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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 13:29 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:29 speaks about the events following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The verse emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecies concerning Jesus, as He was taken down from the cross, often referred to as a "tree" in scriptural metaphor, and laid in a tomb, which is called a "sepulchre".

The mention of "all that was written of him" alludes to the Old Testament prophecies that foretold the life and death of the Messiah.

It highlights the belief that Jesus's life and death occurred according to divine plan and scriptural predictions.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 13:29 is found in the Acts of the Apostles, a New Testament book that describes the early church's history and spread of the Christian Gospel.

The book of Acts is traditionally believed to have been written by Luke, a companion of the Apostle Paul.

This particular verse is part of a sermon delivered by Paul in a synagogue at Pisidian Antioch.

The sermon provides a synopsis of the history of Israel and culminates in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, emphasizing Jesus as the fulfillment of the Jewish hope for the Messiah.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Acts 13:29 is significant for several reasons.

It confirms Jesus as the awaited Messiah whose life events matched Old Testament prophecies.

It also contributes to the theology of atonement, signifying that Jesus's death was a necessary part of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Furthermore, the verse underlines the theme of divine sovereignty, suggesting that the events surrounding Jesus's death were orchestrated by God and not merely the result of human actions.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 13:29 serves to strengthen the faith of believers in the divine plan and encourages them to see God's hand in the unfolding of their own lives.

It can also be a call for Christians to trust in biblical prophecies and promises, as they have been fulfilled in the past.

Moreover, the mention of Jesus's burial can remind believers of the importance of respect and care for the deceased.

Cross-References

Luke 24:46 - "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"
Psalm 22 - A psalm often interpreted as prophetic regarding the suffering of the Messiah.
Isaiah 53 - Describes the suffering servant, which Christians believe to be a prophecy about Jesus.
John 19:30 - "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."

Language Study

In Acts 13:29, the term "tree" is translated from the Greek "ξύλον" (xulon), which can mean wood, tree, or something made of wood, like a cross.

The word for "sepulchre" is "μνημεῖον" (mnemeion), which is a monument, grave, or tomb. The passage uses these terms in a symbolic and literal sense, the "tree" as the cross where Jesus was crucified and the "sepulchre" as the location of his burial.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of ancient religions and myths, the motifs of a god or hero being put to death and later entombed are not unusual.

Similar themes can be found in various mythologies, though the details differ significantly.

The Christian narrative of Jesus’s death and burial is unique in its emphasis on historical particularity and theological significance, specifically in relation to sin and redemption.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives largely do not engage directly with the theological implications of this verse but can offer insights into the historicity of crucifixion practices and burial customs of the time.

Archaeological findings have provided evidence for the manner in which crucifixions were carried out during the Roman Empire and how tombs were constructed and used in 1st-century Judea.

Commentaries

Commentators on Acts 13:29 generally focus on the central message of Paul's sermon, that Jesus is the fulfillment of the scriptures and the suffering Messiah.

Many point out how this passage affirms the historical reality of Jesus's death and his expected role as a redeemer. They often emphasize the significance of divine providence in the events of Jesus's life and death.

Some also discuss the use of the word "tree" as a reference to Deuteronomy 21:22-23, where being "hanged on a tree" is a sign of a divine curse, which Christians believe Jesus took upon himself for humanity's sake.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:29 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 13:29 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?