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÷÷ACTS 13

ACTS 13

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO ACTS 13

1. Chapters 13 and 14 are an account of Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey. The rest of the book of Acts will be given over to Paul's ministry.
   
   
2. It would be very helpful to turn to the map in the back of your Bible or atlas and follow the geographical locations mentioned in Acts 13 and 14.
   
   
3. There is an obvious transition in Acts 13 and 14 from the leadership of Barnabas to the leadership of Paul.
   
   
4. Notice the series of OT quotes (much like Stephen's sermon)
   1. v. 33 ‒ Ps. 2:7
   2. v. 34 ‒ Isa. 55:3
   3. v. 35 ‒ Ps. 16:10
   4. v. 41 ‒ Hab. 1:5
   5. v. 47 ‒ Isa. 49:6

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷ACTS 13:1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:1-3
 ¹Now 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. ²While 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." ³Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

13:1 "Antioch" This refers to Antioch of Syria, the third largest city in the Roman Empire. See note at Acts 11:19.

▣ "the church" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (ekklēsia)

▣ "prophets and teachers" These two gifts of the Spirit are listed in 1 Cor. 12:28 and Eph. 4:11. The grammatical construction is such that it is uncertain whether the five men listed were both prophets and teachers or if the first three are prophets and the last two are teachers.

The problem with this term is, "How is the NT gift of prophecy related to OT prophets?" In the OT prophets are writers of Scripture. In the NT this task is given to the original twelve Apostles and their helpers. As the term "apostle" is retained as an ongoing gift (cf. Eph. 4:11), but with a changed task after the death of the Twelve, so too, is the office of prophet. Inspiration has ceased; there is no further inspired Scripture. New Testament prophets' primary task is proclamation of the gospel, but also a different task, possibly how to apply NT truths to current situations and needs.

The gift of teacher is mentioned in Acts 13:1 in combination with prophecy, but in Eph. 4:11 it is linked with pastors. In 2 Tim. 1:11 Paul says he is a preacher, apostle, and a teacher. Here it seems to stand independently, as it does in Rom. 12:7. It is also discussed separately in James 3:1ff. This implies that these leadership gifts can be combined in different ways in different believers to meet the need of the church in that day or area. Each of these gifted leaders (cf. Eph. 4:11) proclaimed the gospel, but in different ways (ordering, preaching, instructing).

SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (NT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION

SPECIAL TOPIC: ILLUMINATION

▣ "Barnabas" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BARNABAS

▣ "Simeon who was called Niger" The term niger is Latin for dark or black. Some commentators try to relate this Simon to Mark 15:21 who was from Africa and who was forced by the Roman guards to carry Jesus' cross.

▣ "Lucius of Cyrene" Possibly this is one of the Hellenistic Jews that preached to the Gentiles in Antioch (cf. Acts 11:20). He is probably not the Lucius mentioned in Rom. 16:21.

▣ "Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch" Manaen is a Greek form of the Hebrew Manahem, which means "comforter." This man was either a foster brother (Greek literature) of Herod Antipas (see Introduction to Acts 12) or he grew up with him (Koine papyri). Luke probably got much of his information about Herod Antipas (the Tetrarch) from conversations with this man.

This is the Greek term leitourgia (a compound from "public" and "work") from which we get the English term "liturgy." Originally it referred to someone who did public service at their own expense. In this context it implies a period of seeking God's will during a worship service. The VERB could refer to the entire church or just the five men listed.

▣ "had fasted" In the OT there is only one fast day a year, the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16. However, during the first century, rabbinical Judaism had developed two fasts a week. Although fasting is not required of believers, many times it is helpful in discerning God's will (cf. Acts 14:23).

SPECIAL TOPIC: FASTING

▣ "the Holy spirit said" This is another biblical evidence for the personality of the Holy Spirit (i.e., "For Me". . ."that I called them"). Whether it was audible or intuitive is uncertain ("said," cf. Acts 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 20:23; 21:11). It is obvious that this was a very specific message (cf. Acts 16:6-7), probably given through one of the prophets.

SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT

▣ "Set apart" This is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. The term aphorizō has the same connotation as "holy" (hagiazō). It implies set apart and equipped for an assigned divine task (cf. Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:15).

▣ After "set apart" in the Greek text is the PARTICLE dē which denotes intensity (cf. Luke 2:15; 1 Cor. 6:20). It gives an earnestness to the Spirit's call. There is a parallel in Paul's statement of Acts 15:36.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY

SPECIAL TOPIC: ORDINATION

▣ "the work to which I have called them" This is a PERFECT MIDDLE (deponent) INDICATIVE. It is the Spirit who calls and equips for ministry tasks (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7,11).

13:3 The verse has three AORIST PARTICIPLES describing the spiritual preparations to send out the first missionaries from the church at Antioch.

1. fasted ( SPECIAL TOPIC: FASTING)
2. prayed ( SPECIAL TOPIC: EFFECTIVE PRAYER)
3. laid hands on them ( SPECIAL TOPIC: LAYING ON OF HANDS)

This seems to be the united actions of the whole congregation, not just the other prophets and teachers. The whole church should be involved in Great Commission activities!

▣ "laid their hands on them" This particular verse is one of the ambiguous texts on which our modern practice of ordination is based. However, it is inappropriate as a biblical foundation for our modern denominational practices. There are many physical examples of "laying on of hands" in the Bible.

