It was very natural that the missionary party should sail for Cyprus, partly because it was the first and nearest outpost of the great heathen world that lay to the west, and partly because Barnabas was a native of the island and had owned land there, which he had sold for the benefit of his poorer brethren in the church, Acts 4:36.
In visiting a new city, it was the custom of the Apostles to go first to the Jewish synagogue, where such was to be found. "To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile," was the divine order, Romans 2:10. The journey from Cyprus to the mainland was easily made; but the journey up to this inland city of Antioch was very perilous, 2 Corinthians 11:26.
Acts 13:16 gives us the Apostle's favorite attitude, Acts 21:40; Acts 26:1. Ye that fear God, referred to the Gentile proselytes. This first address contained the seed-thoughts of the Apostle's ministry. He loved to show that the gospel was the white flower that grew on the ancient stock of Judaism. Whatever his starting point, he was sure to come, by a direct path, to Jesus Christ. Observe throughout how Paul attributes all of the great events and movements of history to the direction and agency of God. God chose the fathers; God gave Saul; God brought unto Israel a Savior. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 13
1Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles 6Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer 13Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ 42The Gentiles believe; 44but the Jews talked abusively against Paul, 46whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe 50The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium
Greek Commentary for Acts 13:18
Suffered he their manners [ετροποπορησεν] First aorist active indicative of τροποπορεω tropophoreō late word from τροπος tropos manner, and περω pherō reading of Aleph B D and accepted by Westcott and Hort. But A C Sahidic Bohairic read ετροποπορησεν etrophophorēsen from τροποπορεω trophophoreō (τροπος trophos a nurse, and περω pherō late word (II Macc. Acts 7:27), probably correct word here and Deuteronomy 1:31. [source]
Suffered he their manners [ἐτροποφόρησεν] From τρόπος fashion or manner, and φορέω , to bear or suffer. The preferable reading, however, is ἐτροφοφόρησεν ; from τροφός , a nurse; and the figure is explained by, and probably was drawn from, Deuteronomy 1:31. The American revisers properly insist on the rendering, as a nursing-father bare he them. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:18
Acts 7:23When he was well-nigh forty years old [ως επληρουτο αυτωι τεσσαρακονταετης χρονος] A rather awkward Greek idiom for the English: “When a forty year old time (same idiom in Acts 13:18 and only twice in the N.T.) was being fulfilled (επληρουτο eplērouto imperfect passive) for him (dative case).” The life of Moses is divided into three periods of forty years each (in Egypt 40 years, in Midian 40, governed Israel 40, 120 when he died, Deuteronomy 34:7). [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 13:18 mean?
andof aboutforty yearsfor a periodHe endured the waystheirinthewilderness
Greek Commentary for Acts 13:18
First aorist active indicative of τροποπορεω tropophoreō late word from τροπος tropos manner, and περω pherō reading of Aleph B D and accepted by Westcott and Hort. But A C Sahidic Bohairic read ετροποπορησεν etrophophorēsen from τροποπορεω trophophoreō (τροπος trophos a nurse, and περω pherō late word (II Macc. Acts 7:27), probably correct word here and Deuteronomy 1:31. [source]
From τρόπος fashion or manner, and φορέω , to bear or suffer. The preferable reading, however, is ἐτροφοφόρησεν ; from τροφός , a nurse; and the figure is explained by, and probably was drawn from, Deuteronomy 1:31. The American revisers properly insist on the rendering, as a nursing-father bare he them. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:18
A rather awkward Greek idiom for the English: “When a forty year old time (same idiom in Acts 13:18 and only twice in the N.T.) was being fulfilled (επληρουτο eplērouto imperfect passive) for him (dative case).” The life of Moses is divided into three periods of forty years each (in Egypt 40 years, in Midian 40, governed Israel 40, 120 when he died, Deuteronomy 34:7). [source]