Acts - Chapter 13

Chapter 13 begins with the commissioning and the laying on of hands over Barnabas and Saul for the work of missionary work in Asia Minor. They begin in the Island of Cyprus and travel to Asia Minor/Galatia to bring a pagan world to Christ.

The Book of Acts
Chapter 13

Commissioned For the Work of the Ministry

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 

Saul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch from delivering support to the Church in Jerusalem, and they brought John Mark back with them as their assistant.  John Mark was the cousin to Barnabas (Col 4:10) and Barnabas felt John Mark would be a valuable part of the ministry  because he grew up in Jerusalem and was an eyewitness of many of the events in the life of Jesus.  As such, he had first-hand knowledge of many of the things of the Savior.

The five church leaders consisted of certain prophets and teachers were:

  • Barnabas and Saul,
  • Simeon, called Niger - meaning black - probably from Nigeria, Africa, who possibly could have been the same Simeon who carried Jesus' cross (Luke 23:26) on the road to Calvary.
  • Lucius of Cyrene, which was a north African town on the northern coast of what is know today as Libya.  Lucius could have been the same Lucius whose greeting Paul coveyed to the church in Rome from Corinth. (Rom 16:21)
  • Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch - the one who had John the Baptist beheaded and presided over Jesus' trial (Luke 23:7-12).  Manaen turned from his way of life to become a believer in Jesus and a leader within the Church at Antioch.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

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The laying on of hands was the formal commissioning to this work. While both Barnabas and Saul were “ordained” by God before the laying on of hands, this now made it official.

The ministry of the laying on of hands is an important part of church ministry even today.

Sensing a need to seek God, these leaders went to fasting, and ministered to the Lord in prayer and worship.  As such, God revealed to them that Barnabas and Saul were called by God to accomplish His purpose to be missionaries for Jesus Christ to other lands.  

How did these leaders hear the voice of the Holy Spirit?  It was not an audible voice, but that inward voice or witness as the Holy Spirit was leading them to separate Barnabas and Saul to be missionaries to other lands for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

  • In Acts, chapter 9, God revealed that Saul was called as a chosen vessel to bear the name of Jesus before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.  This was a serious calling, for Saul would suffer much for the Gospel.

After the prayer and fasting, now hearing the instruction of the Lord, these leaders laid hands on Barnabas and Saul in prayer and sent them out as missionaries for God, which was the first formal commissioning of the Church.

Preaching on the Island of Cyprus

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.

With the blessings of the believers in the Church of Antioch, under the anointing and calling of the Holy Spirit, Barnabas, as its leader, Saul, with John Mark as their assistant, walked the 16 miles down to Seleucia, a port city, where they boarded a ship to  the Island of Cyprus. 

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The Island of Cyprus was the birth place of Barnabas, a Levite Jew, and it is possible that their first stop of Salamis might have been the city where Barnabas came from.  He may have had family there to greet while on the island.

In Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath as Barnabas, Saul and John Mark worshipped God as Jews; however, they were now "fulfilled" Jews being believers in Jesus Christ.  Being sent out as missionaries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, these men purposed to share the Gospel with these Jews in the synagogue there.  With Saul being a Pharisee, this gave them an advantage because Pharisees were always welcomed to share from the Scriptures as they were considered learned men of God. 

  • How long they stayed in Salamis is not stated.  It could have been only one Sabbath as they were simply passing through on their way to Asia.

Bar-Jesus - Sorcerer and false prophet 

Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 

Called as missionaries for Christ, Barnabas and Saul (assisted by John Mark) witnessed for Jesus as they traveled the 90 miles across Cyprus because by the time they reached Paphos, it was well known who they were.  

Cyprus, Preparation and Arrival | Have Bag, Will Travel

The capital city of Paphos was on the west coast of the Island of Cyprus, and Barnabas, Saul and John Mark quickly saw the immorality and spiritual darkness that was common across the pagan world throughout the Roman Empire.  As part of pagan worship, Venus, the goddess of love was the main goddess of worship on the island.

