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Acts 13:7

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

Acts 13:7

Verse 7 of 52

Scripture focus

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.

Acts 13:7 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 13:7

Theological / Devotional

Deputy. Greek anthupatos, equivalent to Roman “proconsul.” Roman provinces were divided into imperial provinces under the emperor and peaceful provinces under the Senate, governed by proconsuls. Cyprus was reassigned to the Senate and ruled by a proconsul in Paul’s day. Coins from Claudius’s time bear the title proconsul for Cyprus’s ruler, Cominius Proclus. Luke carefully uses correct titles for officials (Acts 23:24; Matt. 27:2).

Sergius Paulus. A Latin inscription from A.D. 35 lists “L[ucius] Sergius Paullus” among Arval Brethren priests. Positive identification with the proconsul in Acts is uncertain but possible. Another inscription from Soli in Cyprus mentions “Paulus, proconsul,” but probably refers to an earlier ruler. Pliny the Elder’s mention of Sergius Paulus is likely a manuscript error for Sergius Plautus. Nothing certain is known beyond Luke’s record.

A prudent man. The adjective describes intelligence and discernment (Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21; 1 Cor. 1:19). Elymas’s presence shows the proconsul was inquiring and prudent, recognizing the missionaries’ superior character and not dominated by the sorcerer.

By SdaBc