1. in the OT for the purpose of
   1. sacrificial identification (cf. Lev. 1:4; 3:2; 4:4; 16:21)
   2. a blessing (cf. Gen. 48:13ff; Matt. 19:13,15)
   3. the commissioning of a successor (cf. Num. 27:23; Deut. 34:9)
2. In the NT the background is equally as varied
   1. for healing (cf. Luke 4:40; 13:13; Acts 9:17; 28:8)
   2. dedication or commissioning to a task (cf. Acts 6:6; 13:3)
   3. connected with receiving the Holy Spirit or spiritual gifts (cf. Acts 8:17; 19:6; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6)
   4. a reference to the basic teachings of Judaism or the church (cf. Heb. 6:2)

This laying on of hands was not an inaugurating experience. These men were already called, gifted, functioning leaders. It is not a new ministry they are called to, but an expansion of what they were already doing.

Ordination tends to encourage a distinction among believers. It gives credence to the clergy‒laity dichotomy. The Greek word cleros (to inherit by lot) and laos (Greek word for people), when used in the NT, always refers to the entire group of believers. All believers are called, gifted, full time ministers of the gospel (cf. Eph. 4:11-12). There is no biblical evidence for separating believers into hierarchal groups. All believers are gifted for ministry to the Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7, 11).

SPECIAL TOPIC: LAYING ON OF HANDS

SPECIAL TOPIC: ORDINATION

÷ACTS 13:4-12

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:4-12
 ⁴So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵When 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. ⁶When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, ⁷who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, ¹⁰and 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. ¹²Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

13:4 "being sent out by the Holy Spirit" This context does not assert the authority of the local church, but the authority of the Spirit. He is that part of the Trinity emphasized in Acts. The "new Messianic age" was known as "the Age of the Spirit." He calls, gifts, directs, convicts, and empowers (cf. John 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-15). No permanent or effective ministry can occur without His presence and blessing.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY

▣ "Seleucia" This was the port city of Antioch of Syria. It was about fifteen miles southwest. Its name goes back to Alexander the Great's general (Seleucid), who ruled this area after Alexander's death.

▣ "Cyprus" This was Barnabas' home (cf. Acts 4:36) where there was a large Jewish population. In the OT it is known as Kittim. This was not the first Christian witness on this island (cf. Acts 11:19-20).

13:5 "Salamis" This was the port city on the east coast of the island of Cyprus. It was the commercial center of the island.

▣ "they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogue" This phrase, "the word of God," refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The reason for this is obvious.

1. these Jews already knew the OT
2. Jews were the chosen people (cf. Gen. 12:1-3) and had the first opportunity to respond (cf. Acts 3:26; 13:46; 17:2; 18:4,19; 19:8; Rom. 1:16)
3. in the synagogue services were Gentiles who
   1. had already been attracted to the one true God (i.e., monotheism)
   2. knew the OT ("God-fearers")

This became Paul's regular missionary method wherever there was a synagogue.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

▣ "John" This refers to John Mark in whose home the disciples met (cf. Acts 12:12). He is also the traditional writer of the Gospel of Mark, which seems to record the eyewitness testimony of the Apostle Peter. He is also the cause of the great argument between Paul and Barnabas which split the missionary team (cf. Acts 15:36-41). However, later on Paul mentions John Mark in a positive way (cf. Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11 and Philemon 24).

SPECIAL TOPIC: JOHN MARK

13:6 "when they had gone through the whole island" This probably means that they stopped and preached in every synagogue on the island.

▣ "Paphos" This refers to new Paphos, in contradistinction from the older Phoenician city seven miles away. Both of these cities are named after the Phoenician goddess Paphian. This was the god of love also known as Aphrodite, Astarte, Venus, etc. This city was the official political capital of Cyprus.

▣ "Bar-Jesus" This man was a Jewish false prophet. His name means "son of Joshua." We learn from Acts 13:8 that he went by the designation "Elymas the magician." This term "magician" reflects the Greek equivalent of an Aramaic root that means "sorcerer" (cf. Acts 13:10). See note on the Hebrew equivalent in Deut. 18:10 online.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC

13:7 "the proconsul, Sergius Paulus" There has been much discussion about the historicity of Luke's accounts. Here is a good example of the accuracy of Luke the historian. He calls this man "a proconsul," which meant Cyprus was a Roman Senatorial province. We learn this occurred in A.D. 22 by decree from Augustus. We also learn from a Latin inscription at Soloi that Sergius Paulus began his proconsulship in A.D. 53. The more information archaeology discovers from the Mediterranean world of the first century, the more Luke's historical accuracy is corroborated.

For full note on "proconsul" see Acts 19:35.

This term is used with a wide variety of connotations.

1. In this context it implies he was able to rule effectively.
2. Also characterizing him in this way shows that the gospel not only impacted the poor and uneducated, but also the wealthy and educated (cf. Manaen 13:1).
3. He was interested in magic or spiritual issues (v. 7c).
4. It is also possible that one of Luke's intents of writing Acts was to show that the gospel did not threaten Roman rule.

13:8 "Elymas" It seems that this name is a Greek transliteration of

1. an Arabic term for a wise man (a sage, a diviner, one who can foresee and control the future by manipulating the unseen powers/forces of the unseen realm, AB, vol. 2, p. 487)
2. an Aramaic word for one who interprets dreams

▣ "magician" This is related to the term "magi," which meant Chaldean-Median wise men, like Daniel (cf. Dan. 2:2; 4:9; Matt. 2:1). However, by Paul's day, it was used of itinerant magicians and wandering quacks in the Greco-Roman world.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHALDEANS

SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC

▣ "(for thus his name is translated)" This seems to be an editorial comment by Luke to help his readers understand this term, which was not from a Greek root. Also note another one in v. 9 (NET Bible).

▣ "was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith" This was a major spiritual confrontation between the light of the gospel and the darkness of superstitious paganism. The radically new message about God and how He interacts with His world, directly challenged the pagan religions of the first century Mediterranean world.

