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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 13:48 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:48 presents a crucial moment in the spread of early Christianity, saying, "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." In this passage, the word "Gentiles" refers to the non-Jewish people who are hearing the Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ, being preached by Paul and Barnabas.

The fact that they "were glad" indicates that they received the message with joy and positive acceptance.

The phrase "glorified the word of the Lord" implies that the Gentiles not only accepted the message but also honored and praised it as divine truth. Their belief was seen as a form of worship and recognition of God's ultimate authority.

The latter part of the verse, "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed," has been interpreted in various ways, sparking much theological debate.

This suggests that those who believed were predestined or chosen by God for salvation, an idea that aligns with certain understandings of divine election and sovereignty.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 13 is set during Paul's first missionary journey, which is estimated to have taken place around 48 A.D.

This verse specifically takes place in Pisidian Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas had gone to preach in the synagogue. After initial success among the Jews, there was opposition, and the Apostles turned their focus to the Gentiles, which was a significant shift in the early Christian mission.

Culturally, at this time, the distinction between Jews and Gentiles was profound, with Jews following the Mosaic Law and Gentiles seen as outsiders to these traditions. The spread of Christianity to Gentiles was transformative, breaking down religious and cultural barriers that had long stood firm.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Acts 13:48 has been seen as supporting the doctrine of predestination, which suggests that God, in His omniscience, has foreordained some to eternal life.

This perspective is aligned with Calvinistic doctrine and contrasts with Arminianism, which emphasizes free will in accepting salvation.

Another perspective is corporate election, which suggests that the church or a group is chosen, and individuals participate in this election through association with the group.

This verse challenges theologians to explore the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

Practical Applications

The verse encourages modern Christians to share the Gospel universally, knowing that there are people from every background who are ready to receive it and glorify God. It also exhorts believers to rejoice in the word of the Lord and magnify it in their lives.

This can be practically applied through mission work, inclusive church communities, and through the personal evangelism of believers. It encourages Christians to be accepting of others who come to faith, regardless of their background.

Cross-References

Ephesians 1:4-5: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
Romans 8:30: "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
John 10:16: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
Romans 11:5: "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

Language Study

The phrase "as many as were ordained" translates from the Greek 'τεταγμένοι' (tetagmenoi), which comes from the root 'τάσσω' (tasso), meaning to appoint, arrange, or set in order. The use of this term has strong implications for the divine ordering or appointment unto salvation.

The word "believed" from the Greek 'ἐπίστευσαν' (episteusan) implies not just intellectual agreement but a trust and reliance upon, indicating a commitment and personal reception of the truth.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In examining other ancient religions, such as those in the Roman and Greek worlds, the idea of divine preordination or destiny was also present.

The concept of fate or the will of the gods played a huge role in those belief systems, but it was often seen in a more deterministic sense without the personal or moral implications associated with Christian salvation.

In comparing it with Judaism, where the chosenness of Israel is a central theme, Christianity opened this chosen status to include Gentiles. The Christian concept is not linked to ethnic heritage but is based on faith in Jesus Christ.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse generally falls more within the purview of theology and philosophy than science.

However, discussions on free will and predestination touch on concepts that are sometimes explored scientifically. For instance, neuroscience and psychology study human decision-making processes, though these fields do not typically provide direct commentary on divine election.

Commentaries

Commentators have offered various perspectives on Acts 13:48:

John Calvin saw it as evidence of God's sovereign election, that certain individuals are predestined to receive salvation.
Matthew Henry emphasized the joy that the word of the Lord brings and the fact that God has a people in every age chosen for eternal life.
F.F.

Bruce discussed the shift of the Christian mission to the Gentiles and the implications for the early church, noting that this verse represents a key moment for the spread of Christianity beyond Judaism.

David Guzik commented on the potential tension between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, concluding that belief is still a personal act, even though God may have foreordained those who would come to faith.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:48 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 13:48 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?