PrevActs 13:5Next

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 13:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:5 recounts the early missionary activity of Paul and Barnabas on the island of Cyprus.

They arrived at Salamis, a major city on the east coast of Cyprus, and began proclaiming the Christian message, specifically targeting the Jewish population by preaching in the synagogues.

This strategy of starting with the Jewish community was typical for Paul's mission work, as he saw the gospel as applicable first to the Jew and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16).

Additionally, the verse notes that John Mark served as their helper (minister) in the undertaking of their mission.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

During the time of the apostles, Cyprus was a Roman province.

Salamis, being a significant urban center and a hub of commercial activity, had a considerable Jewish population, which was common in many of the urban areas throughout the Roman Empire.

Synagogues served as centers of worship and community for the Jewish diaspora, and thus they were the natural starting point for the apostles to share the message of Jesus, who was Himself Jewish.

Theological Insights

For Christian theology, the presence of Paul and Barnabas in the Jewish synagogues is an affirmation of the link between Judaism and Christianity. Early Christian evangelism among the Jews underscores the belief that Jesus is the Messiah foretold in Jewish scripture.

Additionally, John Mark's role as a 'minister' introduces the theme of apostolic teamwork in missions and the necessity of support roles in spreading the gospel.

Practical Applications

The verse is a model for Christian mission and evangelism, suggesting the importance of strategic engagement with an audience that may share some foundational beliefs.

It also illustrates the value of team ministry, with different members contributing their unique strengths to the collective effort of spreading the Christian message.

Cross-References

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."
Acts 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Language Study

In Acts 13:5, the term "minister" (translated from Greek "ὑπηρέτης" - "hypēretēs") originally denoted a subordinate attending to someone, serving or aiding in a task. In the verse, it implies that John was assisting Paul and Barnabas in their work.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The preaching in the synagogues as seen in Acts 13:5 can be compared to the practice of religious dialogue in other cultures and faith traditions.

In ancient times, it was common for philosophers and religious teachers to engage with different communities in a similar fashion, such as the Stoics or Epicureans, who would debate and discuss their philosophy in various public spaces or religious contexts.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern sociological studies on religious conversion and the spread of religious ideas can offer insight into the effectiveness of Paul and Barnabas's methodology in engaging with diaspora Jewish communities.

Their approach aligns with what is known about the diffusion of innovations, which examines how ideas spread within social groups and cultures.

Commentaries

Commentators have various perspectives on Acts 13:5.

Some view Paul and Barnabas's decision to preach in the synagogues as a fulfillment of God’s plan for the gospel to go to the Jews first.

Others focus on the partnership aspect, highlighting how John Mark's assistance was crucial for the logistical and practical aspects of their mission.

John Mark's later departure from the mission (Acts 13:13) and the subsequent contention between Paul and Barnabas over his role (Acts 15:37-39) have also been subject to much discussion, with some commentators speculating about the nature of early Christian mission dynamics.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:5 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 13:5 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?