Acts 13:6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 13:4-13

In these verses we have, I. A general account of the coming of Barnabas and Saul to the famous island of Cyprus; and perhaps thitherward they steered their course because Barnabas was a native of that country (Acts 4:36), and he was willing they should have the first-fruits of his labours, pursuant to his new commission. Observe, 1. Their being sent forth by the Holy Ghost was the great thing that encouraged them in this undertaking, Acts 13:4. If the Holy Ghost send them forth, he will go... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 13:4-12

13:4-12 So when they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus. When they were in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews; and they had John as their helper. They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, and there they found a man who was a dealer in magic, a false prophet and a Jew. His name was Bar-Jesus and he was with the pro-consul Sergius Paulus who was an intelligent man. The pro-consul... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 13:6

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos ,.... The Alexandrian copy, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, "the whole isle"; for through the midst of the whole island they must go, to go from Salarnis to Paphos; for Salamis was on the east, and Paphos on the west of the islands F17 Ptolom. Geograph. l. 5. c. 14. : it had its name from the Phoenician word, פאת פאות , "peathpaoth", "the corner of corners"; because both old and new Paphos were situated in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 13:6

Gone through the isle - Ὁλην , The Whole isle, is added here by ABCDE, several others, both the Syrian, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and Itala; and also by several of the Greek fathers; and this must be the true reading, for it is evident they ran through the whole island from east to west. Unto Paphos - This town, next in importance to Salamis, was situated on the western part of the isle; and having gone from Salamis to this place is a proof that they had gone through the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 13:6

Verse 6 6.When they had passed over. It is to be thought that this their passage was not altogether without fruit; and, assuredly, Luke would never have passed over with silence a general repulse; but it was sufficient for him to say that they were not idle in the office of teaching in their journey, seeing that he maketh haste unto a famous history, which he will set down immediately. And forasmuch as Salamis, situated upon the east coast, did look toward Syria, it was requisite that Paul and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:1-15

The invasion of heathendom. It has been well remarked that Antioch was the true center of direct missions to the heathen world. An Ethiopian eunuch, and a Roman centurion, had indeed been gathered into the fold of Christ. But they were both closely connected with the land of Judah, and their conversion had not led to any further extension of the gospel of Christ. At Antioch the seed of Christian truth first fell in abundance upon heathen soil; from Antioch first went forth the preachers of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:4-12

The mission in Cyprus. I. THE FALSE PROPHET . Bar-jesus may stand as the type of one class of foes with whom Christianity has to contend. He is described as a "mage" and a "false prophet." It appears that he gave himself the title of Elymas (to which word the modern Turkish ulema corresponds)—"wise man" par excellence. The essence of the magic calling is the pretension to override the laws of nature and providence in obedience to the wishes and fantasies and caprices of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:4-12

The gospel in Cyprus. Break in the narrative, the second portion, referring to the missionary labors of St. Paul, reminding us that the chief purpose of the book is to describe the growth of the Church, not directly its constitution or doctrines or discipline. Notice— I. THE TENTATIVE CHARACTER of this first missionary journey, which embraced Cyprus, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, and so back through Attalia to Antioch. The Church at Antioch kept in view, and the report of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:4-13

Forwardness and frailty. The two leading points in this passage are the forwardness of Bar-jesus and the frailty of Mark. But there are other incidental lessons which spring up by the way. We may learn as we pass: 1. That good work for others comes home with a blessing before long. Some of the scattered Christians were men of Cyprus, " who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks" ( Acts 11:20 ); and here are men from the Church which the Cypriots helped to form... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:6

The whole island for the isle, A.V. and T.R. Paphos; on the south coast at the further extremity of the island, now Baffa. It had once a convenient harbor, which is now choked up from neglect. The chief temple of the Cyprian Venus was here. A certain sorcerer . The Greek word μάγος , whence magic and magician, is the same as in Matthew 2:1 is rendered "wise men." But here, as in Acts 8:9 , it has a bad sense. It is a Persian word, and in its original use designated a... read more

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