Acts 13

“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.

“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto…” Naming Barnabas and Ghost 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.

“So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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.

“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name…” Naming Bar and Jew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired…” Naming Barnabas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from…” Naming Elymas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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 said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou…” 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.

“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.

“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them…” Naming Jerusalem and John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day…” Naming Antioch and Perga keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include brethren, exhortation, people. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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 about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“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 after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.” The number four 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.

“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.” Naming Israel and John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this…” Naming Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include fulfilled, laid, sepulchre. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But God raised him from the dead:” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the…” Naming Galilee and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“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.

“And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I…” Naming David 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.

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:” The line’s distinctive content terms include brethren, forgiveness, known. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;” Naming Beware keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the…” Naming Gentiles and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“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.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to…” Naming Barnabas and Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to…” Naming Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against…” Naming Barnabas and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.” Naming Iconium keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Naming Ghost and Holy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.