Chapter Thirteen
Barnabas and Saul are Sent Off
13:1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Luke notes that there were prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch, which are vital for equipping believers to grow and be involved in helping others to know and grow. Especially in the early days of the church prior to the gospels or any part of the New Testament was written. He also identifies the leadership of the church in Antioch at that time, which included Barnabas; Simeon who was called Niger (which means black and may be a reference to him being dark-skinned, some believe he was the “Simon of Cyrene” that carried Jesus’ cross, see Mark 15:21, but there is no evidence of that connection); Lucius, who is from Cyrene in North Africa (and no he is not Luke the author, as some have suggested, since he joins them at a later date); Manaen who was a lifelong friend (the Greek, syntrophos, refers to being brought up together, but not a blood relative, someone we might call today a foster brother) of Herod the tetrarch (Antipas, the one who just died); and Saul.
13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
While the group was worshiping and fasting, the Holy Spirit told them to “set apart” Barnabas and Saul for a task that He has called them to do. They understood that they were to separate from the others and go on a mission for God, but first the group laid their hands on them.
Considerations
Prophets, Teachers, and other Spiritual Gifts
Jesus did not leave saying, “Okay, you got this, now go out on your own and change the world!” But He did say, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26, ESV) He also reminded them just before His ascension, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV) So, how does that apply to believers? What does the Holy Spirit do for us? First and foremost, He resides in us, we are His temple (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21), He guides and directs us if we allow Him to (see Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23; John 16:13), but He also gives us abilities that go beyond our learned, or even natural, capabilities so that we can do what He has in mind for us to do. These abilities are in the form of gifts (given not earned) and are referenced in the Bible as Spiritual Gifts.
Even though these gifts are mentioned several times in the Bible (click here to read more about Spiritual gifts), there is great debate within Christians regarding their use and application. These are gifts of abilities, not roles or positions believers are to hold. When Paul wrote, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV) he wasn’t identifying roles for people to assume, he was stating that God will provide the necessary people to equip believers, and God has done so since Jesus ascended. This is in fulfillment of the promise of John 14:25-26, see above). Paul further notes that these gifts are for the benefit of the church (see Ephesians 4:13-16), they are not to be used (or encourage the perception) that the recipient of any gift is greater, having more authority, or is in any way ‘elevated’ over someone else.
Fasting
For many people the word ‘fasting’ is not in their vocabulary, and it’s not likely anyone’s favorite word either. The word comes from the Old English “to hold fast to” implying a commitment to abstain from food or drink. Here the Greek nēsteuō carries the same meaning. The Bible doesn’t command anyone to fast, so what’s the benefit? Jesus did state in His Sermon on the Mount that when you fast to do it privately so as to not call attention to yourself (see Matthew 6:16-17). So we are to take it seriously. Some point out that Jesus once said after His disciples failed to cast a demon out of boy, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29, NKJV) but the addition of fasting does not appear in early manuscripts. The recording of the same event in Matthew 17:14-21 a whole verse describing the need for prayer and fasting appears to have been added later as it does not appear in the early manuscripts either. The benefit of fasting is not in the form of some reward, but it can show to God one’s earnestness, of course He already knows our hearts, but through fasting (it doesn’t need to be a full abstention of all intake, click here for further information) we can move closer to Him as we lay out our petitions before Him. Temporarily giving up something of need helps us focus on Him!
Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus
This “send off” is the beginning of what most Christians call “The First Missionary Journey of Paul. The book of Acts records three round-trip journeys where churches were planted and the gospel preached.
13:4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
Barnabas and Saul left Antioch to the coastal town of Seleucia and sailed to the island of Cyprus, and when they arrived at the town of Salamis, on the east side of the island, they began to preach the Word of God in the synagogues. Luke notes that the apostle John was there to assist them.
13:6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.
They proclaimed the gospel message throughout the island and now on the west side in the town of Paphos, they encounter a man that Luke identifies as being a false prophet by the name of Bar-Jesus.
