Acts · Literal Standard Version
Acts 13 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And there were certain in Antioch, in the assembly there, prophets and teachers: both Barnabas, and Simeon who is called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also—Herod the tetrarch’s foster-brother—and Saul;
1 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 and in their ministering to the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate to Me both Barnabas and Saul to the work to which I have called them,”
2 As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
3 then having fasted, and having prayed, and having laid the hands on them, they sent [them] away.
3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 These, indeed, then, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus,
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 and having come to Salamis, they declared the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they also had John [as] a servant;
5 When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their attendant.
6 and having gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain magus, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name [is] Bar-Jesus;
6 When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar Jesus,
7 who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man; this one having called for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God,
7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
8 and there withstood them Elymas the magus—for so is his name interpreted—seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 And Saul—who also [is] Paul—having been filled with the Holy Spirit, and having looked steadfastly on him,
9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him
10 said, “O full of all guile, and all recklessness, son of a devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the LORD?
10 and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, a hand of the LORD [is] on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season”; and instantly there fell on him a mist and darkness, and he, going around, was seeking some to lead [him] by the hand;
11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 then the proconsul having seen what has come to pass, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the LORD.
12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13 And those around Paul having set sail from Paphos, came to Perga of Pamphylia, and John having departed from them, turned back to Jerusalem,
13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
14 and they having gone through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia, and having gone into the synagogue on the day of the Sabbaths, they sat down,
14 But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
15 and after the reading of the Law and of the Prophets, the chief men of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if there be a word in you of exhortation to the people—say on.”
15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
16 And Paul having risen, and having beckoned with the hand, said, “Men, Israelites, and those fearing God, listen:
16 Paul stood up, and gesturing with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.
17 the God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and He exalted the people in their sojourning in the land of Egypt, and He brought them out of it with a high arm;
17 The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.
18 and about a period of forty years He endured their conduct in the wilderness,
18 For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
19 and having destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land to them by lot.
19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance for about four hundred fifty years.
20 And after these things, about four hundred and fifty years, He gave judges—until Samuel the prophet;
20 After these things, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21 and thereafter they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul, son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years;
21 Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22 and having removed him, He raised up to them David for king, to whom also having testified, He said, I found David, the [son] of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will.
22 When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
23 Of this one’s seed, God, according to promise, raised to Israel a Savior—Jesus,
23 From this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise,
24 John having first preached, before His coming, an immersion of conversion to all the people of Israel;
24 before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel.
25 and as John was fulfilling the course, he said, Whom do you suppose I am? I am not [He], but behold, He comes after me, of whom I am not worthy to loose the sandal of [His] feet.
25 As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
26 Men, brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and those among you fearing God, to you was the word of this salvation sent,
26 “Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
27 for those dwelling in Jerusalem, and their chiefs, having not known this One, also the voices of the Prophets, which are being read every Sabbath—having judged [Him]—fulfilled,
27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
28 and having found no cause of death, they asked of Pilate that He should be slain,
28 Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.
29 and when they fulfilled all the things written about Him, having taken [Him] down from the tree, they laid Him in a tomb;
29 When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
30 and God raised Him out of the dead,
30 But God raised him from the dead,
31 and He was seen for many days of those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
31 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.
32 And we proclaim good news to you—that the promise made to the fathers,
32 We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,
33 God has completed this in full to us their children, having raised up Jesus, as also in the second Psalm it has been written: You are My Son—I have begotten You today.
33 that God has fulfilled this to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’
34 And that He raised Him up out of the dead, to no longer return to corruption, He has said this: I will give to You the holy [blessings] of David [that are] faithful;
34 “Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 for what reason He also says in another [place]: You will not give Your Holy One to see corruption;
35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
36 for David, indeed, having served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was added to his fathers, and saw corruption,
36 For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
37 but He whom God raised up, did not see corruption.
37 But he whom God raised up saw no decay.
38 Let it therefore be known to you, men, brothers, that the forgiveness of sins is declared to you through this One,
38 Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins;
39 and from all things in the Law of Moses from which you were not able to be declared righteous, everyone who is believing in this One is declared righteous;
39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 see, therefore, it may not come on you that has been spoken in the Prophets:
40 Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
41 See, you despisers, and wonder, and perish, because I work a work in your days, a work in which you may not believe, though anyone may declare [it] to you.”