While Barnabas and Saul were ministering in Paphos, an unexpected thing happened - the proconsul (governor of Cyprus) wanted to hear the word of God.  Sergius Paulus was hired by the Roman government to oversee the entire province on the island as proconsul.  Upon meeting the proconsul, Barnabas and Saul also met a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus (means son of Jesus) who was a Jewish false prophet, and the adviser to the proconsul. 

  • The Roman world was filled with supertition, and many aristrocratic leaders kept private wizards or fortune tellers who dealt in magic and spells.  Bar-Jesus, also named Elymas, knew that if the proconsul was won over for Christianity, his days of being adviser to the proconsul were over.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 

While Paul and Barnabas was ministering the Word of God to the proconsul, Bar-Jesus did everything he could to turn the proconsul against those words spoken by Saul and Barnabas.

From this point on in Scripture, Saul is called Paul.  He used that name when ministering to a Gentile audience.  He would, however, continue to use Saul when ministering to a Jewish audience because initially he was recognized as a Pharisee when entering into a synagogue. 

Back then, because it was a Gentile Greek speaking society, it was common for many Jews to have two name - their Jewish name, by which they were known in their own circle, and the other was a Greek name, by which they were known in the wider world.  Saul's father, being a Roman citizen may have even given his son the Gentile name of Paul (which is the Gentile name for Saul) and his Jewish name of Saul from birth.

From this point on, Saul will be referred to as Paul.

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”

Paul contended with this sorcerer, who was a false prophet, only for so long before he turned to him and spoke.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul, using discernment, called him full of deceit and fraud, son of the devil and enemy of righteousness.  He then pronounced the judgment of God upon him...and Bar-Jesus was struck blind.  When the proconsul saw this, awe struck him and he instantly became a believer in Jesus Christ.

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Leading a leader, especially a govenment leader has a huge impact upon the people - in the operation of the ruling over the people to his or her faith, which can influence others to come to Christ as well.

Preaching in Perga of Pamphylia

13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

The missionary group of Barnabas, Paul and John Mark set sail from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia on the mainland of what is known today as Turkey.

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John Mark Departed 

When they arrived on the mainland, John Mark chose to go back home to Jeusalem.  Why, the Scriptures do not say.  They obviously had words between them because Paul did not appreciate this departure, and it put a wedge between Paul and John Mark as well as Paul and Barnabas.  This shows us that even in the work of the ministry of godly men, they were still human and open to problems.  We will also see that from this point on, Paul took over the leadership because the Scriptures now list this missionary team as Paul and Barnabas, not Barnabas and Paul. 

Preaching in Antioch of Pisidia

Paul and Barnabas left Perga, and they traveled inland north up into the mountains about 135 miles, all the way up to Antioch in Pisidia.  Back in the 1st century, this area was known as Galatia. 

  • It was here where Paul makes mention of being ill, having caught some sort of disease, possibly malaria, which "may" give explanation as to why they traveled up into the mountains for fresher air.

On the Sabbath they went to the local synagogue, and upon arriving simply sat down.  Immediately the congregregation spotted them, noticing they were educated Jews. 

The order of service began: 

  • Opening prayers were offered, then the reading from the Law (The Torah), followed by readings from the Prophets. 
  • As was custom, if there was an educated person present, they would be invited to give words of explanation of the text read that day. 
  • The rulers of the synagogue came up to Paul and Barnabas and gave an invitation to them that if they had any words to get up and speak.  At that, the Apostle Paul stood up.

Paul then gave his customary speech, taking the people through the Scriptures (Old Testament) to bring them to a point of showing Jesus as their Messiah.

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.

20 “After that, He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they asked for a king; so 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 for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— 

  • The apostle then preached Jesus as their Messiah, born of the seed of David.

24 after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

  • The apostle continued on, all the way up to the time of John the Baptist who preached a baptism of repentance as their Messiah and Savior was about to come to them.

Being very systematic and purposeful, Paul then pointed out how the Jews and leaders in Jerusalem killed their Messiah when He did come.  He ministered to the people, and as the Son of God was faultless in all His ways.  These Jewish leaders despised Him, and for selfish reasons and political gain, they used the Roman government to accomplish their purpose of getting rid of Him.

