Acts 13 Acts 13:1–5 Barnabas and Saul, being set apart with fasting and prayer, are sent forth by the Holy Ghost to the work of their calling. Acts 13:6–12 At Paphos, Elymas the sorcerer, opposing the Gospel, is smitten with blindness, and the deputy Sergius Paulus converted to the faith.

The church that was at Antioch; the true church, which hath a being, and whose Builder and Maker is God. Other churches (as that of the circumcision) are no churches or congregations of the faithful.

Ministered; the word importeth the exercise of any public office, sacred or civil. But in the former verse mentions being made of prophets and teachers, these words are in sense too conjoined with them; and inform us, that they were preaching to and instructing of the people, (for there is no…

When they had fasted and prayed; a good preparation to enter into any business with, whereby they acknowledged that all success must come from God. Our blessed Saviour himself would not enter upon his ministry till he had fasted forty days, Matt. 4:2, compared with Matt. 4:17.

Seleucia; a sea town of Cilicia, nigh unto Antioch, and over against Cyprus, built by Seleucus, and was a town of some note, but mentioned here only as in their passage to Cyprus.

Salamis; the chief city of Cyprus, now called Famagusta, situate on the east side of the island, over against Syria. They preached, here and elsewhere, in the synagogues, either because they found no other such convenient places to preach in; (these being large structures, and many resorting to…

Unto Paphos; this city was on the west end of Cyprus, so that going from Salamis they went through the island: this place was famous for the worshipping of Venus.

The deputy of the country; whether he was pro-consul or proprietor, it is in effect the same; for he it was that governed the island. Desired to hear the word of God; this desire was extraordinary, and wrought by God, in order to the fitting him for the further mercy of his conversion and…

Elymas; this is another name of him that was called Bar-jesus, which was not unusual, as Simon Bar-jona, Matt. 16:17. This Elymas may be taken appellatively, and signifies the magician or sorcerer; but being it was a proper name unto others we read of, it may be so here.

It is observable, that St. Luke never before called this great apostle by the name of Paul, and henceforth never calls him by the name of Saul. Though there be no great difference in these names, Saul might be more acceptable to the Jews, amongst whom hitherto he had conversed; and Paul a more…

Mischief; radiourgia signifies a facility or readiness in doing mischief, and that such who are given to sorcery are easily drawn to commit any kind of sin whatsoever.

The hand of the Lord is put for any powerful action of God, whether in mercy or judgment: here it is put for the Divine power wherewith God strikes his enemies. God did in judgment remember mercy, inflicting this blindness only for a season, that it might be rather a medicine than a punishment.

The gospel which Paul preached; finding in it (though a wise man) depths beyond his fathoming; and all accompanied with such a power in doing of miracles, and changing of hearts and lives, as might well amaze so prudent and considering a man.

Perga, a city in Pamphylia: not that there were any other cities of that name; but because this region was more commonly known, it being a country in the Lesser Asia, bordering on Cilicia. The departure of John (of whom before, Acts 13:5, Acts 12:25) was blameworthy, as Acts 15:38.

Antioch in Pisidia; so called to distinguish it from the other Antioch, mentioned in Acts 13:1, which was a city in Syria, as this in Pisidia, next to, or part of, Pamphylia.

The reading of the law was commanded by Moses; and they say that Ezra commanded the reading of the prophets also in their synagogues, which was used, as we may see in Acts 13:27; and so divided into several sections, that once a year they might be all read over.

Beckoning with his hand, to procure silence and attention, as Acts 12:17. And ye that fear God; besides the native Jews, the proselytes, and such out of all nations who left the idolatry of the Gentiles, and served the only true God, met together in the worship of God; these were the σεβομενοι,…

The God of this people of Israel; God was the God of Israel after a peculiar manner. Chose our fathers; having chosen them before all nations, to make him known unto them, to be served and worshipped by them.

This is recorded, Ps. 95:10, and remembered by the apostle, Heb. 3:8–9, and to be admired through all ages, that God should be so patient, or a people could be so perverse.

These seven nations are mentioned, Josh. 3:10. He divided their land to them by lot; the lot being disposed only as God would, Prov. 16:33. And it was but reasonable that God, having miraculously got this land, (for the Israelites did rather go to take possession of it than to fight for it), and…

These judges were persons deputed by God to govern and deliver that people; their commission was attested usually by some extraordinary thing done by them, and their power (as being mediately from God) was absolute. The computation of years here mentioned hath been very much controverted.

Their great sin in desiring a king was, because by that desire they rejected God, who had at that very time a prophet (Samuel) by whom he governed them, 1 Sam. 8:7, 1 Sam. 10:19.

He had removed him; God had taken Saul away by death; for he would not suffer David to hasten it. After mine own heart; favoured or beloved by me, and obedient to me; my servant, as God speaks of him, Ps. 89:20.

Christ was the Son of David, and so frequently called, Matt. 1:1, Luke 18:38–39, with reference unto the promise made, Isa. 11:1, spoken of, Acts 2:30, Rom. 1:3. Raised unto Israel a Saviour; because he lived amongst the Jews, and salvation was first offered unto them by him, as Acts 13:46.

John the Baptist did not speak of Christ’s coming, as the other apostles had done, as of a thing a great way off, or at a distance of time; but he spake of it as of a present matter, before his and their faces, and in their view; Behold the Lamb of God! John 1:29, John 1:36.