▣ "the faith" This term is used in three specific ways in the NT:

1. personal trusting in Jesus Christ as a Savior
2. faithful, godly living (OT sense of faithfulness)
3. theological content of the gospel (i.e., doctrine, cf. Jude 3, 20, which has the DEFINITE ARTICLE, as it does here)

The same ambiguity is seen in Acts 6:7. Here it seems to refer to #3 because of the ARTICLE and the context. See note at Acts 3:16.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CANON (NT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, or TRUST

13:9 "Paul" Most Jews of Paul's day who lived outside Palestine had two first names, one Jewish, one Roman (cf. Acts 13:9). Paul's Jewish name was "Saul." He, like the ancient King of Israel, was of the tribe of Benjamin (cf. Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5). His Roman name in Greek form, "Paul" (Paulos), meant "little." This referred to

1. his physical stature which was alluded to in a second century non-canonical book, The Acts of Paul, in a chapter about Thessalonica called "Paul and Thekla"
2. his personal sense of being least of the saints because he originally persecuted the Church (cf. 1 Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8; 1 Tim. 1:15)
3. simply the name given by his parents at birth
4. "Saul" sounded similar to an effeminate word

Option #3 seems best.

▣ "Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit" The power of the Spirit that guided the early church is described by the term "the filling" (cf. Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9,52). This ongoing, daily filling of the Spirit is the normal state of all believers (cf. Eph. 5:18). In Acts it is usually associated with a boldness to proclaim the gospel. See full note at Acts 5:17 and SPECIAL TOPIC: FILLED

SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT (filling)

▣ "fixed his gaze" See fuller note at Acts 1:10.

13:10 Paul characterizes this Jewish false prophet by several phrases.

1. "full by deceit," meaning to entrap with a bait (this is the only use of this term in Luke's writings)
2. "full of all fraud," this is from the Greek word that means to do something lightly or frivolously, but it came to have an evil connotation (cf. Acts 18:14). This term is found only in Acts (cf. Acts 13:10; 18:14).
3. "son of the devil," this is a Semitic idiom (cf. Acts 3:25; 4:36) for one characterized by the actions of the devil (cf. Matt. 13:38; John 8:38,41,44
   SPECIAL TOPIC: DEVIL)
   SPECIAL TOPIC: SONS OF. . .
4. "enemy of all righteousness," This term is used several times in Luke's writings involving OT quotes (cf. Luke 1:71,74; 20:43; Acts 2:35). All that is like God, this man was against.
   SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS
5. Paul uses the inclusive term "all" three times to show this man's complete volitional wickedness

▣ "to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?" This question expects a "yes" answer. The word "right" or "straight" in the NT reflects the OT concept of righteousness, which meant a standard or measuring reed. The NT terms "crooked" or "perverted" reflect the OT terms for sin, which were a deviation from the standard, which is God Himself. This man made everything crooked (i.e., the opposite of righteousness). He was an enemy of the gospel.

SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS

▣ "the Lord" This use of kurios refers to YHWH (as does v. 11), who in the OT is regularly called adon.

SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (adon and kuiros)

13:11 "the hand of the Lord" This is a Semitic anthropomorphic phrase referring to the power and presence of YHWH (cf. Luke 1:66; Acts 11:21). In the OT it often refers to God's judgment (cf. Exod. 9:3; 1 Sam. 5:6; Job 19:21; 23:2; Ps. 32:4; 38:2; 39:10), as it does here.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

▣ "you will be blind" These powerful descriptive terms of evil and rebellion by which Paul characterizes this man and the form of his temporary divine punishment may reflect Paul's own previous life. He looks back now and sees himself in this Jewish false teacher and his manipulation (cf. Acts 9:8).

Blindness is often used in a parabolic sense of a lack of spiritual receptivity (cf. John 9; Acts 9; also note Deut. 28:28-29).

▣ "a mist" This is a known medical term (i.e., Galen).

13:12 "believed when he saw what happened" This is the same Greek word (pisteuō, the NOUN can be translated as "believe," "faith," or "trust") used throughout the NT for genuine belief. This governor responded to the gospel message. One man's eyes were closed (literally); one man's eyes were opened (metaphorically). This is the mystery of belief and unbelief (cf. John 9). See additional note at Acts 16:14.

It is this theological issue that developes into the sovereignty vs. freewill debate. Why do some humans who hear the gospel respond positively and some negatively? There have been many theories through the centuries of church history.

1. the fall of mankind blinds some to the truth of the gospel (human responsibility, Isa. 6:9-10)
2. Satan prevents some from understanding the gospel (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4; Matt. 13:4,19)
3. God enables "some" to understand and respond (Augustine, Calvin, i.e., John 6:37,44,65)

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD HARDENED

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, or TRUST

÷ACTS 13:13-16

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:13-16a
 ¹³Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it." ¹⁶Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said,

13:13 "Paul and his companions" Obviously the leadership has changed. From now on in the book of Acts Paul's name will be listed first.

▣ "Perga in Pamphylia" Perga was the largest city of the small Roman coastal province of Pamphylia (mid-southern Turkey). It was located several miles inland to discourage attacks by sea-faring raiders.

Apparently Paul did not preach here at this time, but did so later (cf. Acts 14:25). There is no historical evidence of a Christian group in this area for several hundred years. He merely passed through this coastal region.

▣ "John left them and returned to Jerusalem" Luke records this event, but gives no clue as to why (nor does any other NT author).

SPECIAL TOPIC: JOHN MARK

13:14 "Pisidian Antioch" This literally means "Antioch towards Pisidia" because it was located in the ethnic area of Phrygia the Roman Province of Galatia. This was a distinct ethnic group, probably from Europe.

▣ "on the Sabbath day" This would denote from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. The Jews counted time from evening to evening, following Genesis 1.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SABBATH

▣ "sat down" This may be an idiom denoting someone who was to speak in the synagogue. Rabbis always taught while seated (cf. Matt. 5:1; Luke 4:20). The synagogues regularly allowed itinerant visitors to speak if they wished (cf. Acts 13:15).

