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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 13:33 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:33 refers to a sermon by Paul during his first missionary journey, in which he emphasizes the fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus Christ.

The verse suggests that God has completed the promise He made to the ancestors of the Jewish people by raising Jesus from the dead.

This act is seen as a confirmation that Jesus is indeed God’s Son.

The mention of "the second psalm" refers to Psalm 2, which in Christian interpretation, is a messianic prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus.

The phrase "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee" is seen as God's declaration of Jesus' divine sonship, which was demonstrated through the resurrection.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 13 is set during the time of the early church, likely around 44-49 AD.

The sermon is part of Paul’s mission to Antioch Pisidia (in modern-day Turkey).

This region was under Roman rule, with a population consisting of both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews).

The New Testament context is characterized by a substantial level of diversity in religious and cultural views.

The audience would be familiar with Old Testament scriptures, which allowed Paul to connect the life of Jesus with Jewish expectations of the Messiah.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is significant for several reasons. It underscores the Christian belief in Jesus' resurrection as prophesied in the Old Testament.

Christian scholars often view Psalm 2 as a messianic prophecy, and they interpret its fulfillment as found in Jesus Christ.

Some theologians argue that "begotten" in this context refers to the unique and eternal generation of the Son by the Father, a foundational concept in Trinitarian doctrine.

However, perspectives may vary, with some emphasizing the incarnation or the resurrection as the moment signified by "this day."

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 13:33 can be a source of encouragement for Christians, signifying God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.

It also demonstrates the importance of understanding Jesus’ resurrection as an integral part of Christian faith that confirms Jesus' divine sonship and role as the Messiah.

Believers may find motivation in this verse to trust in God's plans and to witness to others about the life and resurrection of Jesus.

Cross-References

Psalm 2:7: "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."
Hebrews 1:5: "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?"
Romans 1:4: "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:"

Language Study

The key phrases to analyze in the original Greek are "ἀναστήσας Ἰησοῦν" (anastēsas Iēsoun), "ὡς καὶ ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ ψαλμῷ γέγραπται" (hōs kai en tō deutero psalmō gegrapta), and "Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε" (huios mou ei sy, egō sēmeron gegennēka se).

"ἀναστήσας" (anastēsas) is a form of the verb "anistēmi," which means to raise up or to cause to stand, often used in reference to resurrection.
"γέγραπται" (gegrapta) is from "grapho," meaning it has been written, indicating past documentation or scripture.
"γεγέννηκά" (gegennēka) is from "gennaō," which means to beget or to give birth to.

In this context, it implies having brought into a special relationship, rather than physical birth.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural context, other ancient religions and mythologies also featured stories of gods begetting offspring or figures being resurrected.

However, the Christian claim is distinct in its historical grounding and its connection to existing Jewish prophecy. Unlike mythical gods, Jesus is presented as a historical figure who fulfills these prophecies.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the resurrection is a supernatural event that falls outside the scope of scientific explanation.

It is a matter of faith rather than empirical evidence. Science can neither prove nor disprove resurrection events, as they are beyond the natural processes studied by scientific disciplines.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer varied interpretations of Acts 13:33.

Some focus on the fulfillment of prophecy and see the verse as affirming Jesus’ messianic role.

Others highlight the theological implications of Jesus’ divine sonship.

Historic commentators like John Chrysostom emphasized the fulfillment of scripture as a key aspect of apostolic preaching, while contemporary scholars might delve into the text’s placement within the sermon and its rhetorical role.

Some commentators like N.T. Wright examine the resurrection as the act of God's new creation, with Jesus as the firstborn of this new reality.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:33 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 13:33 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?