Discovery BoxActs 13:1-20
Context13:1 Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: 1 Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, 2 Lucius the Cyrenian, 3 Manaen (a close friend of Herod 4 the tetrarch 5 from childhood 6 ) and Saul. 13:2 While they were serving 7 the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart 8 for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 13:3 Then, after they had fasted 9 and 10 prayed and placed their hands 11 on them, they sent them off.
13:4 So Barnabas and Saul, 12 sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, 13 and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 14 13:5 When 15 they arrived 16 in Salamis, 17 they began to proclaim 18 the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. 19 (Now they also had John 20 as their assistant.) 21 13:6 When they had crossed over 22 the whole island as far as Paphos, 23 they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 24 13:7 who was with the proconsul 25 Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul 26 summoned 27 Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear 28 the word of God. 13:8 But the magician Elymas 29 (for that is the way his name is translated) 30 opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul 31 away from the faith. 13:9 But Saul (also known as Paul), 32 filled with the Holy Spirit, 33 stared straight 34 at him 13:10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and all wrongdoing, 35 you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness – will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 36 13:11 Now 37 look, the hand of the Lord is against 38 you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time!” Immediately mistiness 39 and darkness came over 40 him, and he went around seeking people 41 to lead him by the hand. 13:12 Then when the proconsul 42 saw what had happened, he believed, 43 because he was greatly astounded 44 at the teaching about 45 the Lord.
13:13 Then Paul and his companions put out to sea 46 from Paphos 47 and came to Perga 48 in Pamphylia, 49 but John 50 left them and returned to Jerusalem. 51 13:14 Moving on from 52 Perga, 53 they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, 54 and on the Sabbath day they went into 55 the synagogue 56 and sat down. 13:15 After the reading from the law and the prophets, 57 the leaders of the synagogue 58 sent them a message, 59 saying, “Brothers, 60 if you have any message 61 of exhortation 62 for the people, speak it.” 63 13:16 So Paul stood up, 64 gestured 65 with his hand and said,
“Men of Israel, 66 and you Gentiles who fear God, 67 listen: 13:17 The God of this people Israel 68 chose our ancestors 69 and made the people great 70 during their stay as foreigners 71 in the country 72 of Egypt, and with uplifted arm 73 he led them out of it. 13:18 For 74 a period of about forty years he put up with 75 them in the wilderness. 76 13:19 After 77 he had destroyed 78 seven nations 79 in the land of Canaan, he gave his people their land as an inheritance. 80 13:20 All this took 81 about four hundred fifty years. After this 82 he gave them judges until the time of 83 Samuel the prophet.
[13:1] 1 sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia).
[13:1] 2 sn Simeon may well have been from North Africa, since the Latin loanword Niger refers to someone as “dark-complexioned.”
[13:1] 3 sn The Cyrenian refers to a native of the city of Cyrene, on the coast of northern Africa west of Egypt.
[13:1] 4 sn Herod is generally taken as a reference to Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee from 4
[13:1] 5 tn Or “the governor.”
[13:1] 6 tn Or “(a foster brother of Herod the tetrarch).” The meaning “close friend from childhood” is given by L&N 34.15, but the word can also mean “foster brother” (L&N 10.51). BDAG 976 s.v. σύντροφας states, “pert. to being brought up with someone, either as a foster-brother or as a companion/friend,” which covers both alternatives. Context does not given enough information to be certain which is the case here, although many modern translations prefer the meaning “close friend from childhood.”
[13:2] 7 tn This term is frequently used in the LXX of the service performed by priests and Levites in the tabernacle (Exod 28:35, 43; 29:30; 30:20; 35:19; 39:26; Num 1:50; 3:6, 31) and the temple (2 Chr 31:2; 35:3; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:17, and many more examples). According to BDAG 591 s.v. λειτουργέω 1.b it is used “of other expression of religious devotion.” Since the previous verse described the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch, it is probable that the term here describes two of them (Barnabas and Saul) as they were serving in that capacity. Since they were not in Jerusalem where the temple was located, general religious service is referred to here.