13:7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Bar-Jesus was with a proconsul named Sergius Paulus, who Luke calls “a man of intelligence.” The authority of a Roman proconsul varied but there is no mention of this being a legal summons so it is likely that he was intrigued by something he heard about them and wanted to hear more about what they were proclaiming.
13:8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Luke notes that Elymas the magician (Elymas is Arabic for sage or sorcerer) referring to Bar-Jesus the false prophet, who possibly concerned over loosing his job as an advisor to the proconsul, opposes Barnabas and Saul.
13:9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
This is the first mention of Saul being called Paul, unlike other name changes we see in the Bible (like Abraham, Sarah, and Israel), there is no mention that this change was from God, but since this is the name the Bible uses from this point on, it is likely a God-given name. Being filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul begins to stare intently at the false prophet.
13:10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Paul then confronts the man by revealing his identity as being a son of the devil, an enemy of righteousness, full of deceit, and villainy (Greek rhadiourgias, ready to commit wickedness). And asks him, “Will you not stop perverting the true ways of God?” Followed by Paul by saying that the hand of God is on him and that he will be blind for a period of time. Immediately his eyes misted and he could not see, requiring him to seek assistance from others. As a result the proconsul believed in the message Barnabas and Paul and became a believer.
Considerations
Don’t Do This at Home
Paul did not arbitrarily ‘call’ or ‘curse’ the false prophet with blindness on his own, this action was prompted by God and was performed by God. Why? To demonstrate God’s superiority. It is unknown how long this man had been an influence to the proconsul but likely it was for a long time. God used Paul to convey the message that what the false prophet was urging (to turn from the faith) was wrong. This tactic is not advisable when proclaiming the gospel unless prompted by the Holy Spirit!
Barnabas and Paul at Antioch in Pisidia
13:13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,
Luke switches the lead from Barnabas to Paul, by writing “Now Paul and his companions…” They left the island of Cyprus and headed northwest to Perga a city in the Roman province of Pamphylia, at which time John returned to Jerusalem.
13:14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
They then traveled north to another city named Antioch, this one in the Roman province of Pisidia. Luke tells us that on the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue there and sat down.
13:15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”
At the conclusion of the readings, the leaders of the synagogue sent a message to them inviting them to speak. It was considered customary to ask visiting rabbis if they would like to address the people.
13:16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
Paul stood up and motioned with his hand, undoubtedly pointing to those assembled, to listen to what he had to say. When he mentions the “men of Israel” he is referring to the Jews by lineage, and those that fear God would be any Gentile proselytes (converts to Judaism) in attendance.
13:17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
Paul begins with a brief history lesson about not only about their origin, but also about how God cared for them. God brought them into Egypt to make them great in number and brought them out. The text states that God “put up with them in the wilderness,” but some manuscripts read that He cared for them.
The evidence is singularly evenly balanced between ἐτροποφόρησεν (“he bore with [them]”) and ἐτροφοφόρησεν (“he cared for [them]”)[1]
Essentially both are true as God did put up with them (with some discipline) and cared for them by guiding and providing every day.
13:19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.
After the time in the wilderness they eradicated the nations that were inhabiting the Promised Land. The seven nations were the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (see Deuteronomy 7:1; Joshua 3:10; 24:11). Although not all these people groups were removed at that time, some inhabited the land until King David's reign.
13:20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
Paul walked them through their history demonstrating God’s care up to the point of King David, a man that God proclaimed to be “a man after my heart,” (a quote from 1 Samuel 13:14), a man who will do everything God wants him to do.
13:23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
Paul now moves from history to prophecy fulfilled, as David was promised that the Messiah, the Savior, would come to Israel through his lineage (see 2 Samuel 7:12-16; 1 Chronicles 17:11-13) and that person was Jesus. Paul notes that before Jesus was known, John (the baptizer) proclaimed a baptism of repentance all while he emphasized that he was not the Messiah, but that He was coming, who he was unworthy to untie His sandals.