13:15 "the reading of the Law and the Prophets" This was the part of the typical order of service in a synagogue in Jesus' day. Originally only the Law of Moses was read, but Antiochus IV Epiphanes forbade this in 163 B.C. The Jews then substituted the reading of the Prophets. During the Maccabeen revolt, Judaism was restored and both the Law and the Prophets were continued to be read together as a basic format of weekly synagogue services (cf. Acts 13:27).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SYNAGOGUE SERVICE

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW CANON

▣ "the synagogue officials" These were the men in charge of building maintenance and the order of worship (cf. Luke 8:41,49). They often invited guests to speak.

▣ "if you have any word of exhortation" This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, assumed to be true from the perspective of the author of for his literary purposes. This was a normal aspect of synagogue worship. Paul took full advantage of the opportunity.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK GRAMMATICAL TERMS, VII

13:16 "Paul stood up" Usually Jewish teachers sit when they teach; however, it was the Greco-Roman custom to stand while teaching. Paul modified his manner and presentation to the audience.

▣ "motioning with his hand" Paul gestured for quiet. Luke mentions this eyewitness detail often (cf. Acts 12:17; 13:16; 19:33; 21:40).

÷ACTS 13:16-25

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:16b-25
 ¹⁶"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. ¹⁸For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. ¹⁹When 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. ²⁰After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. ²¹Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. ²²After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will." ²³From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, ²⁴after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'"

13:16b "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen" There were two groups present, Jews and Gentile "God-fearers" (cf. Acts 13:26; 10:2,22,35). This sermon is very similar to Stephen's sermon of Acts 7. In many ways Paul was deeply influenced by Stephen's understanding of the OT and the gospel. See Contextual Insights to Acts 7.

For "fear" see SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT)

13:17 Paul began his review of OT history with the call of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Genesis) and the captivity and deliverance from Egypt (Exodus-Deuteronomy).

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS

▣ "with an uplifted arm He led them out" This is typical OT imagery (cf. LXX Exod. 6;1,6; also note Ps. 136:10-22) of YHWH's power and presence in physical terms. It is similar to the anthropomorphic phrase, "His right arm." The Bible must speak of God in human vocabulary (i.e., anthropomorphism) even though He is an eternal, non-physical, all pervasive Spirit. These biblical analogies are the source of many misunderstandings and literal overstatements. The Bible must speak of God in analogy, metaphor, and negation. God is far greater than fallen, time-bound, earth-bound humans can comprehend or express!

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD

13:18 "For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness" This reflects Deut. 1:31 and could be translated "fed as a nurse" (cf. MSS A, C). This reflects the OT books of Exodus and Numbers.

The term "forty" is often a round number. Literally the time from Horeb to Shittim was thirty-eight years with a two year period at Horeb (Sinai).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #7

13:19 "destroyed seven nations" The nations of Palestine can be characterized in several ways.

1. collective terms
   1. Canaanite (i.e., lowlander, cf. Gen. 10:18-29; Jdgs. 1:1)
   2. Amorite (i.e., highlander, cf. Gen. 15:16)
2. two nations (Canaanites, Perizzites, cf. Gen. 13:7; 34:30; Jdgs. 1:4-5)
3. three nations (Hivites, Canaanites, Hittites, cf. Exod. 23:28)
4. six nations (Canaanite, Hittite, Amorite, Perizzite, Hivite, Jebusite, cf. Exod. 3:8,17; 33:2; 34:11; Deut. 20:17; Josh. 9:1; 12:8)
5. seven nations (Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites, cf. Deut. 7:1; Josh. 3:10; 24:11)
6. ten nations (Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaim, Amonites, Canaanites, Girgashites, Jebusites, cf. Gen. 15:19-21)

SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE

▣ "an inheritance" The triple compound term kata + klēros + nemō is common in the Septuagint, but is used only here in the NT (other texts have kata + klēros + didōmi). It implies the casting of lots as a means of dividing the Promised Land among the tribes (cf. Josh. 13-19).

The word klēros is where we get the English word "clergy," but in the NT it always refers to the body of believers, not an elite group!

▣ "four hundred and fifty years" This number seems to be arrived at by:

1. 400 year bondage in Egypt (cf. Gen. 15:13)
2. 40 year wilderness wandering period (cf. Exod. 16:35; Num. 14:33-34; 32:13)
3. 7-10 year conquest (cf. Josh. 14:7,10)

The Textus Receptus (KJV) moves the number to Acts 13:20 and seems to include the period of the Judges (following Josephus, Antiq. 8.3.1), but this wording is not in the older and better uncial Greek manuscripts (cf. א, A, B, C), which fits better with 1 Kgs. 6:1 dating. The dash found in the NASB is to accentuate the proper place of the number.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE EXODUS (uncertainties)

13:20 This refers to the period from the book of Judges through 1 Samuel 7.

13:21 This refers to 1 Samuel 8-10.

▣ "for forty years" This time phrase is not found in the OT unless the OT manuscript problem connected to 1 Sam. 13:1 includes "forty" (NIV). Josephus, Antiq. 6.14.9 also mentions that Saul reigned "forty" years. The Septuagint just omits the entire sentence and starts with 1 Sam. 3:2. "Forty" was obviously a rabbinical tradition.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #7

13:22 "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart" This is not a direct quote from the OT but it seems to be a combination of Psalm 89:20 and 1 Samuel 13:14. It needs to be remembered that this sermon by Paul follows the basic pattern of Stephen's historical rendition in Acts 7. That David can be called a man after God's heart, when he was such a notorious sinner (cf. Ps. 32,51; 2 Samuel 11), is a great encouragement to all believers.

This combination quote implies several things.

