Bible chapter guide

Acts 13

The church in Antioch sends Barnabas and Saul on their first journey. In Cyprus the proconsul Sergius Paulus believes; in Pisidian Antioch Paul preaches in the synagogue from Israel's history to the risen Jesus, and when opposed turns to the Gentiles.

Summary written for the Labs; read the chapter itself for the full text.

What happens in this chapter

Five prophets and teachers are named at Antioch, and while they worship and fast the Spirit tells them to set apart Barnabas and Saul. The two go down to Seleucia, cross to Salamis on Cyprus with John Mark as their helper, and walk the length of the island to Paphos, where the sorcerer Elymas is struck blind for a time and the proconsul believes. From Paphos they sail to Perga, where Mark leaves for Jerusalem, and climb inland to Pisidian Antioch. Paul's synagogue sermon there runs from the Exodus to David to the risen Jesus; a week later almost the whole city turns out, the Jews who are jealous contradict him, and Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles until they are driven out of the district.

What the lab shows, and where to look

Paul's Roads follows this chapter as the first six stops of the first journey. Start at Antioch and step through Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos and Perga to Pisidian Antioch, watching the line change from land to sea and back. The ports and the sea crossings are named in Acts; the road along the south coast of Cyprus and the climb over the Taurus from Perga are the lab's reconstruction, and each leg card says so. The Paphos stop also carries the card on Sergius Paulus.

Questions people ask

Was Sergius Paulus a real Roman official?

Probably. A Roman family of Sergii Paulli is well known, and inscriptions from Rome and from Pisidian Antioch name members of it; one may be this proconsul or a relative. None of them names him as governor of Cyprus with a firm date, so the link is likely but not proven.

Plausible

Why did John Mark leave at Perga?

Acts does not say. It records only that John left them at Perga and went back to Jerusalem (13:13), and that Paul later refused to take him again, which split Paul from Barnabas (15:37–39). The rift healed: Colossians, Philemon and 2 Timothy place Mark among Paul's co-workers again.

Strongly supported

When did the first journey start?

Acts gives no year. Counting back from the second journey, which the Gallio inscription fixes around AD 51–52, and allowing for the 'long time' at Antioch afterwards (14:28), the lab dates the first journey to about AD 46–48. Some put it a year or two earlier.

Plausible

See it in the Labs

People in this chapter

Kish Saul Paul John Mark Sergius Paulus Elymas (Bar-Jesus)Barnabas

Places

Seleucia Salamis Paphos Perga

Also in this chapter

Paul's first journey Down to Seleucia and over to Cyprus Preaching in the synagogues of Salamis John Mark goes home Barnabas and Saul set apart The first journey The proconsul believes 'We turn to the Gentiles'

How sure can we be?

Textually stated
Paul and his company sailed from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia.
Acts 13:13. Perga lies inland; ships could reach it up the river Cestrus or land at Attalia.
Textually stated
They sailed from Seleucia to Salamis on Cyprus.
Acts 13:4–5 names both ports; the crossing is about 200 km.
Strongly supported
Seleucia Pieria is located with confidence.
The site is identified by ancient sources and remains on the ground; Pleiades 658483.
Strongly supported
Salamis is located with confidence.
The site is identified by ancient sources and remains on the ground (excavated); Pleiades 707617.
Strongly supported
New Paphos is located with confidence.
The site is identified by ancient sources and remains on the ground; Pleiades 707586.
Strongly supported
Perga is located with confidence.
The site is identified by ancient sources and remains on the ground (excavated); Pleiades 639048.

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King James Version (KJV) Chinese Union Version, 1919 (Wikisource)