41 ‘Behold, you scoffers! Wonder and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”
42 And having gone forth out of the synagogue of the Jews, the nations were calling on [them] that on the next Sabbath these sayings may be spoken to them,
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
43 and the synagogue having been dismissed, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were persuading them to remain in the grace of God.
43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And on the coming Sabbath, almost all the city was gathered together to hear the word of God,
44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
45 and the Jews having seen the multitudes, were filled with zeal, and contradicted the things spoken by Paul—contradicting and slandering.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
46 And speaking boldly, Paul and Barnabas said, “It was necessary that the word of God be first spoken to you, and seeing you thrust it away, and do not judge yourselves worthy of the continuous life, behold, we turn to the nations;
46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 for so the LORD has commanded us: I have set you for a light of nations—for your being for salvation to the end of the earth.”
47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”
48 And the nations hearing were glad, and were glorifying the word of the LORD, and believed—as many as were appointed to continuous life;
48 As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
49 and the word of the LORD was spread abroad through all the region.
49 The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region.
50 And the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the first men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and put them out from their borders;
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
51 and having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, they came to Iconium,
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
52 and the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
52 The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Bar-Jesus
A Jewish sorcerer at Paphos, also called Elymas, who opposed Barnabas and Saul and was struck blind.
Cited in the guide: Acts 13:6; Acts 13:8
Lucius
A man from Cyrene listed among the prophets and teachers at Antioch.
Cited in the guide: Acts 13:1
Manaen
A prophet and teacher at Antioch who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch.
Cited in the guide: Acts 13:1
Paul
Formerly Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee who persecuted the church until the risen Jesus met him on the road to Damascus; he became the apostle to the Gentiles and wrote many of the…
Cited in the guide: Acts 7:58; Acts 9:1; Acts 13:9
Sergius Paulus
An intelligent proconsul at Paphos who sought to hear the word of God and believed after Elymas was blinded.
Cited in the guide: Acts 13:7
Simeon
Called Niger, one of the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch when the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul.
Cited in the guide: Acts 13:1
Places
Antioch (Syrian)
The empire's third-largest city and the first major Gentile church — the launching base for Paul's journeys. (Distinct from Pisidian Antioch.)
Cited in the guide: Acts 11:26; Acts 13:1-3; Galatians 2:11
Iconium
Paphos (Cyprus)
Cross references (52)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 4:36; Acts 15:35; Acts 11:22–27; Galatians 2:9; Acts 13:9
- 2 Galatians 1:15; Acts 9:15; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Romans 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:11
- 3 Acts 6:6; Acts 14:26; 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14
- 4 Acts 4:36; Acts 13:2; Acts 11:19; Acts 20:23; Acts 27:4
- 5 Acts 13:14; Acts 13:46; Acts 9:20; Acts 17:17; Acts 12:12
- 6 Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1; Mark 10:46; 2 Corinthians 11:13; Exodus 22:18
- 7 Acts 13:12; Acts 19:38; Acts 18:12; Proverbs 18:15; Acts 13:8
- 8 2 Timothy 3:8; 2 Timothy 4:14–15; Acts 13:6–7; Acts 13:12; Acts 9:36
- 9 Micah 3:8; Acts 4:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 7:55; Mark 3:5
- 10 John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Matthew 13:38; Galatians 1:7; Hosea 14:9
- 11 Exodus 9:3; Psalm 32:4; 1 Samuel 5:11; Hebrews 10:31; Job 19:21
- 12 2 Corinthians 10:4–5; Acts 13:7; Luke 4:22; Acts 13:49; Acts 19:7
- 13 Acts 15:38; Acts 13:5–6; Acts 12:12; Acts 2:10; Acts 27:5
- 14 Acts 16:13; Acts 17:2; Acts 14:19; Acts 13:5; Acts 18:4
- 15 Hebrews 13:22; Acts 15:21; Mark 5:22; Romans 12:8; Luke 4:16–18
