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Acts 13:4-13

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

4. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5. 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. 6. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name [was] Barjesus: 7. 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. 8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9. Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10. 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? 11. 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. 12. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. 13. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

Acts 13:4-13 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 13:4

Theological / Devotional

Sent forth. This begins Saul’s (Paul’s) First Missionary Journey. Barnabas and he went forth under the Holy Spirit’s direct command, evidently with specific instructions.

Support. There is no indication of salary or funds. Probably Paul worked at his trade during the week and preached in synagogues on Sabbaths (Acts 18:3, 4). Later he indicated he received little support (Phil. 4:15-18). The infant church had not yet considered tithes for ministry support; there was no professional clergy class.

Unto Seleucia. About 15 miles from Antioch near the Orontes River mouth, Seleucia was Antioch’s seaport, named for Seleucus Nicator (d. 280 B.C.), founder of the Seleucid Empire.

Sailed to Cyprus. If not specifically directed, they likely chose Cyprus first because it was Barnabas’s birthplace. Cyprus had a largely Greek population and was known for the worship of Aphrodite, with licentious temple priestesses at Paphos. Copper mines attracted many Jews. The gospel had probably been preached there by itinerant evangelists (Acts 11:19). Some Pentecost converts from Cyprus may have brought the message home.

By SdaBc