[13:3] 9 tn The three aorist participles νηστεύσαντες (nhsteusante"), προσευξάμενοι (proseuxamenoi), and ἐπιθέντες (epiqente") are translated as temporal participles. Although they could indicate contemporaneous time when used with an aorist main verb, logically here they are antecedent. On fasting and prayer, see Matt 6:5, 16; Luke 2:37; 5:33; Acts 14:23.
[13:3] 10 tn Normally English style, which uses a coordinating conjunction between only the last two elements of a series of three or more, would call for omission of “and” here. However, since the terms “fasting and prayer” are something of a unit, often linked together, the conjunction has been retained here.
[13:3] 11 sn The placing of hands on Barnabas and Saul (traditionally known as “the laying on of hands”) refers to an act picturing the commission of God and the church for the task at hand.
[13:4] 12 tn Grk “they”; the referents (Barnabas and Saul) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:4] 13 sn Seleucia was the port city of Antioch in Syria.
[13:4] 14 sn Cyprus was a large island in the Mediterranean off the south coast of Asia Minor.
[13:5] 15 tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
[13:5] 16 tn The participle γενόμενοι (genomenoi) is taken temporally.
[13:5] 17 sn Salamis was a city on the southeastern coast of the island of Cyprus. This was a commercial center and a center of Judaism.
[13:5] 18 tn The imperfect verb κατήγγελλον (kathngellon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
[13:5] 19 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
[13:5] 20 sn John refers here to John Mark (see Acts 12:25).
[13:5] 21 tn The word ὑπηρέτης (Juphreth") usually has the meaning “servant,” but it is doubtful John Mark fulfilled that capacity for Barnabas and Saul. He was more likely an apprentice or assistant to them.
[13:6] 22 tn Or “had passed through,” “had traveled through.”
[13:6] 23 sn Paphos. A city on the southwestern coast of the island of Cyprus. It was the seat of the Roman proconsul.
[13:6] 24 sn Named Bar-Jesus. “Jesus” is the Latin form of the name “Joshua.” The Aramaic “bar” means “son of,” so this man was surnamed “son of Joshua.” The scene depicts the conflict between Judaism and the emerging new faith at a cosmic level, much like the Simon Magus incident in Acts 8:9-24. Paul’s ministry looks like Philip’s and Peter’s here.
[13:7] 25 sn The proconsul was the Roman official who ruled over a province traditionally under the control of the Roman senate.
[13:7] 26 tn Grk “This one”; the referent (the proconsul) is specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:7] 27 tn Grk “summoning Barnabas and Saul, wanted to hear.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[13:7] 28 sn The proconsul…wanted to hear the word of God. This description of Sergius Paulus portrays him as a sensitive, secular Gentile leader.
[13:8] 29 tn On the debate over what the name “Elymas” means, see BDAG 320 s.v. ᾿Ελύμας. The magician’s behavior is more directly opposed to the faith than Simon Magus’ was.
[13:8] 30 sn A parenthetical note by the author.
[13:8] 31 sn The proconsul was the Roman official who ruled over a province traditionally under the control of the Roman senate.
[13:9] 32 sn A parenthetical note by the author.
[13:9] 33 sn This qualifying clause in the narrative indicates who represented God in the dispute.
[13:9] 34 tn Or “gazed intently.”
[13:10] 35 tn Or “unscrupulousness.”
[13:10] 36 sn “You who…paths of the Lord?” This rebuke is like ones from the OT prophets: Jer 5:27; Gen 32:11; Prov 10:7; Hos 14:9. Five separate remarks indicate the magician’s failings. The closing rhetorical question of v. 10 (“will you not stop…?”) shows how opposed he is to the way of God.
[13:11] 37 tn Grk “And now.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
[13:11] 38 tn Grk “upon,” but in a negative sense.
[13:11] 39 sn The term translated mistiness here appears in the writings of the physician Galen as a medical technical description of a person who is blind. The picture of judgment to darkness is symbolic as well. Whatever power Elymas had, it represented darkness. Magic will again be an issue in Acts 19:18-19. This judgment is like that of Ananias and his wife in Acts 5:1-11.
[13:11] 41 tn The noun χειραγωγός (ceiragwgo") is plural, so “people” is used rather than singular “someone.”
[13:12] 42 sn See the note on proconsul in v. 8.
