Acts 13 KJV: The Holy Spirit Commissions the Global Mission
Acts 13 documents the Holy Spirit’s specific call to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work of the Gospel. It records their confrontation with Elymas the sorcerer and Paul’s powerful sermon in Antioch in Pisidia, where he outlines the fulfillment of Jewish history in Jesus. This chapter marks the transition of 'Saul' to 'Paul' and his leadership in the Gentile mission.
v1-3: The Commissioning at Antioch
v4-12: The Mission in Cyprus and the Blindness of Elymas
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.
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.
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.
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 when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Track the beginning of Paul's epic journey as he blinded a sorcerer and enlightened a Roman proconsul. Begin your study with acts 13 summary.
Paul’s shift from 'Saul' to 'Paul' occurs exactly when he begins dealing with Roman officials, choosing his Roman name to better reach the Gentile world. The 'Word Secret' is *Aphorizo*, meaning 'to sever or separate,' showing they were completely cut off from their previous lives for this mission. Discover the riches with acts 13 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden acts 13 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
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