NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 40
A cts 1 3 : 7
1996
7 He
had attached himself to the governor,
Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man.
The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to
visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of
God. 8 But Elym
as, the sorcerer (as his name
means in Greek), interfered and urged the
governor to pay no attention to what Barna
bas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the
governor from believing.
9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with
the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer
in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the
devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud,
and enemy of all that is good! Will you never
stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?
11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand
of punishment upon you, and you will be
struck blind. You will not see the sunlight
for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness
came over the man’s eyes, and he began
groping around begging for someone to take
his hand and lead him.
12 When the governor saw what had hap
pened, he became a believer, for he was as
tonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia
13 Paul and his companions then left Paphos
by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port
town of Perga. There John Mark left them and
returned to Jerusalem. 14 But Paul and Barna
bas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.*
On the Sabbath they went to the syna
gogue for the services. 15 After the usual
readings from the books of Moses* and the
prophets, those in charge of the service sent
them this message: “Brothers, if you have
any word of encouragement for the people,
come and give it.”
13:8
2 Tim 3:8
13:9
Acts 2:4
13:10
Hos 14:9
Matt 13:38
John 8:44
13:11
2 Kgs 6:18
Acts 9:8
13:13
Acts 12:12; 15:38
13:14
Acts 14:19, 21
13:15
Acts 15:21
13:1314 Pamphylia and Pisidia were districts in what is now Turkey. 13:15 Greek from the law.
PROFILE
JOHN MARK Useful Deserter, Dynamic Author
Acts 13:45, 13
Acts 12:12, 25;
15:3639;
Col 4:10;
2 Tim 4:11;
Phlm 1:2324;
1 Pet 5:13
John Mark, writer of the earliest Gospel (the Gospel of Mark), was an assistant of three early
missionaries—Barnabas, Paul, and Peter.
Mark was taken along as an assistant by Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary jour
ney. However, for unknown reasons, he left them to return to Jerusalem before the trip was
completed (Acts 12:25; 13:45, 13). Because of this, when Barnabas wanted to take him along
on the second trip, Paul flatly refused. The sharp disagreement that resulted broke the team
apart: Barnabas took Mark (his cousin) with him, and Paul chose Silas, and the two pairs went
their separate ways (15:3641).
Later, it appears that Paul and Mark were reconciled and that Mark once again served
as his assistant. In Colossians, Paul refers to him as a c o-worker and suggests that he
may soon be sending him to visit the church in Colosse (Col 4:10; Phlm 1:24). Still later,
when Paul was awaiting execution in prison in Rome, he asked Timothy to bring Mark
with him, for he thought Mark would be “helpful” (or, “useful”) to him in his ministry
(2 Tim 4:11).
Mark also appears to have assisted Peter when Peter was engaged in missionary work
in Italy near the end of his life; early Christian tradition speaks of him as Peter’s “inter
preter.” In one of Peter’s letters, he speaks endearingly of Mark as his “son” who is with
13:78 The governor, Sergius Paulus,
who was an intelligent man, was
attracted to the teaching of Barnabas
and Saul. But Elymas (the sorcerer’s
Greco-Roman name) recognized a chal
lenge to his power and strongly opposed
the message of Barnabas and Saul.
13:9 Luke makes the significant transi
tion from the name Saul (a Hebrew
name) to Paul (a Greco-Roman name),
perhaps indicating that Paul was now
on a predominantly Gentile mission. For
the rest of the book of Acts, he is called
Paul except when he recounts his con
version (as in 22:7, 13; 26:14).
13:1011 Paul, who became the chief
spokesman, rebuked the sorcerer’s
T H E P E N TAT E U C H
fraudulent claims, exposed his deceit,
and pronounced divine judgment (cp.
8:2024). The sorcerer was instantly
struck blind, a condition that lasted for
some time, giving a strong demonstra
tion of the truthfulness and superiority
of the apostolic message over the bogus
claims of the sorcerer.
13:12 The teaching about the Lord
included a miraculous demonstration
of divine power (cp. Mark 1:2127), for
it was a teaching about the living God
(see Acts 14:15).
13:1314 They landed at the port of
Perga. From here, major roads opened
into the interior beyond the Taurus
Mountains. • At this point, John Mark
ISRAEL’S HISTORY
left the team for reasons that are not
stated (see note on 15:3641). Possibly
he was unhappy that the Good News
was moving out into Gentile lands;
possibly he was homesick or otherwise
unable to continue a difficult journey.
Whatever the reason, he returned to the
more familiar and comfortable Jewish
surroundings of Jerusalem.
13:14 Paul and Barnabas traveled
inland into the high country, and came
to Antioch of Pisidia (in the Roman
province of Galatia in Asia Minor, not to
be confused with Antioch in Syria). As
was their custom, the apostles began at
the synagogue (see note on 9:2; cp. 13:5;
14:1; 17:1, 2, 10, 17; 18:4, 19; 19:8).
POETRY & WISDOM
