Bible Commentaries
Acts 13

Verse 1

church . App-186 .

at = in. Greek. en . App-104 .

Antioch . See note on Acts 11:19 .

certain . Texts omit.

prophets . App-189 .

teachers . Greek. didaskalos. Occurs forty-eight times in Gospels, translated "Master" except in Luke 2:46 (doctor) and John 3:2 (teacher). Only here in Acts. Always "teacher" in the Epistles, except James 3:1 (master).

which had been brought up with = foster-brother of. Greek suntrophos. Only here.

Herod . Herod Antipas. App-109 .

tetrarch . See Matthew 14:1 .Luke 3:19 ; Luke 9:7 .

Verse 2

ministered . Greek. leitourgeo. App-190 . Here, Romans 15:27 . Hebrews 10:11 . In the Septuagint used of the Levitical service, as in Hebrews 10:11 .

the Holy Ghost . App-101 .

Separate . Compare Romans 1:1 .Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:15 .

whereunto = to which.

Verse 3

when they had = having.

prayed . Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .

sent . . . away . Greek. apoluo. App-174 .

Verse 4

sailed . Greek apopleo. Here, Acts 14:26 ; Acts 20:15 ; Acts 27:1 .

Cyprus . Compare Acts 4:36 .

Verse 5

Salamis . The first port they would reach, at east end of the island.

preached . Greek. katangello. App-121 .

word . Greek. logos. App-121 .

synagogues . App-120 . Compare Acts 13:14 ; Acts 14:1 ; Acts 17:1 , Acts 17:10 , Acts 17:17 ; Acts 18:4 , Acts 18:19 ; Acts 19:8 .

also John = John also. See Acts 12:25 . minister. Greek. huperetes ( App-190 .) He was not included by the Holy Spirit's command, but doubtless came at his kinsman (Colossians 4:10 ) Barnabas' invitation.

Verse 6

unto = as far as.

Paphos . The capital and residence of the governor. certain. Greek. tis. App-123 .

sorcerer . Greek. magos. Here, Acts 13:8 , and Matthew 2:1 , Matthew 2:7 , Matthew 2:16 .

false prophet . Greek. pseudoprophetes. Used five times by our Lord.

Bar-jesus . App-94 .:8.

Verse 7

deputy of the country . Greek. anthupatos. Here, verses: Acts 13:8 , Acts 13:12 , Acts 13:38 . This is the Greek word for proconsul. Cyprus had been an imperial province, governed by a propraetor, but according to Strabo Augustus transferred it to the Senate, and the governor would be now a proconsul. The title "proconsul" has been found on a coin of Cyprus of A.D. 62, and a slab has been discovered at Soli in Cyprus, with the name Paulus,

proconsul . One of the proofs of Luke's accuracy.

prudent . Greek. sunetos. Here, Matthew 11:25 .Luke 10:21 . 1 Corinthians 1:19 .

man . Greek. aner, App-123 .

who = he.

desired = sought earnestly. Greek. epizeteo. See Acts 12:19 .

Verse 8

Elymas . The knowing one. Compare Ulema, the corporation of Moslem who interpret the Koran. Arabic alim, wise.

withstood . Greek. anthistimi. First Occurs Matthew 5:39 ; often translated "resist".

turn away. Greek. diastrepho. On its other six occurences translated "pervert" or "perverse", as Acts 13:10 . from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

faith . Greek. pistis. App-150 .

Verse 9

also, &c . = is called Paul also. As a Roman citizen he would have a Roman name, as well as his Jewish one.

Paul . Always so called from this time, except when he refers to his conversion, Acts 22:7 , Acts 22:13 ; Acts 26:14 .

the Holy Ghost . App-101 .

set his eyes . . . and = gazing intently. Greek. atenizo. App-133 . This is inconsistent with weak sight.

Verse 10

all . Notice the three "alls".

subtilty = guile. Greek. dolos. Compare Matthew 26:4 .Mark 14:1 .Revelation 14:5 .

mischief = wickedness. Greek. radiourgia. Only here. Compare Acts 18:14 .

child = son. Greek. huios. App-108 . See Matthew 13:38 ; Matthew 23:15 .John 8:44 ; John 17:12 . 1 John 3:10 , and compare "sons of Belial", so frequent in the O.T.

righteousness . Greek. dikaiosune. App-191 . pervert. See Acts 13:8 .

right = straight

the Lord . App-98 . This rebuke is a case of Figure of speech Aganactesis. App-6 .

