Study Content

Acts 13 opens in the city of Antioch, which by this point has become one of the most important centers of the early Christian movement.

Luke lists several leaders serving in the church there. These include Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

The diversity of this leadership group is striking. Their backgrounds span different regions and social experiences, reflecting the increasingly multicultural nature of the early church.

While these leaders are worshiping and fasting, the Holy Spirit speaks to them. The Spirit instructs them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific work to which they have been called.

This moment reveals an important principle about the mission of the church. The sending of missionaries does not originate from human ambition but from divine direction.

After further prayer and fasting, the church lays hands on Barnabas and Saul and sends them out.

The act of laying on hands represents affirmation and commissioning rather than simply permission. The church recognizes that these men are being entrusted with a mission that extends beyond their local community.

Barnabas and Saul begin their journey by traveling to Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas.

They move through the island proclaiming the word of God in synagogues. This pattern becomes typical of Paul’s ministry. He often begins in Jewish synagogues because they provide an audience familiar with the Scriptures.

While in Cyprus they encounter a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, also called Elymas.

Elymas attempts to oppose the message being shared with the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus, who is interested in hearing the word of God.

Saul, who from this point forward is referred to as Paul, confronts Elymas directly. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul declares that Elymas has been perverting the ways of the Lord.

Paul announces that Elymas will temporarily lose his sight. Immediately darkness falls upon him, and he must be led by others.

This moment echoes Paul’s own earlier experience of blindness after encountering Christ on the road to Damascus.

The proconsul witnesses these events and believes, being astonished by the teaching about the Lord.

From Cyprus the missionary group travels north into the region of Pamphylia and arrives in Perga. Here John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem, a decision that will later cause tension between Paul and Barnabas.

Paul and Barnabas continue inland to Antioch in Pisidia, another city bearing the same name as their sending church.

On the Sabbath they enter the synagogue, where they are invited to speak after the reading of the Law and the Prophets.

Paul takes this opportunity to deliver a sermon that traces the story of Israel from the Exodus through the reign of David.

He then explains that from David’s line God has brought forth a Savior, Jesus.

Paul recounts how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus and how the leaders in Jerusalem rejected Him and had Him executed.

Yet God raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling the promises made to Israel.

Paul emphasizes that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is proclaimed and that everyone who believes is justified from things the law of Moses could not free them from.

This statement carries profound theological significance. Paul is declaring that the work of Christ accomplishes what the law alone could not achieve.

The following Sabbath nearly the entire city gathers to hear the message.

Many Gentiles show enthusiasm for the Gospel, but some Jewish leaders become jealous and begin contradicting Paul’s message.

Paul and Barnabas respond boldly, explaining that the message was first offered to the Jewish community, but since it is being rejected by some, they will now turn toward the Gentiles.

They quote Isaiah, which speaks of being a light for the nations so that salvation may reach the ends of the earth.

The Gentiles rejoice and many believe.

However opposition intensifies as influential leaders stir up persecution against Paul and Barnabas. The missionaries are eventually expelled from the region.

Before leaving, they shake the dust from their feet as a symbolic act and travel on to the city of Iconium.

Despite the opposition, Luke notes that the disciples are filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13 therefore marks the beginning of the church’s deliberate mission to the nations.

The chapter shows how the Gospel moves outward through obedience to the Spirit, courageous proclamation, and perseverance in the face of resistance.

What began as a local movement in Jerusalem is now becoming a global mission.