Text -- Acts 13:4 (NET)

Paul and Barnabas Preach in Cyprus

13:4 So Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Act 13:4 - So they

So they ( autoi men oun ).

They themselves indeed therefore. No contrast is necessary, though there is a slight one in Act 13:5, Act 13:6. Luke again refers to the Holy Spirit as the source of their authority for this campaign rather than the church at Antioch.

Robertson: Act 13:4 - Sent forth

Sent forth ( ekpemphthentes ).

Old verb from ekpempō and first aorist passive participle, but in the N.T. only here and Act 17:10.

Robertson: Act 13:4 - Sailed

Sailed ( apepleusan ).

Effective aorist active indicative of apopleō , old verb to sail away, depart from. In the N.T. only here and Act 14:26; Act 20:15; Act 27:1. Barnabas was from Cyprus where there were many Jews.

Vincent: Act 13:4 - Sailed

Sailed

On Luke's use of words for sailing, see Introduction.

JFB: Act 13:4-5 - departed unto Seleucia

The seaport of Antioch, from which it lay nearly due west fifteen miles, and five from the Mediterranean shore, on the river Orontes.

JFB: Act 13:4-5 - thence sailed to Cyprus

Whose high mountain summits are easily seen in clear weather from the coast [COLONEL CHESNEY in HOWSON]. "Four reasons may have induced them to turn in first to this island: (1) Its nearness to the mainland; (2) It was the native place of Barnabas, and since the time when Andrew found his brother Simon, and brought him to Jesus, and "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," family ties had not been without effect on the progress of the Gospel. (3) It could not be unnatural to suppose that the truth would be welcomed in Cyprus when brought by Barnabas and his kinsman Mark, to their own connections or friends. The Jews were numerous in Salamis. By sailing to that city, they were following the track of the synagogues; and though their mission was chiefly to the Gentiles, their surest course for reaching them was through the proselytes and Hellenizing Jews. (4) Some of the Cypriotes were already Christians. Indeed, no one place out of Palestine, except Antioch, had been so honorably associated with the work of successful evangelization" [HOWSON].

Clarke: Act 13:4 - Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost

Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost - By his influence, authority, and under his continual direction. Without the first, they were not qualified to go; without the second, they had no authority to go; and without the third, they could not know where to go

Clarke: Act 13:4 - Departed, unto Seleucia

Departed, unto Seleucia - This is generally understood to be Seleucia of Pieria, the first city on the coast of Syria, coming from Cilicia; near the place where the river Orontes pours itself into the sea

Clarke: Act 13:4 - They sailed to Cyprus

They sailed to Cyprus - A well known island in the Mediterranean Sea. See on Act 4:36 (note).

Calvin: Act 13:4 - Being sent out by the Holy Ghost

4.Being sent out by the Holy Ghost There is no mention made here of the election made by the Church, because it was altogether a divine calling; the Church did only receive those who were offered them by the hand of God. He saith, that they came first to Seleucia, which was a city of Syria. There was, indeed, a country of the same name; but it is more likely that Luke speaketh of the city, which was not far from Cyprus by sea.

TSK: Act 13:4 - being // Cyprus

being : Act 20:23

Cyprus : Act 4:36, Act 11:19, Act 27:4

Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Poole: Act 13:4 - Seleucia

Seleucia a sea town of Cilicia, nigh unto Antioch, and over against Cyprus, built by Seleucus, and was a town of some note, but mentioned here only as in their passage to Cyprus.

Gill: Act 13:4 - So they being sent forth of the Holy Ghost // departed to Seleucia // and from thence they sailed to Cyprus

So they being sent forth of the Holy Ghost,.... This is said, lest it should be thought they were sent by men; it was the Holy Ghost that moved the prophets at Antioch to separate them from them, and to send them away; and who inclined their minds to go, and directed them what course to steer: and accordingly they

departed to Seleucia; which was a city of Syria, called by Pliny, Seleucia Pieria ^d; it had its name from Seleucus Nicanor, king of Egypt, who was the builder of it: it was not far from Antioch, it is said to be twenty four miles from it; it is the first city of Syria from Cilicia, and was situated at the mouth of the river Orontes; wherefore Saul and Barnabas made no stay here; and it seems that their coming hither was only in order to take shipping for the island of Cyprus; for Seleucia was upon the sea coast, as appears from:

"King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.'' (1 Maccabees 11:8)

and was the proper place to set sail from to Cyprus. So we read of Apollonius Tyaneus and his companions ^e, that

"they went down to the sea by Seleucia, where having got a ship, "they sailed to Cyprus:" and so it follows here,''

and from thence they sailed to Cyprus; an island in the Mediterranean sea, the native country of Barnabas, Act 4:36 See Gill on Act 4:36.