Verse 11

seeing . Greek. blepo. App-133 .

for = until.

immediately . Greek. parachrema, as in Acts 3:7 .

mist . Greek. achlus. Only here. A medical word for incipient blindness.

some to lead, &c . Literally hand-leaders. Greek. cheiragogos. Only here. Compare Acts 9:8 .

Verse 12

saw . Greek. eidon. App-133 .

believed . App-150 .

astonished . Greek. ekplesso. Compare Matthew 7:28 ; Matthew 22:33 .Luke 4:32 .

at . Greek. epi. App-104 .

doctrine = teaching.

Verse 13

Paul and his company . Literally Those about (Greek. per.) Paul. A Greek idiom.

loosed = weighed (anchor). Greek. anago. Used in this sense once in Luke (Acts 8:22 ), and thirteen times in Acts (Acts 16:11 ; Acts 18:21 , &c).

Perga . The capital of Pamphylia. A few miles up the Cestrus, which flows into the bay of Attalia. Now a ruin. John's departure may have been due to some difference as to the change of plan, and the proceeding from the lowlands of Pamphylia to the high ground of Antioch may have been on account of Paul's illness, to which he refers in Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:13 .

in = of.

departing = having withdrawn. Greek. apochoreo. Only here, Matthew 7:23 .Luke 9:39 .

Verse 14

when they, &c . = having gone through, as Acts 13:6 .

Antioch . The capital of Pisidia, and a Roman colony.

in = of.

the sabbath day = the day of the sabbaths. See note on John 20:1 . This was after Passover A.D. 46, or 47.

Verse 15

reading . Greek. anagnosis. Only here, 2Co 3:14 . 1 Timothy 4:13 . See note on Luke 4:16 , Luke 4:17 .

rulers, &c . Greek. archisunagogos. Here, Acts 18:8 , Acts 18:17 . Mark 5:22 , Mark 5:35 , Mark 5:36 , Mark 5:38 . Luke 8:49 ; Luke 13:14 . These rulers were probably the ruler and the angel. App-120 .

sent . Greek. apostello. App-174 .

men, &c. See note on Acts 1:11 .

if . App-118 .

ye have . There is among (Greek. en . App-104 .) you.

exhortation . Greek. paraklesis. See note on Acts 4:36 .

people . Greek. laos.

say on = speak. Greek. lego.

Verse 16

Paul . Prom this time Paul takes precedence of Barnabas.

stood up, &c . = having risen up, and beckoned.

stood up . Greek. anistemi. App-178 .

beckoning . See note on Acts 12:17 .

Men of Israel = Men, Israelites. See note on Acts 1:11 .

ye that fear God . Compare Acts 13:26 ; Acts 10:2 , Acts 10:22 , Acts 10:35 .Luke 1:50 ; Luke 12:5 ; Luke 23:40 . Revelation 11:18 ; Revelation 14:7 ; Revelation 15:4 ; Revelation 19:5 .Psalms 61:5 , &c.

Verse 17

exalted . Greek. hupsoo. See note on John 12:32 .

when they dwelt as strangers = in (Greek. en . App-104 .) their sojourning. Greek. paroikia. Only here and 1 Peter 1:17 . Compare Acts 7:6 .

land . Greek. ge. App-129 .

out of . Greek. ek. App-104 .

Verse 18

about = as it were. Greek. hos.

of forty years . Greek. tessarakontaetes. See Acts 7:23 .

suffered He their manners . Greek. tropophoreo, but many MSS. read trophophoreo, bore them as a nurse. Compare Deuteronomy 1:31 . It is the change of one letter in the Greek.

Verse 19

when He had = having. seven. See Deuteronomy 7:1 .

nations . Greek. ethnos.

divided . . . by lot = gave by lot. Greek. kataklerodoteo. Only here. Compare Septuagint, Psa 77:55 . But texts read katakleronomeo, distributed by lot. Frequently in Septuagint; e.g. Numbers 33:54 .

Verse 20

that = these things.

the space of . Omit.

four hundred and fifty years . See App-50 and App-86 .

until . Greek. heos, i.e. the end of Samuel's ministry.

Samuel . See note on Acts 3:24 .

Verse 21

desired = asked. Greek. mid. of aiteo. App-134 .

unto = to.

Saul . Greek. Saoul. The Hebr. form. Compare Acts 9:4 .

son . Greek. huios. App-108 .

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

by . Omit.

forty years . See App-10 and App-50 .

Verse 22

removed = set aside. Greek. methistemi. Only here, Acts 19:26 . Luke 16:4 . 2 Chronicles 1:13; 2 Chronicles 1:13 .

raised up . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

to be their king = for (Greek. eis) . king.