1. This was a standard practice with the rabbis, which explains many of the unusual OT quotes in the NT (see SPECIAL TOPIC: RABBINICAL HERMENEUTICAL TECHNIQUES
2. This was already a part of Christian catechism. Paul often quotes from early Christian hymns and possibly other literature (i.e., Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-16; 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:11-13).
3. This quote is unique to Paul and shows that Luke must have gotten his summary of this first recorded message of Paul in Acts from Paul himself.

This verse is a combination of OT allusions. This part of the sentence is not in the OT passages. In the OT context Saul was disobedient and rejected. But David's life also had disobedience. God works with imperfect humans to accomplish His redemptive plan. See "Introduction to Acts," "Purpose and Structure," #10.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

13:23 This verse points back to all the OT promises.

1. a redemption through the seed of a woman, Gen, 3:15
2. a ruler from Judah, Gen. 49:10
3. a coming leader like Moses, the Prophet, Deut. 18:15,18
4. a leader from David, 2 Sam. 7; Ps. 132:11; Isa. 11:1,10; Matt. 1:1
5. a suffering servant, Isa. 52:13-53:12 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: A SUFFERING MESSIAH)
6. a savior, Luke 2:11; Matt. 1:21; John 1:29; 4:42; Acts 5:31 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: OUR SAVIOR)

For Luke #4 is prominent (cf. Luke 1:32,69; 2:4; 3:31; Acts 2:29-31; 13:22-23). The Messiah would be of Jesse's line (cf. Isa. 9:7; 11:1,10; 16:5). Notice how Paul jumps from David to Jesus. The NT tends to focus on

1. the Abrahamic covenant
2. the Davidic covenant

which is a Messianic focus.

13:24 John the Baptist's ministry and message is described in Mark 1:1-8; Matt. 3:1-11; Luke 3:2-17; John 1:6-8,19-28. John fulfilled the prophecies of Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6. He was the last OT prophet. His preaching of repentance also set the pattern for Jesus' early preaching (cf. Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:14-15).

John spoke of a Coming One, greater than himself (cf. Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27,30; Acts 13:25).

SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS' BAPTISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: OT TITLES FOR THE SPECIAL COMING ONE

13:25 "while John was completing his course" God had a specific task for John to perform. John's public ministry only lasted eighteen months. But, what a year and a half it was, filled with the Spirit's power and preparing the way for the Messiah.

Because of the power and success of John's ministry, many hoped that he was the promised Coming One. There had been no prophetic voice in Israel for 400 years! John makes it very plain in several gospel texts that he is not the Messiah, but His forerunner (cf. Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:15-17; John 1:20,27).

÷ACTS 13:26-41

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:26-41
 ²⁶"Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. ²⁷For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. ²⁸And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. ²⁹When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. ³⁰But God raised Him from the dead; ³¹and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. ³²And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, ³³that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm,
 'You are My Son; today I have begotten You.'
³⁴As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way:
 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'
³⁵Therefore He also says in another Psalm
 'You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay'.
³⁶For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; ³⁷but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. ³⁸Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. ⁴⁰Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
 ⁴¹'Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish;
 For I am accomplishing a work in your days,
 A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.'"

13:26 "sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God" This refers to both the Jewish hearers (or proselytes) and the Gentiles (God-fearers) attached to Judaism's monotheism and morality.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT)

▣ "this salvation" This is referring to God's promise to redeem fallen humanity through a Messiah (cf. Gen. 3:15). It includes Gentiles (cf. Gen. 12:5; Exod. 19:5-6; and Acts 28:28 and 13:46).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

13:27 This is such a tragic verse. It succinctly summarizes the blindness of the Jews in Jerusalem about the Scriptures even though they read them continuously. By missing the prophetic signs (cf. Genesis 3:15; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Zechariah 9-14) and prophecies (Isaiah, Jonah) they became the prophetic sign! He came to His own, but His own received Him not (cf. John 1:11-12).

13:28 Acts records again and again the spiritual responsibility of the Jews in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 2:23,36; 3:13-15; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52; 10:;39; 13:27-28). Jesus was innocent of every charge and should have been released (cf. Luke 23:4,14,22).

13:29 "they. . .they" These must refer to different groups.

1. The first were those who sought Jesus' death (i.e., Jewish leadership, the crowd before Pilate).
2. The second involves those who wanted a proper burial.
3. This could have involved
   1. sincere Jewish people who saw the injustice (similar to Acts 8:2, involving the burial of Stephen)
   2. secret disciples like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (cf. John 19:38-42)

▣ "all that was written concerning Him" Jesus' life was one of fulfilled prophecy. One strong evidence for the inspiration of the Bible and the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth is predictive prophecy (cf. Luke 22:22; 24:32; Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28; 10:43; 13:29; 24:14; 26:22).
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (its uniqueness and inspiration)

It is surely true that many of the details of Jesus' life, which we in the church today call prophecy, are in a sense typology. Many events happened in the life of Israel which later seem to also occur in Jesus' life (one example, Hosea 11:1). Often ambiguous, oblique passages, which would not have been understood in context as prophetic, seem to jump to life as one views Jesus' earthly experience (ex. Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). It takes inspiration and a sense of the flow of redemptive history to fully appreciate the OT foreshadowing of Jesus. I would also add that although inspired NT writers use typology, even allegory, that modern teachers and preachers should not use this method of interpretation! See Richard N. Longnecker, Biblical Exegesis in the Apostolic Period and my Biblical Interpretation Seminar online at www.freebiblecommentary.org

SPECIAL TOPIC: TYPOLOGY

▣ "the cross" See notes at Acts 5:30 and 10:39.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CRUCIFIXION

13:30,33,34,37 "But God raised Him from the dead" The NT affirms that all three persons of the Trinity were active in Jesus' resurrection:

1. the Spirit (cf. Rom. 8:11)
2. the Son (cf. John 2:19-22; 10:17-18)
3. the Father (cf. Acts 2:24,32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,33,34,37; 17:31; Rom. 6:4,9; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 1:10).

