Acts – Chapter 13

New Testament52 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 13 of Acts begins: "Now there were in the church which was at Antioch prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius…" The chapter centers on Paul, Barnabas and Saul. Across its 52 verses, two threads run through the text: faith and trust in God and family and covenant relationships. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1Now there were in the church which was at Antioch prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manahen who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them.

3Then they fasting and praying and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.

4So they, being sent by the Holy Ghost, went to Seleucia: and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5And when they were come to Salamina, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also in the ministry.

6And when they had gone through the whole island, as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesu:

7Who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. He, sending for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God.

8But Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

9Then Saul, otherwise Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, looking upon him,

10Said: O full of all guile and of all deceit, child of the devil, enemy of all justice, thou ceases not to pervert the right ways of the Lord.

11And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee: and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately there fell a mist and darkness upon him: and going about, he sought some one to lead him by the hand.

12Then the proconsul, when he had seen what was done, believed, admiring at the doctrine of the Lord.

13Now when Paul and they that were with him had sailed from Paphos, they came to Perge in Pamphylia. And John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14But they, passing through Perge, came to Antioch in Pisidia: and, entering into the Synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat down.

15And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying: Ye men, brethren, if you have any word of exhortation to make to the people, speak.

16Then Paul rising up and with his hand bespeaking silence, said: Ye men of Israel and you that fear God, give ear.

17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they were sojourners in the land of Egypt: And with an high arm brought them out from thence:

18And for the space of forty years endured their manners in the desert:

19And, destroying seven nations in the land of Chaanan, divided their land among them by lot.

20As it were, after four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave unto them judges, until Samuel the prophet.

21And after that they desired a king: and God gave them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years.

22And when he had removed him, he raised them up David to be king: to whom giving testimony, he said: I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to my own heart, who shall do all my wills.

23Of this man's seed, God, according to his promise, hath raised up to Israel a Saviour Jesus:

24John first preaching, before his coming, the baptism of penance to all the people of Israel.

25And when John was fulfilling his course, he said: I am not he whom you think me to be. But behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

26Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fear God: to you the word of this salvation is sent.

27For they that inhabited Jerusalem and the rulers thereof, not knowing him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, judging him, have fulfilled them.

28And finding no cause of death in him, they desired of Pilate that they might kill him.

29And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, taking him down from the tree, they laid him in a sepulchre.

30But God raised him up from the dead the third day.

31Who was seen for many days by them who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who to this present are his witnesses to the people.

32And we declare unto you that the promise which was made to our fathers,

33This same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus, as in the second psalm also is written: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.

34And to shew that he raised him up from the dead, not to return now any more to corruption, he said thus: I will give you the holy things of David, faithful.

35And therefore, in another place also, he saith: Thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption.

36For David, when he had served in his generation, according to the will of God, slept: and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption.

37But he whom God hath raised from the dead saw no corruption.

38Be it known therefore to you, men, brethren, that through him forgiveness of sins is preached to you: and from all the things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

39In him every one that believeth is justified.

40Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets:

41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you will not believe, if any man shall tell it you.

42And as they went out, they desired them that on the next sabbath they would speak unto them these words.

43And when the synagogue was broken up, many of the Jews and of the strangers who served God followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44But the next sabbath day, the whole city almost came together, to hear the word of God.

45And the Jews, seeing the multitudes, were filled with envy and contradicted those things which were said by Paul, blaspheming.

46Then Paul and Barnabas said boldly: To you it behoved us first to speak the word of God: but because you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold we turn to the Gentiles.

47For so the Lord hath commanded us: I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles: that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost part of the earth.

48And the Gentiles hearing it were glad and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to life everlasting believed.

49And the word of the Lord was published throughout the whole country.

50But the Jews stirred up religious and honourable women and the chief men of the city: and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas: and cast them out of their coasts.

51But they, shaking off the dust of their feet against them, came to Iconium.

52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost.

Important Verses in Acts 13

And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them.

Acts 13:2

Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fear God: to you the word of this salvation is sent.

Acts 13:26

And to shew that he raised him up from the dead, not to return now any more to corruption, he said thus: I will give you the holy things of David, faithful.

Acts 13:34

For so the Lord hath commanded us: I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles: that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost part of the earth.

Acts 13:47

Historical Context

Acts addresses the growing Church, shown its apostolic origins and missionary calling within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 13 of 28 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 52 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Paul, Barnabas, Saul and David, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The passage starts with these words: "Now there were in the church which was at Antioch prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas and Simon who was…" The final verse reads: "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost. " The wider setting of Acts is this: Acts narrates the Church's birth and expansion 'to the ends of the earth': Pentecost, the first community in Jerusalem, the martyrdom of Stephen, the conversion of Paul, the opening to the Gentiles, and Paul's… The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: About AD 80-90.

Who Wrote It

Luke, as the second volume of his work

When It Was Written

About AD 80-90

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter describes real persons, decisions, and consequences within the Church's mission empowered by the Holy Spirit. A pivotal line is verse 2: "And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them." The passage repeatedly touches on faith and trust in God.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1814). Here, Acts shows the Church's apostolic foundation (CIC 857-862). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize faith and trust in God as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Faith is a gift and a decision: entrusting ourselves entirely to God and to His promises.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Faith is a gift and a decision: entrusting ourselves entirely to God and to His promises.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and the promise of our own resurrection.

People in This Chapter

Paul7 mentionsBarnabas6 mentionsSaul5 mentionsDavid4 mentionsJohn4 mentionsAbraham1 mention

Reflection for Today

As Catholics read Acts Chapter 13, we do so within the living Tradition that has guarded this text for two millennia.

The saints did not treat Scripture as antiquarian literature. St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, and countless others used passages such as this to fuel daily conversion. the sanctity of marriage and family remains a practical lesson for modern disciples.

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of the sanctity of marriage and family bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Acts Chapter 13 about?

Acts 13 contains 52 verses. It opens with "Now there were in the church which was at Antioch prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas and Simon who was…" and closes with "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost. ". The book as a whole is historical narrative.

What is a key verse in Acts 13?

One of the most significant verses is verse 2: "And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Acts Chapter 13?

This chapter mentions Paul, Barnabas, Saul, David, John, among others.

Who wrote Acts and when?

Luke, as the second volume of his work. About AD 80-90.

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