Acts 13: Paul and Barnabas Sent to the Gentiles

Short answer: Acts 13 records the Holy Spirit setting apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work, their journey to Cyprus and Pisidia, and Paul's sermon in the synagogue at Antioch. It ends with the gospel being rejected by many Jews but received gladly by Gentiles, while the disciples remain filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

What Acts 13 says

The chapter opens with a worshipping community in Antioch, listing prophets and teachers including Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul. As they serve the Lord and fast, the Holy Spirit speaks, setting apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific work. The church fasts, prays, lays hands on them, and sends them out. They travel to Seleucia and sail to Cyprus, proclaiming God's word in Jewish synagogues with John as their attendant. This beginning shows that mission is initiated by the Holy Spirit within a praying community, not by human strategy alone. The sending is both spiritual and practical, with fasting, prayer, and commissioning. The text does not describe the journey's hardships, only the obedience of going where the Spirit directed.

On Cyprus, from Salamis to Paphos, the missionaries encounter a sorcerer and false prophet named Bar Jesus, also called Elymas, who is with the proconsul Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of understanding, summons them to hear God's word, but Elymas opposes them and tries to turn him from the faith. Saul, also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronts him with strong words about deceit and perverting the right ways of the Lord. Paul declares that the hand of the Lord will make him blind for a season, and immediately mist and darkness fall on him. The proconsul believes, astonished at the teaching of the Lord. This scene shows spiritual opposition met by Spirit-filled boldness and a sign that confirms the message.

Paul and his company sail from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia, where John departs and returns to Jerusalem. They continue to Antioch of Pisidia and enter the synagogue on the Sabbath. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers invite them to speak a word of exhortation. Paul stands and addresses men of Israel and those who fear God. He recounts God's choice of the fathers, the exodus from Egypt, the wilderness years, the conquest of Canaan, the judges, the request for a king, Saul, and then David, a man after God's heart. From David's offspring, God brought salvation to Israel according to promise, with John the Baptist preparing the way. Paul then proclaims that the word of salvation is sent to them, that Jerusalem's rulers unknowingly fulfilled the prophets by condemning Jesus, that God raised him from the dead, and that through him forgiveness and justification are proclaimed. He warns them not to be scoffers who perish.

As Paul and Barnabas leave the synagogue, the Gentiles beg that these words be preached to them the next Sabbath. Many Jews and devout proselytes follow them and are urged to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathers to hear the word of God. But when the Jews see the multitudes, they are filled with jealousy and contradict Paul, blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas speak boldly, saying that God's word had to be spoken to the Jews first, but since they reject it, they turn to the Gentiles, citing the command to be a light for the Gentiles. The Gentiles rejoice and glorify the word, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believe. The word spreads through the region, but opposition arises, and Paul and Barnabas are thrown out. They shake off the dust of their feet and go to Iconium, while the disciples are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “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.” (Acts 13:2)” (Acts 13:2) — This verse shows the Holy Spirit actively directing the church's mission, setting apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific work. It grounds the entire missionary journey in divine initiative rather than human planning.
• “But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,” (Acts 13:9) — Here Saul is also called Paul, and he is filled with the Holy Spirit to confront opposition. This marks a turning point in his ministry and highlights the Spirit's role in bold witness.
• “Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,” (Acts 13:38) — This verse summarizes the heart of Paul's sermon: through Jesus, remission of sins is proclaimed. It is the central gospel declaration that drives the chapter's message.
• “As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48) — The Gentiles' joyful response and the note that as many as were appointed to eternal life believed shows the sovereign work of God in salvation. It explains why the gospel spread despite opposition.

Gospel connection

Acts 13 connects directly to the wider biblical story by showing the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel in Jesus. Paul's sermon traces God's dealings with the fathers, the exodus, the wilderness, the judges, and David, then declares that from David's offspring God brought salvation. The resurrection of Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of Scripture, and forgiveness and justification are proclaimed through him. The turning to the Gentiles fulfills the promise that Israel would be a light to the nations. This chapter shows the gospel moving from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, not as a new plan but as the outworking of God's ancient covenant. It also highlights the Holy Spirit as the driving force in mission, ensuring that the message reaches those appointed to eternal life.

Application

This chapter asks readers to recognize that mission begins with the Holy Spirit and a praying community. It challenges us to be willing to be set apart for God's work, even when the path is not fully known. It also calls for boldness in the face of opposition, trusting that the Spirit will give words and confirm the message. Readers are invited to examine their own response to the gospel: do they receive it with joy like the Gentiles, or resist it like those who contradicted Paul? The chapter encourages perseverance when rejected, following the example of Paul and Barnabas who shook off the dust and continued. Finally, it reminds us that joy and the Holy Spirit are not dependent on circumstances, as the disciples remained filled with both even after persecution.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that Paul's sermon includes every detail of Jesus' life or that the proconsul's belief was the only result in Cyprus. It does not describe the content of the law and prophets read in the synagogue, nor does it explain how the Gentiles heard about the next Sabbath's gathering. It does not state that all Jews rejected the message, only that some were jealous and contradicted. It does not say that Paul and Barnabas were permanently expelled from Pisidian Antioch, only that they were thrown out of its borders. It does not name the specific work the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to, beyond the general mission. It does not explain why John departed from them at Perga. The text is silent on the internal thoughts of the characters and on the later history of the churches mentioned.

Questions for study

1. What does the church in Antioch do before the Holy Spirit speaks, and what does that suggest about how mission should be discerned?
2. How does Paul's confrontation with Elymas demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit, and what does it reveal about spiritual opposition?
3. In Paul's sermon, how does he use Israel's history to lead to Jesus, and why is that important for his audience?
4. Why do the Gentiles rejoice while some Jews are filled with jealousy, and what does this reveal about different responses to the gospel?
5. What can we learn from Paul and Barnabas shaking off the dust and going to Iconium, and how does that apply to facing rejection today?

Keep reading

Related studies: Acts 10 Bible Study, Acts 11 Bible Study, Acts 12 Bible Study, Acts 14 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul?

The Holy Spirit set them apart for the work to which he had called them, which was to proclaim God's word on a missionary journey. The church responded with fasting, prayer, and laying on hands.

What was the result of Paul's sermon in Antioch of Pisidia?

Many Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, and the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear God's word. However, some Jews became jealous and contradicted Paul, leading to opposition and the turning to the Gentiles.

How did the Gentiles respond to the gospel?

The Gentiles were glad and glorified the word of God, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. The Lord's word spread throughout the region.