This was the Father's confirmation of the truth of Jesus' life and teachings. This is a major aspect of the Kerygma (i.e., content of the sermons in Acts).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH

SPECIAL TOPIC: RESURRECTION

13:31 "for many days" Acts 1:3 says "forty days." However, forty is a common OT round number.

▣ "He appeared" See SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS' POST RESURRECTION APPEARANCES

▣ "the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people" The resurrected Jesus told the group of His disciples assembled in Acts 1 (i.e., His ascension) that they were to be "His witnesses" throughout the world (i.e., Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ASCENSION

13:32 "the promise made to the fathers" This refers to the initial promise of YHWH to Abraham for a land and a seed (cf. Gen. 12:1-3). This same promise of God's presence and blessing was repeated to the Patriarchs and to their children (cf. Isa. 44:3; 54:13; Joel 2:32). The OT focuses on the land, while the NT focuses on "the seed." Paul alludes to this very promise in Rom. 1:2-3 and also note Romans 4.

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

13:33 This quote from Ps. 2:7, which is a royal Messianic psalm about the conflict and victory of God's Promised Messiah (see detailed exegitical notes online). Jesus had been killed by evil forces (human and demonic), but God had raised Him to victory (cf. Rom. 1:4).

This verse and Rom. 1:4 were used by early heretics (adoptionists) to assert that Jesus became Messiah at the resurrection. There is surely a NT emphasis on Jesus being affirmed and glorified because of His obedience, but this must not be taken in isolation from His preexistent glory and Deity (cf. John 1:1-5,9-18; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:13-18; Heb. 1:2-3).

The VERB "raised" (anistēmi) is used in several senses.

1. in Matt. 22:24 and implied in Acts 13:23, it refers to raising up a descendant
2. in Acts 3:22 it is used of God raising up "a prophet like Moses," referring to Deut. 18:15 (cf. Acts 7:37)
3. in Acts 3:25-26 it is used of God raisiing up "His Servant" (lit. "Child"), referring to the Abrahamic promises in Gen. 12:3; 22:18
4. in Acts 13:22 it is used of God raising up a Davidic King, the Messiah
5. in Acts 2:32; 13:30,34,37; 17:31 it is used of God raising Jesus from the dead
6. in John 6:39,40 it refers to the resurrection of believers
7. in reality God raised Jesus to Messianic leadership at His baptism by John (see F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, pp. 171-172)

SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH

SPECIAL TOPIC: RESURRECTION

SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS' BAPTISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: ADOPTIONISM (early heresy)

13:34 "no longer to return to decay" This statement from Psalm 16 refers to Jesus' death and resurrection. He was the first to be resurrected (first fruits of the dead, cf. 1 Cor. 15:20) rather than resuscitated. Many people were brought back to physical life in the Bible, but they all had to die again (i.e., Lazarus). Enoch and Elijah were "translated" to heaven without death, but they were not resurrected.

▣ "I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David" This is a quote from Isa. 55:3 from the LXX. The quote includes the PLURAL "sure blessings," but does not specify to what this refers. It is something that passed from God to David, to Jesus, then to His followers (PLURAL "you" in the quote). The OT context shows the significance of "you" (cf. Isa. 55:4-5 LXX, "Behold, I have made him a testimony among the Gentiles, a prince and commander to the Gentiles. Nations which know thee not, shall call upon thee, and peoples which are not acquainted with thee, shall flee to thee for refuge, for the sake of the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified thee," The Septuagint, Zondervan, 1976, p. 890).

The blessings and promises to David (i.e., Jews) are now the blessing and promises of the Gentiles (i.e., the entire human race). See full note at Romans 9-11.

13:35-37 This is the same argument used earlier in Peter's Pentecost sermon (cf. Acts 2:24-32), also taken from Psalm 16. These early sermons in Acts reflect an early Christian catechism. Several OT Messianic texts were strung together. Therefore, often the PRONOUNS and details do not seem to be relevant to the central purpose of the NT author, which was to affirm the physical resurrection of Jesus and the decay of David.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH

13:36 "fell asleep" Sleep is an OT euphemism for death. This imagery has been taken literally to promote a view of the spiritual state of believers between death and the Second Coming (i.e., 1 Thess. 4:13-18). For a good brief discussion of the different views on this theological issue, see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2^nd, pp. 1179-1190.

13:38 Paul is using an OT augmented argument, as does Peter (Acts 2) and Stephen (Acts 7) to reach these synagogue hearers. This is also true of the Gospel of Matthew.
SPECIAL TOPIC: Rabbinical Hermeneutics

Paul promises a full and complete forgiveness of sins, which Judaism could not provide (cf. Acts 13:39), to all who trust Jesus as the Christ (i.e., "This One," Acts 13:38,39).

The promise of forgiveness in Jesus is repeated several times by Luke.

1. Luke 24:47 ‒ to all
2. Acts 5:31 ‒ to Israel
3. Acts 10:43 ‒ to all
4. Acts 13:38,39 ‒ to Israel and God fearing Gentiles
5. Acts 26:18 ‒ to Israel

13:39 "and through Him everyone" Notice the universal element. God loves all humans made in His image and all humans have the opportunity to respond to Him by faith (cf. Acts 10:43; Isa. 42:1,4,6,10-12; 55; Ezek. 18:23,32; Joel 2:28,32; Luke 24:47; John 3:16; 4:42; Rom. 3:22,29,30; 10:9-13; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:1; 4:14).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "who believes" This is the covenantal requirement for all! Forgiveness is a gift of God through Christ to all, but it must be received by faith (i.e., Eph. 2:8-9).

