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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 13:9 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:9 describes a pivotal moment in the New Testament where Saul, also known by his Roman name Paul, is filled with the Holy Spirit and confronts a false prophet named Elymas (also known as Bar-Jesus) on the island of Cyprus.

This verse is significant as it marks the first time Saul is referred to by his Roman name, Paul, which he would use for the rest of his ministry, predominantly catering to a Gentile audience.

The phrase "filled with the Holy Ghost" signifies that Paul is empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak and act with divine authority.

Setting his eyes on Elymas implicates a direct and confrontational encounter, suggesting an intense situation where Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, challenges the magician's attempt to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

At this point in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is on his first missionary journey accompanied by Barnabas.

The background of Acts 13:9 falls within the expansion of the early Christian Church, as the apostles carried out their commission to spread the Gospel to the 'ends of the earth'. Cyprus was the first stop on their journey.

The cultural and historical influences include the Roman Empire's dominance over the region, which adds significance to Saul's identification as Paul, a name more palatable to the Gentile (non-Jewish) Roman audience he was beginning to address.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 13:9 affirms the notion of divine inspiration, describing Paul as being "filled with the Holy Ghost." This is seen as God's active intervention where an individual is granted the wisdom and power to speak or act on God's behalf.

Additionally, the use of both names 'Saul' and 'Paul' in this verse leads to the understanding that Paul's identity is transitioning from his Hebrew roots to a role that is more global and encompassing of his mission to the Gentiles.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Acts 13:9 include the encouragement for believers to remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, especially in moments of confrontation with opposition or false teachings.

It also serves as an example of the boldness to stand for truth, implying that such courage can come from being filled with the Spirit.

Cross-References

Acts 13:6-12 - The larger narrative that includes Elymas the sorcerer's encounter with Paul and Barnabas.
Ephesians 5:18 - “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
Acts 4:31 - “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Language Study

The key phrases in Acts 13:9 in the original Greek text are:

"filled with the Holy Ghost" (πλησθεὶς πνεύματος ἁγίου/plēstheis pneumatos hagiou): Impliing being fully influenced or controlled by the Holy Spirit.
"set his eyes on him" (ἀτενίσας εἰς αὐτόν/atenisas eis auton): A phrase that suggests intense focus or confrontation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader Greco-Roman culture, encounters with magicians or sorcerers were not uncommon, and they were often associated with the divine or the mystical.

The confrontation between Paul and Elymas echoes the thematic elements found in other ancient myths where prophets or heroes confront antagonists who use supernatural powers for deceptive or destructive ends.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific perspective might interpret the "filling of the Holy Spirit" as a psychological state that could induce heightened emotional and cognitive capabilities.

However, the subjective experience and the concept of divine influence resist empirical analysis and remain a matter of faith rather than scientific evidence.

commentaries

Commentators have provided various insights on Acts 13:9:

Some note the significance of the name change indicating a transformation in Saul's life and mission.
Others emphasize the authority by which Paul acts, attributing it to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in direct opposition to false spiritual forces represented by Elymas.
It is also noted that Paul's confrontation with Elymas demonstrates the clear distinction between the Christian message and other competing spiritual or religious systems of the time.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:9 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 13:9 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?