26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 

Their Messiah - the prophesied One over thousands of years, as shown throughout Scripture was now dead.  This however, was God's plan to fulfill all that was written about Him.  He was born to live to demonstrate the love of God to all peoples, and he was born to die for the sins of mankind.

30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 

After the fulfilling of His death, God raised His Son from the dead.  As proof of that, Jesus showed Himself to His apostles and disciples for 40 days after His death...during the Time of the Omer that was between the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Pentecost and then He went back to His Father in heaven. 

The Apostle Paul continued, under the anointing of God, to then preach salvation through Christ to His audience, proving by Psalms in the Scriptures that Jesus is their Messiah.  

32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.  As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. ’34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:  ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’

King David was speaking of Jesus, as the Holy One of God, would never see corruption because God raised Him from the dead.

36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 

Obviously, King David died and was buried with his ancestry.  His body did see corruption, unlike Jesus.  Therefore, Paul states, let it be known that through this Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins.  Everyone who believes in Him is justified from all things - even those things the Law could not justify them.  Jesus is far above the Law.

Jesus does the same thing for us today.  We are not under the Law because Jesus is above the Law.  Salvation and eternal life is offered to all who truly believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and because of what He has done for us, God offers His Son for us and to us in His stead. 

40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

Paul then gave a warning to his audience to beware that what he just spoke of would come upon them.  Reject and perish or believe and receive what God has just offered.

  • This message will become his familiar words that were given over and over in the various synagoges that Paul ministered to when entering into a new town.  

Blessing and Conflict at Antioch of Pisidia

42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God

Gentile proselytes and Gentile God-fearers were allowed to worship God in the synagogue.  As such, they understood the message and desired to hear more from the apostle.  The majority of the Jews, on the other hand, were not so receptive to Paul's message.

Once the majority of the Jews had all left the synagogue, these proselytes and God-fearers, along with the few Jews who received Paul's word begged him and Silas to come back the following Sabbath so they could hear more.

During the coming week, these Gentile proselytes and God-fearers went around telling everyone they learned about the Messiah who would save them from their sins and give life eternal to all who would receive Him as their Messiah.  They did not have to follow the Law as the Jews so religiously did. 

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That then would free up the proselytes to no longer have the obligation to follow after the Mosaic Law to love the One true God, and this offer of God would relieve the God-fearers who wanted to love God, but refused to follow in the ways of a Jew.

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 

The Jews were now filled with envy and jealousy that these Gentiles, whom they had always despised, would receive God's offer, which before was only offered to Jews, were now filled with anger.  They then took their anger out on Paul and Silas for bringing that word to "their" synagogue.  And worse yet, their synagogue was now filled with Gentiles.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

The Jews were having a difficult time to understand that this Jesus, their "supposedly promised" Messiah, had now come to the world to save the whole world, and not just the Jews.  Because of their unbelief, they took their confusion out in anger toward Paul, and refused to accept what he was saying.  The Gentiles, on the other hand, were delighted that they too could have eternal life.  As such, many came to believe in Jesus.

48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

That same word is offered to everyone today.  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.

Thrown out of Town Again

49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

The word of the Lord was being spread all around the city and even throughout that region.  The good news of salvation and eternal life had come to the Gentiles in Antioch of Pisidia.  While the Jews were angry, the Gentiles were happy in their new place in Christ.

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The stir of the Jews, however, was very disturbing to where even the prominent Jewish women, along with the aristrocrat of the city became up in arms over the salvation of the Gentiles.  As such, they set out to bring persecution against Paul and Barnabas.  Instead, they threw them out of the city.

 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Shaking the dust off of our feet is a biblical principal that we use when those who refuse to accept what we preach about Jesus happens.  We can't take it personal because it is Jesus they are rejecting, and not us, even though we are the ones who gets scorned.

Phil 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for His sake.

Click here for Acts, Chapter 14

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com

Written by Pastor Joyce A. Erickson

Believers Bible School, Founder https://believersbibleschool.com/