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH. BELIEVE, or TRUST

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

This is literally "justified" (PRESENT PASSIVE INDICATIVE). This is a legal term which describes our standing before God by means of Jesus Christ's imputed righteousness (cf. Romans 4; 2 Cor. 5:21). In Hebrew "righteousness," "justify," originally referred metaphorically to a "river reed." It reflects an OT construction term used as imagery for God as the standard or ruler by which judgement is made.

SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS

▣ "which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses" This was Paul's major theological point (cf. Rom. 3:19-30). The Mosaic law was a tutor to bring us to an understanding of our personal sin and to cause us to desire Christ (cf. Gal. 3:23-29; the book of Hebrews). The OT Law is not a means of salvation, because all sinned (cf. Rom. 3:9-18,23; Gal. 3:22). It had become a death sentence, a curse (cf. Col. 2:14). Jesus bore "the curse" of the OT performance-based law that no one could keep because of the fall of mankind recorded in Genesis 3 (cf. Gal. 3:13).

SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW

13:40-41 Paul calls on his hearers (PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE) to respond by trusting Jesus as the Promised Messiah, as the only way to receive forgiveness (cf. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 5:10-12).

He quotes Hab. 1:5 from the Septuagint as a warning. In other places in Paul's writings he quotes Hab. 2:4 as an appropriate faith response (cf. Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11). Paul preaches for a decision. Intellectual assent is not enough; a complete personal surrender to Jesus as the only hope is required. This initial faith and repentant response must be matched by daily Christlike living (cf. Matthew 7; 13).

Verse 41 describes the shocking new methodology of salvation of the New Covenant in Christ (see full note online at Jer. 31:31-34).

÷ACTS 13:42-43

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:42-43
 ⁴²As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. ⁴³Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.

13:42 This shows the power of the Spirit

1. using Paul's sermon
2. the hunger (i.e., "kept begging. . .") for forgiveness and restoration with God within the hearts of humans made in God's image (i.e., Gen. 1:26-27)

This phrase is literally "worshiping proselytes." This is a different group from the "ones fearing God" of Acts 13:16,26 (cf. Acts 10:2,22,35).

Verse 43 refers to those Gentiles who had officially become Jews (i.e., "God fearing proselytes"). This required

1. self baptism in the presence of witnesses
2. circumcision for males
3. offering a sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem when possible

There are a few references to Jewish proselytes in the NT (cf. Matt. 23;15; Acts 2:11; 6:5; 13:43).

▣ "urging them to continue in the grace of God" From the context it is difficult to define this phrase.

1. some of these hearers may have already responded to the gospel in their hearts
2. those who were faithful to what they understood of the grace of God in the OT are urged to continue to seek God and listen to Paul again (cf. Acts 13:44)
3. true salvation is an initial choice followed by daily (hourly) choices (cf. Acts 11:23)

SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE

÷ACTS 13:44-47

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:44-47
 ⁴⁴The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. ⁴⁶Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷For so the Lord has commanded us,
 'I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles,
 That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.'"

13:44 Paul's message had an obvious impact. This is also hyperbole. Not everyone in the city attended. See G. B. Caird, The Langauge and Imagery of the Bible, pp. 22, 110-117, 121.

There is a Greek manuscript variant at this point.

1. "Lord" is in MSS P⁷⁴, א, A, B²
2. "God" is in MSS B, C, E

The UBS⁴ puts "Lord" in the text, but rates it "C" (difficulty deciding). As with so many variants, this does not change the sense of the text. The gospel is a divine revelation about Jesus, the Messiah/Christ, by God the Father through the Holy Spirit.

SPECIAL TOPIC: TEXTUAL CRITICISM

13:45 "when the Jews saw the crowd. . .jealousy" Whether it was the large turnout or the large number of Gentiles in the crowd that caused the jealousy is uncertain in this context. Jealousy is attributed to Jewish leadership both in Jerusalem and the Diaspora. (cf. Matt. 27:18; Mark 15:10; Acts 17:5).

Later in the book of Romans Paul develops the theological problem of Jewish unbelief (cf. Romans 9-11). He asserts that God has temporarily blinded Israel so that the Gentiles might be saved. However, God will use the salvation of the Gentiles as a means (i.e., jealousy) to cause Israel to respond to Christ, so that all believers will be united through the gospel (cf. Eph. 2:11-3:13).

The problem is when does Israel turn to Christ? The same question could be asked of Zech. 12:10. Is this prophecy related to the early church, which was made up of believing Jews, or to a future period? Jealousy is meant for a redemptive purpose (cf. Rom. 10:19; 11:11,14), but the jealousy in this text causes unbelief!

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO OT COVENANT PROMISES SEEM SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?

▣ "they were fill with jealousy" See full note at Acts 3:10. For "filling" see note at Acts 5:17 and SPECIAL TOPIC: FILLED

▣ "were blaspheming" As these Jews defended their traditions and attacked Paul's preaching, they themselves were guilty of blasphemy. There is no middle ground here. Either Judaism or Christianity is a true reflection of God's will. They both are exclusive!

13:46 "spoke out boldly" This is one of the signs in Acts of being Spirit-filled.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BOLDNESS

▣ "'It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first'" This was the pattern of early missionary preaching (cf. Rom. 1:16). The Jews had priority, but God had included Gentiles (cf. Romans 9-11). Those in the synagogue knew their OT and could check the prophecies. Acts has a series of texts on this ministry pattern (cf. Acts 3:26; 9:20; 13:5,14; 16:13; 17:2,10,17).

