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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 13:17 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:17 speaks of the special relationship that the God of Israel has with the Jewish people. It references how God chose their ancestors, raised the status of the Israelites during their time in Egypt, and ultimately led them to freedom with a display of great power.

This verse is part of a sermon delivered by the apostle Paul in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, wherein he is giving a brief recount of the history of Israel to underscore the providence and benevolence of God towards His chosen people.

The "high arm" mentioned is a metaphor for God's mighty and miraculous power, often used in Scripture to denote His ability to intervene in human affairs, especially for deliverance and salvation.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 13:17 is situational within the larger narrative of Paul's first missionary journey, which takes him through the island of Cyprus and into Asia Minor.

Paul and his companion Barnabas are in Pisidian Antioch, a major city in the Roman province of Galatia.

Addressing a Jewish audience in the synagogue, Paul delivers a sermon that covers the history of Israel.

He relates Jewish history to show God's fidelity and to prepare the ground for presenting Jesus as the Messiah.

During the time of its writing, recounting one's history was a way in which Jewish rabbis and teachers would recall God's past dealings with Israel to draw contemporary meaning and to instruct the community.

Theological Insights

This verse emphasizes God’s sovereign choice and faithfulness.

From a Christian theological standpoint, the verse may also be seen as prefiguring God's new work through Jesus Christ.

In a more general sense, it touches on themes of divine election, where God chooses a particular people for a purpose.

The exaltation of Israel in Egypt, despite their enslaved condition, can be interpreted as an assurance of God's presence even in times of suffering.

The liberation from Egypt is seen as a central salvific event, which is often paralleled with the salvation that Christians believe is offered through Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

Acts 13:17 can inspire believers to reflect on their own spiritual heritage and recognize God's hand in the history of their faith and personal lives.

It can encourage individuals to have faith in the midst of difficult circumstances, recalling that God has a history of elevating His people and providing deliverance.

This verse can also serve as a reminder of the importance of sharing one's faith history as a way of witnessing to God's enduring faithfulness and power.

Cross-References

Exodus 6:6: "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:"
Deuteronomy 7:6-8: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."
Psalm 136:11-12: "And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever.

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse, "with an high arm" (Greek: τῇ βραχίονι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ), metaphorically expresses God's might and authority.

The word "exalted" (Greek: ὔψωσεν) can mean to raise in status or honor, and "chose" (Greek: ἐξελέξατο), implies a deliberate and purposeful selection. These terms affirm the acts of divine election and empowerment throughout the Biblical narrative.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a deity choosing a specific group of people is not unique to Judaism. Various ancient cultures had notions of a special relationship with their gods. In the Ancient Near East, pharaohs and kings were often depicted as being chosen by their gods to rule.

However, the Old Testament's emphasis on the divine choice of an entire people group, rather than just a ruler, was quite distinct.

Additionally, the way in which Israel was chosen, out of a state of slavery and not power, stands in contrast to other ancient narratives.

Scientific Perspectives

Attempting to align Acts 13:17 with modern scientific understandings is a complex task because the verse discusses divine action in history, which is outside the scope of scientific examination.

The mention of God's intervention cannot be empirically tested or verified; thus, it remains in the realm of faith and theological interpretation.

However, the history of Israel's stay in Egypt and their subsequent exodus invites archaeological and historical investigation, although such efforts have produced mixed results with debates over dating and historical accuracy of the Biblical account.

Commentaries

John Calvin emphasized God's free grace in election and saw God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt as a powerful example of His mercy and might.
Matthew Henry highlighted the peculiar favor and honor placed on Israel in their deliverance from bondage.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the continuity of God's plan from the calling of the patriarchs to the deliverance from Egypt as a preamble to the proclamation of the gospel to come through Jesus Christ.
In the "New International Commentary on the New Testament," F.

Bruce draws attention to Paul as a skilled rabbinic-style teacher who connects Israel's history to the message of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:17 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 13:17 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?