ACTS 13

It has been said that the Holy Spirit directs all of the movements in the Book of Acts. The question is 

HOW, in what way? This question certainly has implications on how we look on the Holy Spirit's 

direction today in our lives. We know that Paul was given visions and dreams several times that 

redirected his plans. But often God's leading came in more mundane ways. Can you relate to any of 

these occasions?

9:29-30 removing oneself from harm's way, use common sense, run to fight another day

11:25-26 request from a fellow Christian

13:2-4 decision of the whole church after prayer and fasting

13:13 (see Gal. 4:13-14) illness

13:50 overwhelming circumstances, no real choice in the matter

14:6 removing oneself from harm's way

14:19-20 (See 2 Timothy 3:10-11) protection provided from God and other believers

14:21-23 the need to be faithful to the mission we are given

13:4-5 According to NRSV notes, there was a large Jewish population on Cyprus. Remember the Day 

of Pentacost and the list of different countries the Jews came from. Also see below on vv. 13-14. In 

addition, Acts 4:36 introduces the Levite Barnabas as being a native of Cyprus. 

 

13:7 Sergius Paulus was cited by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History as an authority. He held other 

offices in Roman empire earlier.

13:9 There is a theory that Paul took his name from Sergius Paulus, his first Gentile convert. This is 

possible since Romans sometimes adopted the name of an influential patron, but you would expect the 

new name to be introduced after the conversion, not before. Alternative theories are that (1) Saul took a 

new Christian name to distance himself with his past role as persecutor of the church (but he continued 

to use it for years right up to his commissioning for his first missionary trip), or (2) Saul already had 

the Greek name Paul (many Jews also took on a Greek name for use in pagan environment which 

either sounded like their Jewish name or was a translation of it into Greek) but now uses it exclusively 

since he will be traveling mainly in Gentile territory.

13:11-12 This is similar to Saul's own blindness and Jesus' rebuke of him: a condition that was 

temporary and symbolized something spiritual.

mist = medical term for cloudiness in eye caused by an inflammation.

Sir William Ramsay found an inscription in 1912 indicating that Sergius' daughter was a Christian.

 

13:13-14 Why Perga? It has been assumed that perhaps there was a Jewish colony there, but no 

remains have been found at the site. Recently, Jewish inscriptions from neighboring cities indicate that 

Perga did have a thriving community. Also see Galatians 4:13: “You know that it was because of a 

physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you.”

 

13:15 The Sermon may have been a midrash, or commentary, on the haftorah reading in the 

synagogue-2 Samuel 7 since there are six references in the sermon to that chapter. It may seem unusual 

that a Christian like Paul is being asked to speak words of encouragement. However, it was a standard 

practice in a synagogue to hear from a prominent visitor (Jesus did the same thing). Paul was treated as 

a visiting rabbi, not a Christian.

 

13:16-41 This is the most complete sermon of Paul's recorded.

Paul's early career from persecutor of church through his first missionary journey is roughly bracketed by two speeches: that of Stephen in Acts 6-7 and Paul's speech at Antioch of Pisidia in Acts 13. The similarity between the two speeches indicates that Paul was paying attention to Stephen. This is a valuable lesson to today's teachers who may doubt whether any of their words are really getting through to their audience. Both speeches were given to mainly Jewish audiences, rehearsed Jewish history from the very start, and demonstrated identity with their audiences by using phrases like “our ancestor.” There is also a similarity in the literary structure of both (see below). The main difference is that Paul is conciliatory and positive in his message while Stephen is wholly negative. This, of course, fits in with Paul's wish to be all things to all people in order to win some.

1. Jews dispute with Stephen--full of grace and power (6:8-10)

2. Accusations against Stephen (6:9-12)

3. Comments regarding the temple (6:13-7:1)

4. Prophecies--Egyptian bondage and Promised Land (7:2-8)

5. People led into Egypt (7:9-16)

6. Ill-treatment in Egypt; Moses as deliverer (7:17-29)

7. Theophany (7:30-33)

6'. Ill-treatment in Egypt: Moses as deliverer (7:34-35)

5'. People led out of Egypt (7:36)

4'. Prophecies--The Prophet and Babylonian exile (7:37-43)

3'. Comments regarding the tabernacle and the temple (7:44-50)

2'. Accusations against the Jews by Stephen (7:51-53)

1'. Jews stone Stephen--full of the Holy Spirit (7:54-60)

1. Officials ask Paul to speak (13:15)

        2. God's work of salvation throughout Israel's history (13:16-25)

“Listen! You Israelites”...”our ancestors”

                3. The good news of the resurrection (13:26-37)

                “My brothers, you descendents of Abraham”

                    a. Jesus died but was raised (13:26-33a)

                        b. Psalms quotation (13:33b)

                            c. Isaiah quotation (13:34)

                        b'. Psalms quotation (13:35)

                    a'. Jesus died but was raised (13:36-37)

        2'. God's work of salvation today (13:38-41)

    “My brothers”...”Beware!...you scoffers”

1'. Conclusion: The people ask Paul to speak again (13:42)

What are some of the points in Paul's sermon that could be used in an evangelistic address today?

Compare his speech with the content of Prosperity Gospel preachers.

13:21 Paul was also a Saul of the tribe of Benjamin. 40 years--Josephus only

13:34-42 This starts with God's promise to David in II Samuel 7 to found an everlasting kingdom and 

covenant. Then Isaiah 55:3 extends this blessing to all the people of Israel (quoted in these verses). 

Then Paul quotes from Psalms 16, which appears to say that David will never suffer corruption. But 

David did die, so Paul says this applies to David's descendant Jesus instead.

13:44-45 There are two types of jealousy: 1. of Paul's effect or 2. of grace of God reaching others (see Romans 10:19 and 11:11) In what ways do we react like the jealous Jews in these passages?

13:50 Gentile women in Asia had much more influence than in Greece or Rome. Many god-fearing woman were attracted to Judaism because of its high moral values.

13:8-18 Compare Paul and Barnabas' response to that of Herod in Acts12.