Acts 13:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

NIV: Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: 'Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!

NASB: Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, 'Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

CSB: Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, "Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!

NLT: So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. 'Men of Israel,' he said, 'and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.

KJV: Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

NKJV: Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

Paul and Barnabas have come to Pisidian Antioch, not far from the center of modern-day Asia Minor, to bring Jews and Gentiles to a saving relationship with Jesus. Since salvation belongs first to the Jews who are to reveal their God to the rest of the world (Acts 1:8), Paul and Barnabas begin by going to the Jewish synagogue and patiently wait to be asked to speak. Although Luke records several of Paul's speeches, this is the only transcript of the several messages Paul will give in a synagogue.

The first of the message's five parts is identified by "listen." Paul proceeds to remind his audience how God is a saving God. He has saved Israel from slavery by leading them from Egypt, saved them from endless wandering by giving them the Promised Land, saved them from dissolution by giving them a king, and saved them from instability by establishing the Davidic dynasty (Acts 13:17–22). Finally, God promised them a future Savior (Acts 13:23–25).

The "men of Israel" are devout Jews. Those who fear God are Gentiles who worship the Jewish God but may or may not have converted to the point of circumcision. Despite showing how Jesus fulfills the Jewish Scriptures, it is the Gentiles who react most favorably. Paul and Barnabas will admonish the Jews, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46).

The Jews in Pisidian Antioch don't reject Paul and Barnabas' message because they find it inconsistent with their Scriptures. They reject the promise of reconciliation with God because they are jealous of the attention Paul and Barnabas receive (Acts 13:45). In the same way, modern Christians need to carefully consider criticisms we receive from unexpected quarters. We should consider, if we are defensive, if it's because the messages are unbiblical or if their perspective threatens our worldly comforts.

Acts 13:16–41 gives the transcript of Paul's message in Pisidian Antioch. It is the only recording of Paul's many synagogue sermons. Paul's message can be broken into five parts, each identified with a call to heed Paul's words: 1. God's saving work in Israel's history and promise of a future Savior (Acts 13:16–25); 2. The Savior's story (Acts 13:26–31); 3. The prophecies of the Savior (Acts 13:32–37); 4. The nature of ''salvation'' (Acts 13:38–39); 5. A warning to accept the Savior (Acts 13:40–41). Some Jews and many Gentiles do accept the message, but the synagogue leaders drive Paul and Barnabas out of town (Acts 13:42–51).

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.