- 16 Acts 12:17; Acts 13:26; Acts 10:2; Psalm 49:1–3; Psalm 67:7
- 17 Deuteronomy 7:6–8; Isaiah 63:9–14; 1 Peter 2:9; Micah 6:4; Psalm 135:4
- 18 Acts 7:36; Numbers 14:22; Exodus 16:2; Numbers 14:33–34; Deuteronomy 9:21–24
- 19 Deuteronomy 7:1; Psalm 78:55; Acts 7:45; Joshua 19:51; Joshua 14:1
- 20 Judges 2:16; 1 Samuel 3:20; Ruth 1:1; 1 Samuel 12:11; Judges 3:10
- 21 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 15:1; 1 Samuel 10:21–26; 1 Samuel 11:15; 1 Samuel 8:5–9:2
- 22 1 Samuel 13:13–14; 1 Kings 15:5; 1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 78:70–72; 1 Samuel 16:1
- 23 Matthew 1:1; Psalm 132:11; Revelation 22:16; Jude 25; Titus 3:3–6
- 24 Acts 1:22; Matthew 3:1–11; Acts 19:3–4; Mark 1:2–8; Luke 3:2–20
- 25 Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; John 1:26–27; John 1:20–23; Acts 20:24
- 26 Luke 1:69; Luke 1:77; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 1:16; Isaiah 46:13
- 27 Acts 3:17; Romans 11:25; Acts 15:21; Luke 24:20; Acts 26:22–23
- 28 Luke 23:21–25; Matthew 27:22–25; John 19:4; Luke 23:14–16; John 18:38
- 29 Luke 23:53; John 19:30; John 19:28; Mark 15:45–46; Matthew 27:57–60
- 30 Acts 2:24; Acts 17:31; Matthew 28:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30–31
- 31 Luke 24:48; Acts 1:3; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 15:5–7; Matthew 28:16
- 32 Romans 4:13; Acts 26:6; Ezekiel 34:23; Romans 9:4; Jeremiah 23:5
- 33 Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 5:5; Hebrews 1:5–6
- 34 Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 89:2–4; Romans 6:9; Psalm 89:19–37; Ezekiel 34:23–24
- 35 Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27–31; Acts 13:36–37; John 8:51; Luke 2:26
- 36 Acts 2:29; 1 Kings 2:10; 2 Samuel 7:12; Acts 13:22; 1 Chronicles 18:14
- 37 Acts 13:30; Acts 2:24
- 38 Luke 24:47; 1 John 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21; Colossians 1:14; Acts 5:31
- 39 Galatians 2:16; Romans 10:4; Hebrews 7:19; Romans 8:3; Romans 10:10
- 40 Malachi 4:1; Habakkuk 1:5; Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 12:25; Malachi 3:2
- 41 Habakkuk 1:5; 1 Peter 4:17; Romans 11:7–14; Isaiah 28:14–22; Colossians 1:26–27
- 42 Acts 28:28; Matthew 19:30; Ezekiel 3:6; Matthew 11:21; Acts 10:33
- 43 Acts 11:23; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 12:15; Hebrews 13:9; 2 John 9
- 44 Isaiah 11:10; Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 60:8; Psalm 110:3
- 45 Jude 10; Acts 18:6; Acts 19:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:16; Acts 5:17
- 46 Acts 28:28; Matthew 21:43; Acts 18:5–6; Acts 26:20; Acts 3:26
- 47 Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 42:6; Luke 2:32; Isaiah 45:22; Zechariah 8:20–23
- 48 Romans 8:29–30; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 11:7; John 10:26–27; John 10:16
- 49 Acts 12:24; Philippians 1:13–14; Acts 19:10; Acts 19:26; Acts 9:42
- 50 Acts 14:2; Acts 13:45; Acts 14:19; Acts 17:13; Acts 21:27
- 51 Matthew 10:14; Luke 9:5; Acts 18:6; Mark 6:11; Acts 14:21
- 52 Romans 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Acts 4:31; Romans 5:3; Galatians 5:22
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
As soon as they were ordained they went forth, and hasted to Cyprus, that being a place where was no ill-design hatching against them, and where moreover the Word had been sown already. In Antioch there were (teachers) enough, and Phoenice too was near to Palestine; but Cyprus not so.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
For to the enemies of Christ who are reproached with this, that Christ hath left them, turning to the Gentiles, this speech is incongruously assigned, "Remember, Lord, the reproach of Thy servants," for such Jews are not to be styled the servants of God; but these words fit those who, if they suffered great humiliations through persecution for the name …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Wherefore also God said, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart." Such a spirit as this let us too acquire, and whatever we may suffer we shall bear it easily, and before the Kingdom, we shall reap here the gain accruing from lowliness of mind.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Ezekiel also speaks thus, The Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and said unto me, Thus saith the Lord. And again, The Holy Ghost said, unto the Apostles who were in Antioch, Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
"Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Does a slave speak thus?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)