▣ "'you repudiate it'" This is a strong VERB (PRESENT MIDDLE INDICATIVE) used several times in the Septuagint. Its basic meaning is "to thrust away." It was used of the Israelites in Stephen's sermon (cf. Acts 7:39). It is also used by Paul in Rom. 11:1-2 to assert that God has not rejected His people, but they have rejected His Son, His only means of salvation (cf. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5; John 5:10-12), His full revelation.

▣ "and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life'" Wow, what a condemnation. IT is not God who rejected them but they rejected God and His Son!. consequences are based on the necessagy corrollary of human freewill. How can humans be judged for that in which they have no choice?!

This is a devastating phrase. One who

1. repudiates the gospel
2. judges themselvesis unworthy of eternal life

I am becoming more and more convinced of the biblical basis on "limited immortality." Only those who believe and walk in the truth of the gospel have eternal life.

Several YouTube videos have opened my eyes to this issue.

1. Edward Fudge, "The Fire That Consumes"
2. Steve Gregg, "Hell — Three Christian Views"

It is difficult to hold the concept of predestination, which is emphasized so often in Acts, with the concept of mandated individual personal response. No one can come to faith without the drawing of the Spirit (cf. John 6:44,65), but we are judged by whether we respond or not. By their rejection of Paul and Barnabas' preaching of the gospel, they revealed their true selves (cf. John 3:17-21). The blame for lack of response cannot be placed on God. He has provided a way, His Son, but He is the only way! This is the mystery of "unbelief"!

For me, this theological tension is best explained as the reality of

1. God's unconditional covenant to redeem mankind made in His image
2. the conditional covenant of the divine mandate of a human response (both initially and unto death)

The best theological category to hold together this biblical tension is the concerpt of "covenant."

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION

▣ "we are turning to the Gentiles" This becomes a regular pattern of gospel proclamation (cf. Acts 18:6; 22:21; 26:20; 28:28; Rom. 1:16).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTICVE PLAN

13:47 This is a quote from Isa. 49:6 (cf. Isa. 42:6) from the Septuagint. Simeon used this quote as a blessing on Jesus in Luke 2:32 to affirm His Messianic task of universal redemption. It is even possible that the "light" in the context refers to Paul and Barnabas' preaching of the gospel to these Gentiles (cf. "Use of the Old Testament in the New," by Darrell Boch, p. 97 in Foundations for Biblical Interpretation, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994). Now Paul uses it to show the universal proclamation of the universal gospel! See full list of texts at Acts 13:39.

The ending phrase, "to the end of the earth," may be an allusion to Acts 1:8. It highlights the universality of the gospel. Oh, how I love "whosoever," "as many as," "every one who." The door to forgiveness, peace, and full fellowship with God is open in Christ! Come (i.e., Isaiah 5; Rev. 22:17)!

÷ACTS 13:48-52

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ACTS 13:48-52
 ⁴⁸When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. ⁵²And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

13:48 "When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord" Many of these had been in the synagogue for years and had never heard the inclusive, universal message of God's love and acceptance of all humanity by faith in Messiah. When they heard it they enthusiastically received it (cf. Acts 28:28) and passed it on to others (cf. Acts 13:49).

▣ "as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed" This is a clear statement of predestination (so common in the rabbis' and Intertestamental Jewish literature), but it is in the same ambiguous relationship as all NT passages that relate to the paradox of God's choice (i.e., John 6:37,44,65; 17:2,6,9) and human's free will (cf. John 1:12; 3:16; Phil. 2:12,13; Heb. 5:9). The VERB is a PLUPERFECT PASSIVE PERIPHRASTIC that comes from a military term (tassō) which means to "enroll" or "appoint." See note at v. 46.

This concept of enrolling refers to "the two books" that God keeps (cf. Dan. 7:10; Rev. 20:12).

1. First is the Book of the Deeds of men (cf. Ps. 56:8; 139:16; Isa. 65:6; and Mal. 3:16).
2. The other is the Book of Life (cf. Exod. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Isa. 4:3; Dan. 12:1; Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12-15; 21:27).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO BOOKS OF GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: EASTERN LITERATURE (biblical paradoxes)

SPECIAL TOPIC: WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

13:50 "But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence" This text gives historical and cultural setting of the exalted place of women in Asia Minor in the first century (cf. Acts 16:14; 17:4).

In this context it refers to proselytes to Judaism who were also leaders in the community or were married to the civic leaders. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 3, p. 201, makes the point that Gentile women were greatly attracted to Judaism (cf. Strabo 7:2 and Juvenal 6:542) because of its morality.

▣ "instigated a persecution against Paul" Paul refers to this in 2 Tim. 3:11.

13:51 "they shook off the dust of their feet" This is a Jewish sign of rejection (cf. Matt. 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; 10:11). It is uncertain whether this refers to

1. dust on their feet and sandals from walking
2. dust on their robes which was kicked up when they were working

▣ "Iconium" This was a major city of Lycaonia, located in the Roman province of Galatia. It was about eighty miles east, southeast of Pisidian Antioch and directly north of Lystra.

13:52 "continually filled with joy" This is an IMPERFECT PASSIVE INDICATIVE which can mean the beginning of an action or the repeat of an action in past time. The NASB, 1995 update, takes it in the second sense. Only the Holy Spirit can give joy amidst persecution (cf. Rom. 5:3; James 1:2ff; 1 Peter 4:12ff).

The phrase "the disciples" is ambiguous. Does it refer to the new believers, the missionary team, or both? See SPECIAL TOPIC: DISCIPLES

For "filled" see full note at Acts 5:12 and SPECIAL TOPIC: FILLED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why can 13:2-3 not be used as a proof-text for ordination by a select group?
2. Why did Paul preach in the synagogue first?
3. Why did John Mark leave the mission team? (cf. Acts 13:13)
4. How is Acts 13:39 related to Galatians 3?
5. Explain Acts 13:48b in relation to predestination and human free will.

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