1. Acts 13:13–52 (ESV)
  2. Structure and outline

Form and Structure

Acts 13:13–52 (ESV)

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

  • The main movements in the book of Acts are as follows:1

    • Prologue, foundations for the church and its mission (Acts 1:1–2:41)

    • The church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42–6:7)

    • The church expands to Samaria and elsewhere (Acts 6:8–9:31)

    • Peter and the first Gentile converts (Acts 9:32–12:24)

    • Paul turns to the Gentiles (Acts 12:25–16:5)

    • Further penetration into the Gentile world (Acts 16:6–19:20)

    • On to Rome (Acts 19:21–28:31)

  • With regards to Paul’s turning to the Gentiles, a further division can be made:2

    • The mission on Cyprus (Acts 13:1–12)

    • The mission in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:13–52)

    • The mission in Iconium (Acts 14:1–7)

    • The mission in Lystra (Acts 14:8–20)

    • The mission in Derbe and Perge (Acts 14:21–28)

    • The Apostles’ council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1–33)

    • Disagreements, travels and missionary plans (Acts 15:35–16:5)

  • Some of the events in Acts 13:1–52 and Acts 14:1–28 appear to parallel those of Acts 2:1–3:26.3 Having been sent and empowered by the Spirit (Acts 2:1–13; Acts 13:1–4), an apostle of Jesus Christ then preaches the gospel (Acts 2:14–39; Acts 13:16–41) and performs a public miracle (Acts 3:1–9; Acts 14:8–10) followed by another speech (Acts 3:11–26; Acts 14:11–18).

  • The sermon of Paul (Acts 13:16–41) is representative of his preaching in the Mediterranean basin. It gives us an example of what he typically said when he came to a Jewish synagogue. He provides a historical survey of God’s work in the past, showing how the Old Testament Scriptures look forward to the coming of a Messiah.4 Paul then explains that Jesus is this Messiah, with the resurrection held forth as evidence. Finally, he calls on his audience to respond to his preaching with repentance and faith.