13:26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
Perhaps anticipating the question as to why the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders did not accept Jesus, Paul points out that the people and rulers of Jerusalem did not recognize who Jesus was, as they, even though they read on every Sabbath the writings of the prophets, they did not understand them. So they condemned Him and had Him executed. Paul notes that their execution was also prophesied and when all that was prophesied was fulfilled they took His body and laid Him in a tomb.
13:30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
Paul points out that the people rejected and executed their Messiah, but God raised Him from the dead. Paul notes that He was seen by those from Galilee, who are now His witnesses to the people. The fact that Jesus’ suffering and death was prophesied doesn’t make that truth any easier to accept, so to answer the inevitable question of, “Did that action result in God withdrawing the Messiah?” Paul explains to them that isn’t the case.
13:32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’
Paul announces that they have good news (Greek euangelizometha, the gospel message) regarding the promises made to their forefathers, that Jesus is the fulfillment of those promises. That by raising Him from the dead, God has demonstrated that Jesus is truly the Son of God. Then referring to the Divine trialogue recorded in Psalm 2 (a conversion between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), Paul calls their attention to verse seven which has the Father telling the Son that He had begotten Him (reflecting both the incarnation and His resurrection).
13:34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,“ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
Paul explains that God’s resurrection of Jesus from the dead was such that He would never “return to corruption” (Greek diaphthoran, destruction, in context never able to die again) and that the Father promised to give Him the holy and absolute blessings promised to David (see Isaiah 55:3). He quotes Psalm 16:10, that God will not let His Holy One see corruption, which certainly does not apply to David, as after he died his body saw corruption (decay), but the One God raised did not see corruption and never will.
13:38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”
At this point in his sermon, Paul undoubtedly raised his voice to say, “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.” (Acts 13:38, NLT) That everyone who believes is free from the burden of sin, a cleansing beyond what the protocols of the law that was given to Moses (for example, there was no need to annually seek atonement, only unintentional sins were qualified to be atoned for, etc., for example see Leviticus 4:1, 13, 22, 27; 5:14, 18). Paul concludes by sternly warning them not to reject this free offer, as the alternative means facing what the prophets foretold when they wrote about scoffers, that they will be startled and die in response to something so horrific no one would believe it if they were told (quoting Habakkuk 1:5).
13:42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Paul’s first, and possibly his longest sermon, ended with a clamor for more. They urged them to come back the following Sabbath (to hear more and possibly bring friends and family). After the meeting many Jews and proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas who encourage them to rely on and continue in the grace of God.
13:44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
On the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city came out to hear God’s Word. But when the Jews saw how many people showed up, they were jealous and started to scoff, contradicting what Paul was preaching. Paul and Barnabas both boldly responded that they had to tell the Jews first (as per Jesus’ instructions, see Acts 1:8, see also Romans 1:16), but since they deem themselves as being unworthy of eternal life, they will proceed on and offer the message of salvation to the Gentiles, they support that statement by quoting Isaiah 49:6.
13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
Hearing Paul and Barnabas say they are going to preach salvation through Jesus to the Gentiles and then hearing that was God’s plan all along from Scripture, the Gentiles there understood what that meant and in their joy they thanked God for this incredible news. And all that accepted the message believed. The gospel message began to spread all around the Pisidia region.
13:50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
But the Jews rejected their message and were jealous of Paul and Barnabas (see verse 45) so they incited the community’s influential people to persecute them, which ultimately drove them out of town.
13:51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
But they didn’t mind, as the shook off the dust from their feet “against them” (see Luke 10:11, click here to read Luke 10 commentary). As they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
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[1] Metzger, B. M., United Bible Societies. (1994). A textual commentary on the Greek New Testament, second edition a companion volume to the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (4th rev. ed.) (p. 357). United Bible Societies.