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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 13:12 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:12 describes the reaction of a deputy, identified earlier in Acts as Sergius Paulus, to a miracle performed by the Apostle Paul and the preaching of Christian doctrine. In this context, a "deputy" refers to a proconsul, a Roman governor of a province.

The verse emphasizes that the deputy came to believe in the Christian message after witnessing a powerful deed and hearing the teachings about the Lord, likely referring to Jesus Christ.

The use of the word "astonished" suggests that Sergius Paulus found the doctrine strikingly different or more compelling than other teachings he was familiar with, leading to a transformative moment of faith.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 13:12 is part of the account of Paul's first missionary journey, which took him to the island of Cyprus, among other places.

Here, Paul and his associate Barnabas encounter Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul of Cyprus.

This occurred during a period when Christianity was a growing religious movement within the Roman Empire, spreading among both Jews and Gentiles.

The "doctrine of the Lord" refers to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse reinforces the Christian belief in the power of miracles and preaching to convert non-believers.

It suggests an understanding that witnessing the power of God through miraculous deeds and hearing the gospel message can lead to genuine faith.

The astonishment of Sergius Paulus signifies not only the persuasion of his intellect but also a heart-level transformation.

To Christians, this verse underscores God's active role in expanding the church and guiding its early leaders.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this verse lies in its emphasis on the importance of living out one's faith and sharing the doctrine of the Lord with others.

It suggests that both actions and words, miracles and preaching, can serve as powerful catalysts for change in individuals' lives. In everyday life, this could translate to acts of service, integrity, and sharing one's personal experiences of faith as ways to influence others positively.

Cross-References

Acts 13:6-11: Describes the event leading up to the deputy's belief, where Paul confronts a false prophet and performs a miracle.
Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
1 Corinthians 1:21: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
1 Thessalonians 1:5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"Astonished" (Greek: "ekplēssō") – implies being struck with amazement or being rendered awestruck.
"Doctrine" (Greek: "didachē") – refers to teaching or instruction, particularly related to religious principles.
"Believed" (Greek: "pisteuō") – to have faith in, trust; particularly, to be convinced by God.

These terms collectively suggest that Sergius Paulus was moved not merely by rational consideration but by a profound experiential conviction.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The reaction of Sergius Paulus can be compared to various accounts of conversion or enlightenment found in other ancient religions and myths.

For instance, within Hellenistic culture, it was not uncommon for individuals to turn to new philosophical schools or mystery religions after encountering some form of wonder or profound teaching, seeking deeper truths and transformative experiences.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the miraculous elements in this narrative are likely to be interpreted metaphorically rather than literally.

The impact of persuasive or charismatic preaching may be analyzed through psychology, which looks at how belief systems can be altered through cognitive and emotional experiences.

Additionally, the profound experience of "astonishment" could be studied in terms of neuroscience to understand how certain experiences can lead to lasting changes in belief and behavior.

Commentaries

Commentators offer several interpretations of Acts 13:12.

Some focus on the supernatural aspect of Paul's confrontation with the sorcerer Elymas, which precedes Sergius Paulus's conversion, as a display of divine power that validates the truth of Paul's message.

Others emphasize the intellectual appeal of the Christian doctrine and its ability to challenge established beliefs.

There is also discussion about the authenticity of the event, with some explaining that Luke, the author of Acts, had a theological motive to present the spread of Christianity as divinely guided and effective among high-ranking officials.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:12 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 13:12 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?