CHAPTER 13
Acts 13:1 There were some in Antioch in the church who were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who was a companion of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Behold the character of each one, and not the upbringing from childhood saves. For see what company Manaen kept, who was esteemed a companion of prophecy . [AMMONIUS]
The mission of Barnabas and Paul by the Holy Spirit to Cyprus, and what they accomplished in the name of Christ with Elymas the magician.
Acts 13:2-8 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, after fasting and praying, and laying on their hands, they sent them off. These, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus; and being together in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their attendant. As they passed through the island as far as Paphos, they found a certain Jewish false prophet and magician whose name was Bar-Jesus, 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. But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
What does “ they were worshiping ” mean? That is, of those preaching.
“ Set apart for me for the work .” That is, to a mission. By whom, then, is he ordained? By Lucius and Manaen, but more by the Spirit. He is ordained so as to preach with authority. In Seleucia they do not make any difficulty, knowing that from the neighboring city they would reap great benefit.
Acts 13:9-13a But Saul, who is also Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and having fixed his gaze upon him, said: O full of all deceit and all fraud, son of the Devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. Immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness, and he went about seeking leaders by the hand. Then when the deputy saw what had happened, he believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. And those around Saul, having been taken up from Paphos, came to Perga of Pamphylia.
" Saul, who is also Paul ." So that Paul might not seem lesser than the other apostles in this respect, God changed his name, and calling Saul Paul, and whatever preeminence the chief of the disciples possessed, he also obtained, and received a position of greater familiarity. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Therefore to show that Paul's words to Elymas the sorcerer were not spoken in anger, he anticipated and said, " filled with the Holy Spirit ." For these words were not of punishment but of conversion. If they had been disciplinary, he would have made him blind forever; now, however, not that, but for a time, that he might convince the proconsul. [CHRYSOSTOM]
For the phrase " for a time ," giving a limit to the sentence, means that the way in which he received the light is to be altered for the better; for he who had been led to the worse was now to be brought to this as well. Accordingly it was not punishment but healing.
Acts 13:13b-15 But John, having withdrawn from them, returned to Jerusalem. They, having passed through Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia, and when they entered the synagogue on the day of the Sabbath they took their seats. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the chief officers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men, brethren, if there is any word of encouragement from you for the people, speak."
" John, having withdrawn ." This is John, also called Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, who also wrote the Gospel according to Mark and was a disciple of Peter the chief, of whom he says in the Epistle: "Mark my son greets you." (1 Peter 5:13) Therefore this man, since the journey concerning Paul was to be prolonged, withdrew from them, although being a servant, because he would not undergo the dangers. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Paul's flourishing, teaching and leading to Christ both from the Law and then from the Prophets, historical and evangelical, which is both collected and argumentative. On the translation of the preaching to the Gentiles, and their persecution there and departure at Iconium.
Acts 13:16-19a Then Paul stood up and, waving his hand, said: "Men of Israel, and those who fear God, listen. The God of this people chose our fathers, and raised up the people while they sojourned in the land of Egypt. And with a mighty arm he brought them out from it. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And he subdued seven nations in the land of Canaan."
Here Paul first preaches in Antioch of Pisidia. He would enter the synagogues in the appearance of a Jew so as not to be driven away, and therefore everything succeeded. " Seven nations :" the Hittites, the Gergaeans, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (see Deut. 7:1)
Acts 13:19b-24 He gave them their land as an inheritance. And after this, for about four hundred and fifty years, he appointed judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. From there they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years old. And having removed him he raised up for them David as king, of whom he also testified: “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.” From this man God, according to his promise, brought forth for Israel a Savior, Jesus, heralded by John.
“ I have found David ,” and the following. It should be noted that nowhere are these words quoted word for word in the book of Kings, but they were spoken prophetically by Samuel to Saul, therefore: “And now your kingdom shall not continue; and the Lord will seek for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord will appoint him ruler over His people, because you did not keep what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Sam. 13:13) And from this passage Paul therefore spoke, “ I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will .” “Before his coming: a baptism of repentance to Israel.” He says, “He came in the flesh.” [THEODORET ON 1 KINGS]
Acts 13:25-29 When John had completed his course, he said: Whom do you suppose me to be? I am not he; behold, there comes after me one whose sandal‑straps I am not worthy to untie. "Men, brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to you has been sent this message of salvation. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, having not known him, and having judged the sayings of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them; and finding no cause of death, they asked Pilate that he be put to death. And when they had accomplished all that was written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
John testifies, not simply, but bringing all glory upon him, he himself rejects it. For it is not equal for honor to be repelled from one who gives nothing and from many who grant it. [CHRYSOSTOM]
And the phrase, " to you has been sent this message ," shows the Jewish courtesy; and he mentions Pilate , so that they are accused more heavily as having handed him over to a foreigner. And the phrase, " they asked ," he says, received favor, as if he were unwilling; which Peter also states more clearly: judging him to be released. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 13:30-33a But God raised him from the dead, and he was seen for many days by those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we preach to you the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this to their children for us.
