Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 13
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 13:
Chapter 13 returns to the Church in Antioch, founded by those scattered from Jerusalem (mostly Hellenist Jews) after the death of Stephen (8:1). The believers are praying together, led by prophets and teachers, and are guided by the Holy Spirit to set aside Barnabas and Saul (=Paul, vs. 9) for a specific mission (vs. 1-3). Barnabas and Paul begin their journey of missionary outreach, teaching from the Scriptures to their fellow-Jews that Jesus is the Lord (vs. 5, 14-15). Many Jews believe the Good News (vs. 42-43) but some Jews of influence are jealous of their popularity (vs. 44, 50) and put up barriers to their mission. Paul and Barnabas understand the Prophet Isaiah’s words to be predictive of God’s Covenant People, Israel’s ultimate destiny as a light bringing salvation to all and they readily extend the Good News to all (vs. 47-48).
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 13:
Barnabas and Saul Commissioned
1 Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The Apostles Preach in Cyprus
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. 9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia
13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem; 14 but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:
“Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years. 20 And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
26 “Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. 28 Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead; 31 and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm,
‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’ 34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke in this way,
‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,
‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
36 For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Let it be known to you there fore, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is pro claimed to you, 39 and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest
there come upon you what is said in the prophets:
41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish;
for I do a deed in your days,
a deed you will never believe, if one declares it to you.’ ”
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next sabbath. 43 And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him." (v 45) Lord, in what ways have I allowed my pride and jealousy to interfere with your will? In what ways are you calling me to cooperate with your will now?
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 En la iglesia de Antioquía había
profetas y maestros: Bernabé
y Simón, que era llamado el Negro, Lucio,
el de Cirene, y Manahén, hermano
de leche del tetrarca Herodes, y Saulo.
2 Mientras celebraban el culto del Señor
y ayunaban, dijo el Espíritu Santo:
–Separadme a Bernabé y a Saulo
para la obra que les he destinado.
3 Y después de ayunar, orar e imponerles
las manos, los despidieron.
4 Entonces ellos, enviados por el Espíritu
Santo, bajaron a Seleucia, y de
allí navegaron rumbo a Chipre. 5 Al llegar
a Salamina se pusieron a predicar
la palabra de Dios en las sinagogas de
los judíos, y tenían a Juan como colaborador.
6 Atravesaron toda la isla hasta
Pafos, y encontraron a un mago, falso
profeta judío, que se llamaba Barjesús,
7 que estaba con el procónsul Sergio Pablo,
hombre prudente. Éste hizo llamar
a Bernabé y a Saulo, con el deseo de oír
la palabra de Dios; 8 pero el mago Elimas
–que así se traduce su nombre– se
les oponía, intentando apartar de la fe
al procónsul. 9 Entonces Saulo, también
llamado Pablo, lleno del Espíritu Santo
y mirándolo fijamente, 10 le dijo:
–¡Tú, lleno de todo engaño y de toda
malicia, hijo del diablo, enemigo de toda
justicia! ¿No dejarás de torcer los rectos
caminos del Señor? 11 La mano del Señor
va a caer sobre ti y te vas a quedar ciego
sin ver el sol hasta el tiempo señalado.
Al momento la niebla y la oscuridad
le rodearon y se puso a dar vueltas buscando
alguien que le llevara de la mano.
12 Al ver lo sucedido, el procónsul creyó,
admirado de la doctrina del Señor.
13 Pablo y sus compañeros navegaron
desde Pafos hasta llegar a Perge de Panfilia;
pero Juan se separó de ellos y volvió
a Jerusalén. 14 Ellos siguieron desde
Perge y llegaron a Antioquía de Pisidia.
El sábado entraron en la sinagoga y tomaron
asiento.
15 Después de la lectura de la Ley y
los Profetas, los jefes de la sinagoga se
dirigieron a ellos:
–Hermanos, si tenéis alguna palabra
de exhortación para el pueblo, decidla.
16 Pablo se levantó, pidió con la mano
silencio y dijo:
–Varones israelitas y los temerosos
de Dios, escuchad: 17 el Dios de este pueblo
de Israel eligió a nuestros padres,
enalteció al pueblo durante su permanencia
en el país de Egipto, y con brazo
fuerte los sacó de allí. 18 Durante unos
cuarenta años los cuidó en el desierto;
19 destruyó siete naciones en el país
de Canaán y distribuyó su tierra entre
ellos 20 a lo largo de unos cuatrocientos
cincuenta años. Después de esto, les dio
jueces hasta el profeta Samuel. 21 Pidieron entonces un rey y Dios les dio durante
cuarenta años a Saúl, hijo de Cis,
varón de la tribu de Benjamín. 22 Cuando
lo depuso, les suscitó como rey a David,
a quien acreditó diciendo: Encontré
a David, hijo de Jesé, hombre según mi
corazón, que hará en todo mi voluntad.