[13:12] 43 sn He believed. The faith of the proconsul in the face of Jewish opposition is a theme of the rest of Acts. Paul has indeed become “a light to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:47).
[13:12] 44 tn The translation “greatly astounded” for ἐκπλησσόμενος (ekplhssomeno") is given by L&N 25.219.
[13:12] 45 tn Grk “of,” but this could give the impression the Lord himself had done the teaching (a subjective genitive) when actually the Lord was the object of the teaching (an objective genitive).
[13:13] 46 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”
[13:13] 47 sn Paphos was a city on the southwestern coast of the island of Cyprus. See Acts 13:6.
[13:13] 48 sn Perga was a city in Pamphylia near the southern coast of Asia Minor. The journey from Paphos to Perga is about 105 mi (175 km).
[13:13] 49 sn Pamphylia was a province in the southern part of Asia Minor.
[13:13] 50 sn That is, John Mark.
[13:13] 51 sn Returned to Jerusalem. John Mark had originally accompanied them from Jerusalem (see Acts 12:25). John Mark’s decision to leave became an issue later for Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36-39).
[13:14] 52 tn Or “Passing by.”
[13:14] 53 sn Perga was a city in Pamphylia near the southern coast of Asia Minor.
[13:14] 54 tn Or “at Antioch in Pisidia.”
[13:14] 55 tn Grk “going into the synagogue they sat down.” The participle εἰσελθόντες (eiselqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[13:14] 56 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
[13:15] 57 sn After the reading from the law and the prophets. In the 1st century Jewish synagogue, it was customary after the reading of the Torah (law) and prophets for men to give exhortation from the scriptures.
[13:15] 58 tn Normally ἀρχισυνάγωγος (arcisunagwgo") refers to the “president of a synagogue” (so BDAG 139 s.v. and L&N 53.93). Since the term is plural here, however, and it would sound strange to the English reader to speak of “the presidents of the synagogue,” the alternative translation “leaders” is used. “Rulers” would also be acceptable, but does not convey quite the same idea.
[13:15] 59 tn Grk “sent to them”; the word “message” is an understood direct object. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
[13:15] 60 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
[13:15] 62 tn Or “encouragement.”
[13:16] 64 tn This participle, ἀναστάς (anasta"), and the following one, κατασείσας (kataseisa"), are both translated as adverbial participles of attendant circumstance.
[13:16] 66 tn Or “Israelite men,” although this is less natural English. The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context involving an address to a synagogue gathering, it is conceivable that this is a generic usage, although it can also be argued that Paul’s remarks were addressed primarily to the men present, even if women were there.
[13:16] 67 tn Grk “and those who fear God,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44.
[13:17] 68 tn Or “people of Israel.”
[13:17] 69 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
[13:17] 70 tn That is, in both numbers and in power. The implication of greatness in both numbers and in power is found in BDAG 1046 s.v. ὑψόω 2.
[13:17] 71 tn Or “as resident aliens.”
[13:17] 73 sn Here uplifted arm is a metaphor for God’s power by which he delivered the Israelites from Egypt. See Exod 6:1, 6; 32:11; Deut 3:24; 4:34; Ps 136:11-12.
[13:18] 74 tn Grk “And for.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
[13:18] 75 tn For this verb, see BDAG 1017 s.v. τροποφορέω (cf. also Deut 1:31; Exod 16:35; Num 14:34).
[13:19] 77 tn Grk “And after.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
[13:19] 78 tn The participle καθελών (kaqelwn) is taken temporally.
[13:19] 79 sn Seven nations. See Deut 7:1.
[13:19] 80 tn Grk “he gave their land as an inheritance.” The words “his people” are supplied to complete an ellipsis specifying the recipients of the land.
[13:20] 81 tn The words “all this took” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to make a complete statement in English. There is debate over where this period of 450 years fits and what it includes: (1) It could include the years in Egypt, the conquest of Canaan, and the distribution of the land; (2) some connect it with the following period of the judges. This latter approach seems to conflict with 1 Kgs 6:1; see also Josephus, Ant. 8.3.1 (8.61).
[13:20] 82 tn Grk “And after these things.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
[13:20] 83 tn The words “the time of” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
