Acts 13:14

But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. And Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said.

Under the above verses, we noted the passing over of any event or teaching that might have occurred in Perga. The words "passing through" seem to indicate that the evangelistic company merely passed through Perga on the way to Antioch and that there had been no purpose of stopping there.

Antioch of Pisidia ... Although a principal city of the district, this is not to be confused with Antioch of Syria. The latter was the home base for Paul's missionary labors, and Antioch of Pisidia was a distant outpost. At the time of Paul's preaching on this first tour,

The churches of Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, Iconium, though south of Galatia proper, were nevertheless in the province of Galatia, and could be spoken of as the Galatian churches ... this grouping (of these places in Galatia) was abandoned after some three hundred years; and the name "Galatia" reverted to the northern part of the province. The wider meaning of the name (Galatia) was apparently forgotten until it was recovered largely through the research of Sir William M. Ramsay.[22]

The synagogues throughout the Roman Empire were the centers of Judaism; and, in many of these, there were devout souls "waiting for the kingdom of God," and this fact naturally directed the feet of the first Christian missionaries to the synagogues wherever they went.

The scene that emerges here at the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch is that of a devout congregation of Jews meeting on sabbath days to read the sacred Scriptures and hoping to take advantage of any stimulating comment that might be provided by occasional visitors. It was a situation made to order for a preacher of Paul's character and ability.

And beckoning with his hand ... There was evidently some characteristic gesture that Paul used at the beginning of his discourses; and Luke's mention of it proves the record here to have originated with an eyewitness.

Reading of the law and the prophets ... Boles declared that:

The law was first read in the synagogues until 163 B.C., when Antiochus Epiphanes prohibited it; then the reading of the prophets was substituted for it. When the Maccabees restored the reading of the law, the reading of the prophets continued also.[23]

PAUL'S ADDRESS

Paul's address falls into three logical divisions: I. The historical background of the Messiah (Acts 13:17-23), culminating in the coming of Jesus the Son of David. II. The proof that Jesus was indeed the promised deliverer (Acts 13:24-37). III. An appeal to the people with a warning against rejecting Christ (Acts 13:38-41).

[22] Ibid., p. 173.

[23] H. Leo Boles, op. cit., p. 205.