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Bible Commentaries
Acts 13

Gann's Commentary on the BibleGann on the Bible

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Verse 1

Acts 13:1

Antioch -- The third largest city in the empie at this time, 500,000 people.

[It is very important right here to see the sermon "The Great Church At Antioch" in the e-Sword topic file "Sermons_Gann.topx" for additional comments on the Acts 11:19-30; and Acts 13:1-3.]

Is this "Simon" the same as "Simeon" in Acts 13:1, who is called, Niger.

Simon Luke 23:26 G4613 70 verses 75 times.Matthew 4:18; Matthew 10:2; Matthew 10:4; Matthew 13:55; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 16:17; Matthew 17:25; Matthew 26:6; Matthew 27:32; Mark 1:16; Mark 1:29; Mark 1:30; Mark 1:36; Mark 3:16; Mark 3:18; Mark 6:3; Mark 14:3; Mark 14:37; Mark 15:21; Luke 4:38; Luke 5:3; Luke 5:4; Luke 5:5; Luke 5:8; Luke 5:10; Luke 6:14; Luke 6:15; Luke 7:40; Luke 7:43; Luke 7:44; Luke 22:31; Luke 23:26; Luke 24:34; John 1:40; John 1:41; John 1:42; John 6:8; John 6:68; John 6:71; John 12:4; John 13:2; John 13:6; John 13:9; John 13:24; John 13:26; John 13:36; John 18:10; John 18:15; John 18:25; John 20:2; John 20:6; John 21:2; John 21:3; John 21:7; John 21:11; John 21:15; John 21:16; John 21:17; Acts 1:13; Acts 8:9; Acts 8:13; Acts 8:18; Acts 8:24; Acts 9:43; Acts 10:5; Acts 10:6; Acts 10:17; Acts 10:18; Acts 10:32; Acts 11:13;

Acts 13:1 Simeon - G4826 Luke 2:25; Luke 2:34; Luke 3:30; Acts 13:1; Acts 15:14; 2 Peter 1:1; Revelation 7:7;

Who is called Niger -- G3526 Νίγερ Niger Thayer Definition: Niger = “black”

1) surname of the prophet Simeon; Part of Speech: noun proper masculine; A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: of Latin origin

Verse 5

Acts 13:5

Salamis -- Tradition - Barnabas born here, and stoned to death here by a Jewish mob because of his influence in the church and community here.

Verse 6

Acts 13:6

Jew -- Here we see a Jew involved in sorcery thought it was forbidden. Many Romans sought out sorcerers and came under their influence.

Verse 7

Acts 13:7

Deputy -- There were two kinds of Roman provinces with the title of governors. 1) Senatorial - called deputy in KJV or proconsul. Also in Acts 18:12 2) Imperial - (by the Emperor) called procurator, as was Pilate Matthew 27:2 (administrator).

Verse 9

Acts 13:9

Saul -- Paul -- The changing point of Saul’s name.

Verse 13

Acts 13:13

Perga -- About 8 or 12 miles inland on a river.

Verse 14

Acts 13:14

Antioch in Pisidia -- A Roman colony.

Verse 15

Acts 13:15

Reading -- There were two reading on the Sabbath, one from the Law and one from the Prophets. There was a schedule for the reading in the synagogues so that once a year they might all be read. The reading of Deuteronomy 1:31 as seen from Paul’s discussion (Acts 13:17) and Isaiah 1:2 may fix this precise date in the year AD 44 to the last week of July or the first week of August.

From the present table of Jewish lessons the reading from the Law for the forty-fourth Sabbath in the year is Deuteronomy 1:1 to Deuteronomy 3:22, while the corresponding lesson from the Prophets is Isaiah 1:1-22.

Ramsay, St. Paul, p. 100, points out that the present list of Jewish lessons is of decidedly later origin, but adds that “probably it was often determined by older custom and traditional ideas of suitable accompaniment.

Alford says, "Before the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Law only was read in the synagogues: but, this having been forbidden by him, the Prophets were substituted:—and, when the Maccabees restored the reading of the Law, that of the prophets continued as well."

Verse 16

Acts 13:16

Paul stood up -- In Judea the speakers sat, but in the Roman-Grecian world they stood to speak.

Paul’s message could be outlined as below:

I. God Is In Control - Acts 13:16-25

1. Jesus is the Focus of History - Acts 13:16-25

2. Jesus is the Fulfilment of Prophecy - Acts 13:26-37

3. Jesus, the Forgiver of Iniquity - Acts 13:38-42

II. The Messiah Has Come - Acts 13:26-37

III. You Can Be Saved - Acts 13:38-41

Verse 26

Acts 13:26

II. "The Messiah Has Come" - Acts 13:26-37 (see note Acts 13:16)

Verse 27

Acts 13:27

Paul recapitulates the facts.

Verse 32

Acts 13:32

Glad Tidings -- Paul has Good News for his hearers! The Messiah has come!

Verse 38

Acts 13:38

III. ’You Can Be Saved" - Acts 13:38-41 (see note Acts 13:16)

Verse 41

Acts 13:41

Habakkuk 1:5

Verse 48

Acts 13:48

Ordained to eternal life -- Those now ordained (appointed) to eternal life were believers, not Law keepers! MH "As many as were disposed to eternal life believed."

Verse 49

Acts 13:49

Word -- published -- Much more preaching was done.

Bibliographical Information
Gann, Windell. "Commentary on Acts 13". Gann's Commentary on the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/gbc/acts-13.html. 2021.
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