He gave testimony, and = having testified, (Greek. martureo. See p. 1511). He. The quotation is from Pa. Act 89:20 .

have . Omit.

after = according to. Greek. kata. App-104 .

shall fulfil = will do.

will = wishes, or desires. Pl, as in Ephesians 2:3 . Greek. thelema. App-102 .

Verse 23

Of = From. Greek. apo.

this man's = this one's.

according to . Greek. kata, as in Acts 13:22 .

promise . See 2 Samuel 7:12-16 . Psalms 132:11 .

raised . Greek. egeiro, as in Acts 13:22 . But the texts read ago, led or brought.

Verse 24

When John, &c . = John having before proclaimed. Greek. prokerusso. See note on Acts 3:20 .

His coming . Literally the face of His entering in (Greek. eisodos), i.e. upon public life.

Verse 25

fulfilled, &c . = was running his race. Compare Acts 20:24 .

fulfilled . Greek. pleroo. App-125 .

course . Greek. dromos. Only here, Act 20:24 . 2 Timothy 4:7 .

Whom = Who.

think = suppose. Greek. huponoeo. Only here, Acts 25:18 ; Acts 27:27 .

Verse 26

stock = race. Greek. genos.

whosoever, &c . = those among (Greek. en.) you who fear. See Acts 13:16 .

is = was.

sent . Greek. apostello, as in Acts 13:15 , but the texts read exapoatello. App-174 .

Verse 27

dwell . Greek. katoikeo. See note on Acts 2:5 .

because, &c . = being ignorant of.

Him . This word referring to Acts 13:26 .

nor yet = and.

every sabbath day = throughout ( kata ) every sabbath.

in condemning = having judged. Greek. krino. App-122 .

Verse 28

though they = having. no. Greek. medeis.

cause . Greek. aitia. See John 18:38 ; John 19:4 , John 19:6 .

slain . Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 .

Verse 29

fulfilled = ended. Greek. teleo.

all that was = all things that were.

of = concerning. Greek. peri.

tree . Greek. xulon. See Acts 5:30 .

in = into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

sepulchre = tomb. Greek. mnemeion. See note on Matthew 27:60 .

Verse 30

from the dead . Greek. ek nekron. App-139 .

Verse 31

seen . Greek. optomai. App-106 .

many days = for (Greek. epi.) many days.

of = by.

came up with Him . Greek. sunanabaino. Only here and Mark 15:41 .

Galilee . All the Apostles, except Judas, were Galileans Compare Acts 1:11 ; Acts 2:7 . Luke 23:49 , Luke 23:55 .

are . The texts add "now".

witnesses . See Acts 1:8 .

Verse 32

declare unto you glad tidings = tell you good news. Greek. euangelizo. App-121 .

Verse 33

the same = this.

children . Greek. teknon. App-108 .

in that he hath . . . again = having raised up. Greek. anistemi. App-178 .

it is also, &c . = it has been written in the second Psalm also. See Psalms 2:7 . App-107 .

begotten Thee = brought Thee to the birth, i.e. in resurrection.

Verse 34

And as concerning = But.

no more, &c . = being no longer (Greek. meketi. Comp. of me. App-105 .) about to return.

to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

corruption . Greek. diaphthora. See note on Acts 2:27 . Here corruption means the place of corruption, i.e. the grave, for He did not see corruption and therefore could not return to it.

on this wise = thus.

sure = assured. Greek. pistos. App-150 .

mercies = holy things. Greek. hosios. See Acts 2:27 . Same as "holy" in Acts 13:35 . The sure mercies are the promises faithfully kept by the Almighty. Figure of speech Catachresis. See Isaiah 55:3 .

Verse 35

also, &c . = in another Psalm also.

another . Greek. heteroa. App-124 . The reference is to Psalms 16:10 .

shalt = wilt. suffer = give. Holy One. Greek. Jioaios. as in Acts 13:3 *.

Verse 36

David = David indeed.

after he had = having.

served . Greek. hupereteo. App-190 .

will . Greek. boule. App-102 . Compare Acts 13:22 . Only place where boule is translated "will".

fell on sleep . Greek. koimaomai. App-171 .

Verse 37

again . Omit.

no = not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

Verse 38

known . Greek. gnostos. See note on Acts 1:19 .

through . Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 13:1 .

forgiveness = remission. Greek. aphesis. See note on Acts 2:38 ; Acts 5:31 .

sins . Greek. hamartia. App-128 .

Verse 39

by = in. Greek. en.

