Acts 13:42 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.

NIV: As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.

NASB: As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these things spoken to them the next Sabbath.

CSB: As they were leaving, the people urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath.

NLT: As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week.

KJV: And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

NKJV: So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

Paul and Barnabas have traveled to Pisidian Antioch, just southwest of the center of modern-day Asia Minor. They entered the local synagogue on the Sabbath and when asked to speak, Paul shared how God had provided different types of salvation throughout Israel's history. He then explained that Jesus of Nazareth is the ultimate Savior God promised would come through David's line (Acts 13:16–41).

Synagogues were established around the time of the Babylonian captivity when the Jews were in exile and the temple destroyed. They provided a place for Levites or scribes to ensure the scattered people knew the requirements of the Mosaic law. The Israelites after Moses had never done well remembering and practicing the Law. When their idolatry and injustice grew too great, God used other nations to discipline them, first by destroying the northern kingdom of Israel and then by exiling the southern kingdom of Judah to Babylon.

After the Jews returned from Babylon, they kept the tradition of the synagogue. In any town where there were twelve or more suitable persons, a synagogue would be established. In larger towns, there would be several synagogues for different groups; in Jerusalem, there were synagogues for different groups of non-Judaeans (Acts 6:9). The synagogue leadership hosted weekly gatherings where someone would read from the Jewish Scriptures and then the leader would ask someone to speak. They often chose a visitor who would have insight, news, or application that would be new to the local group.

While the people in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch might "beg" Paul and Barnabas to return, it was the synagogue leaders who would determine if they would be allowed to speak. Apparently, the leaders did allow Paul to return, but when they saw the large crowd that had come to listen, they grew jealous. First, they tried to contradict Paul's teaching, then they used political contacts to run Paul and Barnabas out of town (Acts 13:44–45, 50).

Acts 13:42–52 details the response to Paul's message in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch. Many Gentiles and some Jews accept the news about Jesus gladly, but the synagogue leaders don't. Since Jews live in community, and the Jewish community leaders feel threatened by Paul's message and popularity, Paul can say "the Jews" reject Jesus' offer of eternal life. Paul turns his attention to the Gentiles until the Jewish leaders join with city leaders to drive Paul and Barnabas out of town.

Acts 13 transitions Luke's account (Acts 1:1) fully into a record of Paul's ministry to spread the news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit calls Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. They teach about Jesus' offer of forgiveness of sins on the island of Cyprus and in the district of Pisidia in modern-day south-central Asia Minor. Along the way, they face opposition, desertion, and persecution: themes that will follow Paul throughout his life. But they also experience the joy of watching the people they'd least expect come to a saving faith in Jesus.

The first chapters of Acts, save for a quick account of Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1–31), cover the ministry of the apostles, particularly Peter. Those passages also detail the spread of the news about Jesus from His followers. That message goes to the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 2—7) and Judea (Acts 8:26–40; 9:32–43), the Samaritans (Acts 8:4–25), and God-fearing Gentiles (Acts 10—11). Now, Paul's contribution to the ''end of the earth'' portion of Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8 begins, as he and Barnabas start their first missionary journey. Luke will record two more of Paul's journeys (Acts 15:36—18:22 and 18:23—20:38) before settling in on his return to Jerusalem, arrest, and sea voyage to Rome (Acts 21—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.