1
At that time in the church at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers, namely: Barnabas and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2
One day, while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for Me for the work to which I have called them.”

3
Then after fasting and praying, and after laying their hands on those two, they sent them off.

4
So, sent out by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.

6
They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos. There they met a Jew named Bar-Jesus. He was a sorcerer and a false prophet.

7
He was an associate of the governor of the island, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor summoned Barnabas and Saul, because he wanted to hear the word of God.

8
But Elymas — that was his name in Greek —, the sorcerer, opposed them and tried to turn the governor away from the faith.

9
But Saul, also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at him,

10
and said: “You son of the devil, full of all kinds of deceit and wickedness, enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight ways of the Lord?

11
Now, look, the hand of the Lord is coming upon you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for some days.” And immediately mist and darkness came over him, and groping about he had to look for someone to lead him by the hand.

12
When the governor saw what had happened, he believed; he was amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

13
Then Paul and his companions left Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

14
From Perga they continued on their journey and came to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.

15
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets was finished, the synagogue officials sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have any message for the encouragement and comfort of this people, please speak!”

16
Then Paul stood up. He motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen!”

17
This God of the people of Israel chose our fathers and made the people great, when they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. With His mighty hand He led them out of that land.

18
For about forty years He bore with their conduct in the wilderness.

19
And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land among them as their inheritance

20
for about four hundred and fifty years. After that He gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.

21
Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22
After Saul had been removed, God raised up David to be their king. Concerning David God had said: I have found David son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.

23
And from his descendants, according to what He had promised, God has brought forth for Israel a Savior, Jesus.

24
Before His coming, John had proclaimed to all the people of Israel that they should repent and be baptized.

25
And when John was nearly finishing his task, he said: I am not the One you think I am, but One is coming after me. I am not worthy even to untie the sandals from His feet.

26
Brothers, whether you are descendants of Abraham or those who fear God, this message of salvation has been sent to us.

27
For the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus. By condemning Him to death, they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.

28
And though they found no cause for a death sentence, they asked Pilate that He be put to death.

29
And when they had fulfilled everything written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.

30
But God raised Him from the dead.

31
And for many days He appeared to those who had followed Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to the people.

32
And we now bring you good news, that the promise made to our fathers,

33
God has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm:

You are My Son!
Today I have begotten You.

34
God raised Him from among the dead, and He will not be given back to decay. This is what the Lord declared in this word:

I will fulfill to you the holy and sure promises,
which I gave to David.

35
Therefore He says in another psalm:

You will not let Your Holy One see decay.

36
For David served the will of God in his own generation, then he fell asleep and was laid beside his ancestors, and he did indeed undergo decay.

37
But Jesus, whom God raised, did not undergo decay.

38
Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

39
And in Him everyone who believes is set free from all sins, from which you could not be set free by the law of Moses.

40
Therefore, be careful, lest what has been spoken in the book of the prophets come upon you:

41
Look, you scoffers, be astonished and perish,

for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe,

if it were told to you.”

42
When Paul and Barnabas went out, they were asked to speak about these matters again on the next Sabbath.

43
After the meeting of the synagogue had ended, many Jews and devout God-fearing converts followed Paul and Barnabas; the two apostles spoke to them and urged them to continue living in the grace of God.

44
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of God.

45
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy, and speaking against what Paul said, they contradicted him and blasphemed.

46
Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly: “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we turn to the Gentiles.

47
For this is what has been commanded us:

I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”

48
When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed by God for eternal life believed.

49
Then the word of the Lord was spread throughout that whole region.

50
But the Jews stirred up the prominent women who feared God, and the leading men of the city, and they raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of that region.

51
But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet as a warning to those people, and went to Iconium.

52
And the disciples in Antioch were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

📖 Acts 13 – The Beginning of Paul & Barnabas’ Missionary Work

🧾 Summary of Acts 13

This chapter marks the beginning of the missionary ministry of Paul and Barnabas after they were sent out by the Holy Spirit from Antioch. They proclaimed the Gospel in non-Jewish regions, beginning from Cyprus to Asia Minor. Here also is found Paul’s first sermon recorded in Acts.

✨ Explanation of the Content

1. The Sending of Paul and Barnabas (verses 1–3)

• In the church at Antioch, there were several prophets and teachers, including Barnabas and Saul (Paul).
• While they were fasting and praying, the Holy Spirit said: “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have appointed them.”
• After prayer and the laying on of hands, they were sent out.

2. Journey to Cyprus: Rejection and Miracles (verses 4–12)

• They sailed to Cyprus, visiting Salamis and Paphos.
• In Paphos, they encountered Bar-Jesus (also called Elymas), a sorcerer who tried to keep the proconsul Sergius Paulus from receiving the Gospel.
• Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked and struck Elymas blind.
• Seeing this, Sergius Paulus believed in the Lord.

3. Paul’s Sermon in Pisidian Antioch (verses 13–41)

• They continued on to Perga in Pamphylia, then to Antioch in Pisidia.
• In the synagogue, Paul delivered his first sermon, which included:

• • A brief history of Israel: from Egypt to David.

  • Jesus is a descendant of David, the promised Savior.

  • Though innocent, Jesus was crucified and buried, yet raised by God.

  • Salvation, forgiveness of sins, and justification are given to everyone who believes in Him, not through the law.

4. Response to the Gospel: Received & Rejected (verses 42–52)

• Many people were enthusiastic and wanted to hear more the following week.
• The next week, almost the whole city came, making the Jews jealous.
• They began to oppose and revile Paul.
• Paul and Barnabas said:

“Since you reject the word of God… we now turn to the Gentiles.” (verse 46)

• The Gentiles rejoiced and believed, while Paul and Barnabas were finally driven out of that region.
• They went to Iconium, with joy and full of the Holy Spirit.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 13

1. The Holy Spirit is the chief sender in missionary service.
2. The Gospel is for everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike.
3. Challenges in ministry such as rejection, jealousy, and expulsion are part of the mission.
4. God’s power accompanies true evangelists—as Paul overcame Elymas.
5. Faith in Jesus Christ, not the law, brings forgiveness and justification.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 13

• This is an important turning point: the church’s global mission begins.
• This account invites us to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and be ready to obey, even if that means going far away or facing rejection.
• We are reminded that salvation is grace and can be received by anyone who believes.
• Though the ministry was not always easy, the joy of the Holy Spirit gave strength.