The big picture
Acts 13 opens in verse 1 with “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 26 with “Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God…”, and closes in verse 52 with “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Repeated or prominent terms include word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Acts · King James Version · 52Acts 13:1-8
1–8: There were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and…
Acts 13:1–8 opens with “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and…” and reaches “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 13 develops its own movement around word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, with particular weight carried by Barnabas, Saul, certain.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was…” Naming Antioch and Barnabas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fasted, hands, laid. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to…” Naming Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Acts 13:1-8
King James Version1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5And 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.
6And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:
7Which 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.
8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Acts 13:9-16
9–16: Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his…
Acts 13:9–16 opens with “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,” and reaches “Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 13 develops its own movement around word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, with particular weight carried by hand, Lord, Paul.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,” Naming Ghost and Holy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Acts 13:9-16
King James Version9Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
10And 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?
11And 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.
12Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
13Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
16Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Acts 13:17-24
17–24: The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the…
Acts 13:17–24 opens with “The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as…” and reaches “When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 13 develops its own movement around word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, with particular weight carried by gave, Israel, land.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Acts 13:17-24
King James Version17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
18And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
20And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
23Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 13:25-32
25–32: As John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not…
Acts 13:25–32 opens with “And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold…” and reaches “And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 13 develops its own movement around word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, with particular weight carried by fulfilled, Jerusalem, Abraham.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Acts 13:25-32
King James Version25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
30But God raised him from the dead:
31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
Acts 13:33-40
33–40: God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath…
Acts 13:33–40 opens with “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it…” and reaches “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 13 develops its own movement around word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, with particular weight carried by corruption, raised, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
“God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Acts 13:33-40
King James Version33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
Acts 13:41-48
41–48: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your…
Acts 13:41–48 opens with “Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye…” and reaches “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 13 develops its own movement around word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, with particular weight carried by Gentiles, Jews, Paul.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who…” Naming Barnabas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by…” Naming Jews and Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Acts 13:41-48
King James Version41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:49-52
49–52: The word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
Acts 13:49–52 opens with “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” and reaches “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 13 develops its own movement around word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, with particular weight carried by Barnabas, chief, city.
Acts 13:49-52
King James Version49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
52And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Acts 13:1 begins with “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and…”
Where the chapter turns
Acts 13:25 forms a natural hinge: “And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not…”
The final note
Acts 13:52 leaves the reader with “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words word, Lord, Paul, raised, Barnabas, Holy help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
