131 Now there were at Antioch , in the church that was there, prophets and teachers : Barnabas , and Simeon who was called Niger , and Lucius of Cyrene , and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch , and Saul . 2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting , the Holy Spirit said , "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then , when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away .
4 So , being sent out by the Holy Spirit , they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus . 5 When they reached Salamis , they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews ; and they also had John as their helper . 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos , they found a magician , a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus , 7 who was with the proconsul , Sergius Paulus , a man of intelligence . This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God . 8 But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated ) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith . 9 But Saul , who was also known as Paul , filled with the Holy Spirit , fixed his gaze on him, 10 and said , "You who are full of all deceit and fraud , you son of the devil , you enemy of all righteousness , will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord ? 11 "Now , behold , the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time ." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand . 12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened , being amazed at the teaching of the Lord .
13 Now Paul and his companions e put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia ; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem .
14 But going on from Perga , they arrived at Pisidian Antioch , and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down . 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying , "Brethren e , if you have any word of exhortation for the people , say it." 16 Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said , "Men of Israel , and you who fear God , listen : 17 "The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt , and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18 "For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness . 19 " When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan , He distributed their land as an inheritance -all of which took about four hundred and fifty years . 20 "After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet . 21 "Then they asked for a king , and God gave them Saul the son of Kish , a man of the tribe of Benjamin , for forty years .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 13:1-21
Commentary on Acts 13:1-3
(Read Acts 13:1-3)
What an assemblage was here! In these names we see that the Lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life; and zeal for his glory induces men to give up flattering connexions and prospects to promote his cause. It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father. They are separated to take pains, and not to take state. A blessing upon Barnabas and Saul in their present undertaking was sought for, and that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost in their work. Whatever means are used, or rules observed, the Holy Ghost alone can fit ministers for their important work, and call them to it.
Commentary on Acts 13:4-13
(Read Acts 13:4-13)
Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many. Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elymas his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit and mischief together, make a man indeed a child of the devil. And those who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. There are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set others against these ways. They commonly are so hardened, that they will not cease to do evil. The proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ astonishes; and the more we know of it, the more reason we shall see to wonder at it. Those who put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdom of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endure hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.
Commentary on Acts 13:14-31
(Read Acts 13:14-31)
When we come together to worship God, we must do it, not only by prayer and praise, but by the reading and hearing of the word of God. The bare reading of the Scriptures in public assemblies is not enough; they should be expounded, and the people exhorted out of them. This is helping people in doing that which is necessary to make the word profitable, to apply it to themselves. Every thing is touched upon in this sermon, which might best prevail with Jews to receive and embrace Christ as the promised Messiah. And every view, however short or faint, of the Lord's dealings with his church, reminds us of his mercy and long-suffering, and of man's ingratitude and perverseness. Paul passes from David to the Son of David, and shows that this Jesus is his promised Seed; a Saviour to do that for them, which the judges of old could not do, to save them from their sins, their worst enemies. When the apostles preached Christ as the Saviour, they were so far from concealing his death, that they always preached Christ crucified. Our complete separation from sin, is represented by our being buried with Christ. But he rose again from the dead, and saw no corruption: this was the great truth to be preached.