Nothing is inappropriate in saying that Jesus was raised by God . For if Jesus is none other than the Word who became flesh, (see Jn. 1:1-14) and this Word is the power of the Father through whom he enacts all things, (see 1 Cor. 8:6) according to “Christ is the power of God,” (1 Cor. 1:24) he will be understood to have raised himself, although being said to have been raised by the Father, insofar as the timeless origin and cause are referred to all things. For he himself also says, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (Jn. 2:19) [SEVERUS THE ARCHBISHOP OF ANTIOCH FROM THE LETTER TO MARON]
Acts 13:33b Raising Jesus, as is also written in the first Psalm: You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Since the name Jesus is applied to the man and some therefore misunderstand, he anticipated and said that the Word was placed in a tomb, so that no one might suppose the Word to have been spoken of as incorporeal; again he calls him Jesus , giving no separation anywhere to the Word who was made flesh after the union, closing the mouths of the impious everywhere. [CHRYSOSTOM]
“ You are my Son .” These words from the psalm suitably belong to the incarnation of Christ, which had a temporal arrival. For “ Today ” and “Tomorrow” are representative of days. But he, as the Word, is begotten of the Father timelessly. [HESYCHIUS OF JERUSALEM]
Acts 13:34-37 But that he raised him from the dead, never again to return to corruption, he has said therefore, that I will give you the faithful things of David. Therefore also in another place he says: You will not allow your holy one to see corruption. For David, having served in his own generation, fell asleep according to the will of God, and was added to his fathers, and saw corruption. But the one whom God raised did not see corruption."
Note, then, that it is not necessary to say that the body of our Savior and God Jesus Christ, after the resurrection, is passible, that is, susceptible to suffering, nor imperishable and immortal before the resurrection. For the incorruption according to sinlessness was noticeably present from that very time of the Incarnation. [SEVERUS THE HOLY ARCHBISHOP OF ANTIOCH FROM THE EPISTLE ADDRESSED TO TIMOTHY, ARCHBISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA]
Acts 13:38-39 Let it therefore be known to you, brothers, that through this the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to us, and from all those things by which you were not able to be justified under the law of Moses, in this one everyone who believes is justified.
Why did he not produce testimony by which they would have been persuaded that the forgiveness of sins is affected through him? That this was what was being sought, namely to show first that he had risen. This being admitted, the other is indisputable. For Israel was indeed of great astonishment, called the first-born son, for fear that Egypt be destroyed, handed over to the enemies, the Babylonians, by sword and captivity and servitude. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 13:40-42 See that what has been spoken may not come upon you; among the prophets. Behold, you who are despised, and marvel, and be annihilated, for a work I am doing in your days, which you will not believe if someone reports it to you. And when they had gone out of the synagogue of the Jews, they entreated the Gentiles during the intervening Sabbath to have the words spoken to them.
The prophecy of the prophet Habakkuk denouncing unrighteous judgment and the excessive forbearance of God, and saying: Why have You shown me toil and trouble? For judgment has arisen against me, and the righteous judge takes, and the wicked oppresses the just, and judgment is not executed to the end; (Hab. 1:3-4) God answers, announcing beforehand the calamities to those who do wrong. He says, moreover, that the things which will happen to them are wondrous. These things, he says, are so many and so great in magnitude that one would even doubt if someone should foretell them to you.
Acts 13:43-49 And those Gentiles who honored them with Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking alongside them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God, then, when the Sabbath was coming, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. And they contradicted the things spoken on behalf of Paul, opposing and blaspheming. But Paul and Barnabas, having spoken with boldness, said: It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. But since you reject it, and do not deem yourselves worthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For therefore the Lord commanded us: I have appointed you to be a light for the nations, to bring you to salvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and believed as many as were appointed to eternal life. And the word of the Lord was spread throughout the whole region.
Respecting here and going forward those who are fervent and passionate in the worship surrounding it, he calls them rather zealots than the others. For such persons accepted the faith in Christ sooner than others, being able to perceive its superiority and greatness, and not from human passion, but from a regard for truth and a love of devotion and the reverence they previously held, becoming zealots for that. And again such persons were more incited and enraged against the disciples and the preaching, as showing greater zeal for their own worship than the others. Or he calls proselytes those who worship privately. And speaking publicly and saying: “Men of Israel and you who fear God,” (Acts 13:16) he called the proselytes those who fear God, praising some as belonging to the nation and naming them Israelites, and, because he could not say that of others, equating them with respect to religion. He did not think that what is said was unseemly of modesty and shame, “ Do not esteem yourselves worthy ,” for this reason he first said, “ But since you reject it ,” and then, “ we turn to the Gentiles .” He did not say, “We leave you,” but, as he says, “If possible,” and here again to turn. [CHRYSOSTOM]
He did not think that what is said was unseemly of modesty and shame, that you judged yourselves unworthy; therefore he prefaced, You reject that: and then he adds: We turn to the Gentiles . But he did not say: We abandon you, but that it might be possible that we should again, he says, be turned towards you here. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 13:50-52 But the Jews stirred up the respectable women and the leading men of the city and incited persecution against Paul and Barnabas; and they expelled them from their territory. Then they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
They fulfill what the Lord commanded them, saying: “If anyone does not receive you, shake off the dust from your feet.” (Matt. 10:14, Mark 6:11, and Luke 9:5) But these not only did not receive them, but even drove them out of their borders, which is worse. For the Lord does not wish his disciples to have even the dust on their feet from the land of wicked people, thereby showing that they had gained nothing from the disobedient. The dust is a token of the toil which they endured on their behalf. [CHRYSOSTOM]