Fulfilled his course; the course of his ministry, or of his life: in respect of either, he ran as one in a race. I am not he; that is, the Messias, which they were in such expectation of, and so inquisitive about.

Men and brethren; he speaks to the Jews according as the manner was amongst them; to the Jews he became as a Jew. Whosoever among you feareth God; some think the devout Pisidians, or men of that country, are here meant; but rather it may insinuate the apostle’s hope concerning these Jews, that they…

They; the common people, and their rulers; great council, both had a hand in our Saviour’s death. But if so great a fault was capable of any alleviation, the apostle gladly mentions it.

Though they found no cause of death in him; he was a Lamb without blemish; neither had he offended the rabble that was so slanderous against him, unless by such vast goodness and kindness towards them he branded them for ingratitude. Yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain, Matt. 27:22.

All that was written of him; as the giving him vinegar to drink, piercing his side, &c, Ps. 69:21;John 19:28–30. From the tree: see Acts 5:30. They laid him in a sepulchre; Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, Matt. 27:60, John 19:39.

Lest they should be offended at our Saviour’s dying so shameful and cursed a death, and to take away the scandal of the cross, he shows, that his resurrection was as glorious as his death could be ignominious, being by it declared to be the Son of God with power, Rom. 1:4.

Seen many days; forty days between his resurrection and ascension, Acts 1:3. Christ was seen, not only by the apostles, but of the Galilean women which came up with him unto Jerusalem, Matt. 28:1, and by above five hundred at once, 1 Cor.

Glad tidings; or the gospel, which is nothing else but the glad tidings of our salvation from sin and hell. The promise which was made unto the fathers; this promise was frequently made and renewed to their ancestors, and typified by many deliverances, especially from Egypt and Babylon.

Raised up Jesus again; some refer these words to the incarnation, others to the resurrection, of our Saviour: our translators lay the stress upon the preposition, with which the verb is compounded, and by adding again, intend it to be understood of the resurrection; and there is ground for it in…

The former verse was not intended so much by St. Paul for a proof of the resurrection, as it was to show how faithful God was in fulfilling that promise there spoken of; here the apostle’s design is, to evince Christ’s resurrection, and that it was agreeable to the prophesies which were concerning…

These words are quoted out of Ps. 16:10–11, Acts 2:27.

Some point these words otherwise, reading them thus; David, after he had served his generation, by the will of God fell asleep: which contains indeed a truth, viz.

God raised again; that is, on the third day, according to the gospel. Saw no corruption; was not under the power of death so long as to be preyed upon so far by it.

Men and brethren; the usual compellation given in these cases. This man; having spoken concerning Christ’s resurrection, which only can be meant of him in his human nature, here, according unto that nature, the apostle calls him man. The forgiveness of sins; as in Acts 10:43.

Are justified; it is a forensic word, opposed to condemned; all that believe in Christ with the heart, by his merit and mediation shall be absolved, and shall not come into condemnation: and thus this agrees with the former words, and shows us whence remission of sins is to be had.

Hab. 1:5. He cautions these Jews, lest the same thing threatened by the prophet to their fathers come also upon them; for sin is as odious unto God as ever, and God is as jealous of his honour, which sin robs him of, as ever he was.

These words are cited from that place in Habakkuk, according to the reading of the Septuagint, St. Paul not being willing to alter the words, the Jews that were dispersed being so, used to that translation, especially the sense being the same with the original Hebrew.

When the Jews were gone out of the synagogue; or, as some read, the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, were gone out of the synagogue of the Jews. The Gentiles; proselytes, or such devout persons formerly spoken of, who had relinquished paganism, and came to be instructed in the knowledge of the true God…

The congregation was broken up; the congregation was dissolved, by the offence the Jews generally had taken at the doctrine of the apostles. Religious proselytes; these proselytes were so called, from their coming over from paganism to own the true God: see Acts 2:10.

The citizens generally resorted thither. To hear the word of God; some out of curiosity, some to cavil at it, though some also out of love to it; here was doubtless a mixed congregation.

The Jews could not endure that the Gentiles should be equalled to them, being as much concerned against the Gentiles being exalted, as against their own being depressed. Envy, as a vicious humour, made them disrelish the wholesomest and most saving truths.

Waxed bold; being nothing aftrighted with the reproaches and blasphemies they met with, which but increased their zeal, as a little water does the fire in the smith’s forge. It was necessary; there was a necessity that the Word of God should be first preached to the Jews: 1.

Because that prophecy must be fulfilled which we find, Isa. 49:6, the apostle infers aright, that they were commanded to publish Christ unto the Gentiles; for how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Rom. 10:14.

When the Gentiles heard this they were glad; there can be no true rest or peace in any to whom Christ is not manifested; the apostle telling us, that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 5:1; and the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

The word of the Lord, concerning salvation to be found only by Christ, and the Gentiles to be admitted to partake of that salvation. Was published throughout all the region; like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened, Matt. 13:33.

The devout; sebomenoi, as was said of the men, such as had relinquished the idolatry of their country and ancestors, and acknowledged the true God, the Maker of heaven and earth.

This was according to our Saviour’s command, Matt. 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5, so often is it mentioned, and so considerable a matter it is for us to know, and dread the punishment appointed for such as refuse the gospel, and contemn the salvation offered by it.

The disciples; either Paul and Barnabas in a more especial manner, or, also such as at Perga had believed the gospel, and came with them to Antioch, were filled with joy, so as no place was left for meaner contentments: 1. By reason of the pardon of their sins. 2.