of different cultural and life experiences.

It also encourages believers to acknowledge that individuals from varied backgrounds can be called to serve within the church.

Moreover, the text can serve to remind Christians of the importance of both prophecy (discerning and declaring God's message) and teaching (educating and nurturing believers) in church life.

Cross-References

Acts 11:27-30 - Describes prophets coming to Antioch and the ministry of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 15:32 - References Judas and Silas as prophets who encouraged and strengthened the brethren.
Romans 12:6-8 - Discusses different gifts within the church, including prophecy and teaching.
1 Corinthians 12:28 - Lists God's appointment of various roles in the church, including teachers and prophets.
Ephesians 4:11-13 - Speaks of God giving the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

Language Study

Key words to examine in the original Greek language of this verse include:

"Prophets" (προφῆται - prophētai): Individuals who speak forth God's message, sometimes including foretelling future events.
"Teachers" (διδάσκαλοι - didaskaloi): Ones who instruct others in the ways of God and Christian doctrine.
"Brought up" (σύντροφος - syntrophos): The term indicates a close association, possibly being raised together, which in Manaen's case, relates to Herod the tetrarch.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural milieu of the Roman Empire, various religious movements and sects often had their own prophets and teachers.

The role of these positions in Christianity thus mirrored a wider cultural understanding of religious authority.

Unlike other movements that might have been more exclusive, the early church seemed to draw from a diverse pool of leaders.

This stands in contrast with the more homogenous priestly classes of some other ancient religions.

Scientific Perspectives

As a historical and religious text, Acts 13:1 is not directly related to scientific perspectives.

However, modern science does contribute to understanding the historical and social conditions of the ancient world, including the city of Antioch.

Archaeological discoveries have helped scholars better understand the urban landscape where the early church operated, shedding light on the living conditions and interactions between different cultural groups of the time.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts often emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the early church, pointing out the significance of Antioch as a missionary center. They also may discuss the individual named leaders, speculating on their origins and roles within the church based on historical evidence.

Scholars like F.F.

Bruce and John Stott note the diversity of the Antioch church leadership as a reflection of the universal reach of the gospel.

They often highlight that Antioch was the first place where believers were called Christians (Acts 11:26), indicating the church's pivotal role in the formation of Christian identity.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 13:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?