23 »De su descendencia, Dios, según
la promesa, hizo surgir para Israel
un Salvador, Jesús. 24 Juan había predicado,
ante la proximidad de su venida,
un bautismo de penitencia a todo
el pueblo de Israel. 25 Cuando estaba
Juan para terminar su carrera decía:
«¿Quién pensáis que soy? No soy yo,
sino mirad que detrás de mí viene uno
a quien no soy digno de desatar el calzado
de los pies».Hermanos, hijos de Abrahán y los
que entre vosotros sois temerosos
de Dios: a nosotros se nos ha enviado esta
palabra de Salvación.
27 Los habitantes de Jerusalén y sus
jefes le ignoraron y, al condenarle, cumplieron
las palabras de los Profetas que
se leen todos los sábados. 28 Y sin haber
encontrado causa alguna de muerte,
pidieron a Pilato que le hiciera morir.
29 Cuando cumplieron todo lo que sobre
él estaba escrito, le bajaron del madero y
lo pusieron en el sepulcro. 30 Pero Dios le
resucitó de entre los muertos: 31 se apareció
muchos días a los que habían subido
con él de Galilea a Jerusalén, los mismos
que ahora son sus testigos ante el
pueblo.
32 »También nosotros os anunciamos
la buena nueva de que la promesa hecha
a nuestros padres 33 la ha cumplido Dios
en nosotros, sus hijos, al resucitar a Jesús,
como estaba escrito en el Salmo segundo:
Tú eres mi Hijo,
yo te he engendrado hoy.
34 »Y que lo resucitó de entre los
muertos para jamás volver a la corrupción
lo dijo así:
Os daré las santas y firmes promesas
hechas a David.
35 »Por lo cual dice también en otro
lugar:
No dejarás a tu Santo experimentar
la corrupción.
36 »Porque David, después de haber
cumplido durante su vida la voluntad
de Dios, murió, fue sepultado con
sus padres y experimentó la corrupción;
37 pero aquel a quien Dios resucitó
no experimentó la corrupción. 38 Sabed,
pues, hermanos, que por éste se os
anuncia el perdón de los pecados; y que
de todo lo que no pudisteis ser justificados
por la Ley de Moisés, 39 queda justificado
todo el que cree en él. 40 Por tanto,
cuidad que no suceda lo dicho en los
Profetas:
41 Mirad, los despreciadores,
asombraos y ocultaos,
porque voy a realizar una obra en
vuestros días,
una obra que no creeríais si alguien
os la contara.
42 Al salir les rogaban que el sábado
siguiente les hablaran de eso mismo.
43 Terminada la reunión, muchos judíos
y prosélitos que adoraban a Dios siguieron
a Pablo y a Bernabé, que les exhortaban
y persuadían a permanecer en la
gracia de Dios.
44 El sábado siguiente se congregó
casi toda la ciudad para oír la palabra
del Señor. 45 Cuando los judíos vieron la
muchedumbre se llenaron de envidia y
contradecían con injurias las afirmaciones
de Pablo. 46 Entonces Pablo y Bernabé
dijeron con valentía:
–Era necesario anunciaros en primer
lugar a vosotros la palabra de Dios,
pero ya que la rechazáis y os juzgáis indignos
de la vida eterna, nos volvemos
a los gentiles. 47 Pues así nos lo mandó
el Señor:
Te he puesto como luz de los gentiles,
para que lleves la salvación
hasta los confines de la tierra.
48 Al oír esto los gentiles se alegraban
y glorificaban la palabra del Señor,
y creyeron todos los que estaban destinados
a la vida eterna. 49 Y la palabra
del Señor se propagaba por toda la región.
50 Pero los judíos incitaron a mujeres
piadosas y distinguidas y a los principales
de la ciudad, promovieron una
persecución contra Pablo y Bernabé y
los expulsaron de su territorio. 51 Éstos
se sacudieron el polvo de los pies contra
ellos y se dirigieron a Iconio. 52 Los discípulos
quedaron llenos de alegría y del
Espíritu Santo.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).