Him = This One.

all that believe are = every one who believes is.

justified . Greek. dikaioo. App-191 .

could not = were not able to.

Moses . See Acts 3:22 .

Verse 40

Beware = See. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

lest . Greek. me. App-105 .

upon . Greek. epi. App-104 . But the texts omit "upon you".

Verse 41

Behold . Greek. Plural of ide. App-133 . The quotation is from Habakkuk 1:5 .

despisers . Greek. kataphronetes. Only here.

perish = vanish away. Greek. aphanizo. Occurs elsewhere, Matthew 6:16 , Matthew 6:19 , Matthew 6:20 . James 4:14 . Negative of phaino, App-106 . Compare Luke 24:31 .Hebrews 4:13 ; Hebrews 8:13 .

in no wise . Greek. ou me. App-105 .

believe . App-150 .

though = (even) if.

a man = one. Greek. tis. App-123 .

declare . Greek. ekdiegeomai. Only here and Acts 15:3 . A medical word. Compare diegeomai (Acts 8:33 ).

Verse 42

the Jews . Texts omit.

gone = going forth. Greek. exeimi. Only here, Acts 17:15 ; Acts 20:7 ; Acts 27:43 .

the Gentiles . The texts read "they".

besought = were beseeching. Greek. parakaleo. App-134 .

words . Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .

preached = spoken. Greek. laleo. App-121 .

the next sabbath = on (Greek. eis.) the intervening (Greek. metaxu) sabbath.

One of the weekly gatherings . See App-120 .

Verse 43

congregation = synagogue.

broken up = released. Greek. luo, same word as "loosed" in Acts 13:25 .

religious = worshipping. Greek. sebomai. App-137 .

proselytes . See note on Matthew 23:15 .

speaking to = addressing. Greek. proslaleo. Only here and Acts 28:20 .

persuaded = were urging. Greek. peitho. App-150 .

continue . Greek. epimeno. See note on Acts 10:48 . The texts read prosmeno, as in Acts 11:23 .

grace . Greek. charis. App-184 .

Verse 44

the next sabbath day = the following sabbath; not the same expression as in Acts 13:42 .

came . . . together = was gathered together.

almost . Greek. schedon. Here, Acts 19:26 , and Hebrews 9:22 .

Verse 45

multitudes = crowds. Greek. ochlos. envy. Gr . zelos. Compare Acts 5:17 .

spake against . Greek. antilego. Compare Luke 2:34 . The same word as "contradicting" at the end of the verse. See note on Acts 28:19 .

Verse 46

waxed bold, and = speaking boldly. Greek. parrhesiazomai. See note on Acts 9:27 .

spoken . Greek. laleo. App-121 .

seeing = since. Greek. epeide.

put it from you = thrust it away. Greek. apotheomai. See note on Acts 7:27 .

judge . Greek. krino. App-122 .

unworthy = not (Greek. ou) worthy.

everlasting . Greek. aionios. App-151 .

life . Greek. zoe. App-170 .

lo = behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . Greek. idou.

Gentiles . Greek. ethnos.

Verse 47

light . Greek. phos. App-130 . The quotation is from Isaiah 49:6 . This commission to Jehovah's Servant is cited as their authority for turning to the Gentiles.

that thou shouldest be = to be.

unto = as far as. Greek. heos.

earth . Greek. ge. App-129 .

Verse 48

ordained = appointed. Greek. tasao. Here, Acts 15:2 ; Acts 22:10 ; Acts 28:23 .Matthew 28:16 . Luke 7:8 . Romans 13:1 . 1 Corinthians 16:15 .

eternal . Greek. aionios.

Verse 49

published . Greek. diaphero. Literally to carry through.

throughout . Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 13:1 .

region . Greek. chora. See Acts 8:1 ; Acts 16:6 .

Verse 50

stirred up = instigated. Greek. parotruno Only here.

devout . Greek. sebomai, same as "religious" (Acts 13:43 ). honourable. Greek. euschemdn. Here, Acts 17:12 .Mark 15:43 . 1 Corinthians 7:35 ; 1 Corinthians 12:24 .

chief men = first.

raised . Greek. epegeiro. App-178 . Only here and Acts 14:2 .

against . Greek. epi. App-104 .

out of . Greek. apo. App-104 .

coasts = borders.

Verse 51

shook off . Greek. ektinasso. Only here, Acts 18:6 . Matthew 10:14 .Mark 6:11 . A medical word. Compare Nehemiah 5:13 . Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 .

Iconium . Now Konieh, the present (1915) terminus of the Bagdad railway. About 300 miles from Smyrna.