Acts 13:12
New International Version
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

New Living Translation
When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

English Standard Version
Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
Then the proconsul, having seen that having happened, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

King James Bible
Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

New King James Version
Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

New American Standard Bible
Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

NASB 1995
Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

NASB 1977
Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Amplified Bible
The proconsul believed [the message of salvation] when he saw what had happened, being astonished at the teaching concerning the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible
Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

American Standard Version
Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
When the governor saw what had happened, he was amazed at this teaching about the Lord. So he put his faith in the Lord.

English Revised Version
Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. The Lord's teachings amazed him.

Good News Translation
When the governor saw what had happened, he believed; for he was greatly amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

International Standard Version
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was astonished at the Lord's teaching.

Majority Standard Bible
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

NET Bible
Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was greatly astounded at the teaching about the Lord.

New Heart English Bible
Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
Then the Proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being struck with amazement at the teaching of the Lord.

World English Bible
Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
then the proconsul having seen what has come to pass, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the LORD.

Berean Literal Bible
Then the proconsul, having seen that having happened, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
then the proconsul having seen what hath come to pass, did believe, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Smith's Literal Translation
Then the proconsul having seen that done, he believed, being struck with amazement at the teaching of the Lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then the proconsul, when he had seen what was done, believed, admiring at the doctrine of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the proconsul, when he had seen what was done, believed, being in wonder over the doctrine of the Lord.

New American Bible
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he came to believe, for he was astonished by the teaching about the Lord.

New Revised Standard Version
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when the proconsul saw what had happened, he was amazed, and believed the teaching of the LORD.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when the Proconsul saw what happened, he was amazed and he believed in the teaching of THE LORD JEHOVAH.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then the proconsul, seeing what was done, believed, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

Godbey New Testament
Then the deputy, seeing that which took place, believed; being delighted with the teaching of the Lord.

Haweis New Testament
Then when the proconsul saw what was done, he believed, being struck with the doctrine of the Lord.

Mace New Testament
the proconsul seeing the fact, embraced the faith, being struck with admiration of the christian doctrine.

Weymouth New Testament
Then the Proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being struck with amazement at the teaching of the Lord.

Worrell New Testament
Then the proconsul, seeing what had taken place, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Worsley New Testament
Then the proconsul, seeing what was done, believed, being struck with admiration at the doctrine of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
On Cyprus
11Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. 13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.…

Cross References
Acts 8:13
Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.

Acts 16:14
Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Acts 19:17-20
This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. / Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds. / And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ...

Acts 2:43
A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.

Acts 4:4
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

Acts 6:7
So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 9:42
This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Acts 11:21
The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Acts 17:12
As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.

Acts 18:8
Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.

Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

Luke 1:3-4
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, / so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke 24:45
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

John 20:30-31
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. / But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

the deputy.

Acts 13:7
Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

Acts 28:7
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

when.

Acts 19:7
And all the men were about twelve.

Matthew 27:54
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Luke 7:16
And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

being.

Acts 6:10
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Matthew 7:28,29
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: …

Luke 4:22
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

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Amazed Amazement Astonished Believed Deputy Doctrine Faith Full Occurred Proconsul Ruler Struck Teaching Wonder
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Amazed Amazement Astonished Believed Deputy Doctrine Faith Full Occurred Proconsul Ruler Struck Teaching Wonder
Acts 13
1. Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles.
6. Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer.
13. Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ.
42. The Gentiles believe;
44. but the Jews talked abusively against Paul,
46. whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe.
50. The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium.














When the proconsul saw what had happened
The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, was a Roman official governing Cyprus. His position indicates a man of significant authority and influence. The event he witnessed was the blinding of Elymas the sorcerer, a demonstration of divine power through Paul. This act served as a sign authenticating the message of the apostles, similar to the miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles in other parts of Acts. The proconsul's role as a Roman leader highlights the spread of the Gospel beyond Jewish communities to Gentile territories, fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

he believed
Sergius Paulus's belief marks a significant moment in the early church, as it represents the acceptance of the Gospel by a Gentile of high status. This conversion is a testament to the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and social barriers. It echoes the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10, another Gentile who embraced the faith, illustrating the inclusivity of the Christian message. The belief of such a prominent figure would have had a considerable impact on the spread of Christianity in the region.

for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord
The teaching about the Lord refers to the message of Jesus Christ, His death, resurrection, and the salvation offered through Him. The astonishment of Sergius Paulus suggests that the Gospel message was compelling and transformative, challenging the prevailing religious and philosophical beliefs of the time. This teaching would have contrasted sharply with the pagan beliefs and practices common in Roman society. The astonishment also indicates the power of the Holy Spirit working through the apostles, as seen in other instances where the Gospel was preached with boldness and authority (Acts 4:31).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Proconsul Sergius Paulus
A Roman official in Cyprus who is described as an intelligent man. He is significant for his openness to the Gospel and his eventual belief after witnessing a miracle.

2. Paul (formerly Saul)
One of the apostles, who, along with Barnabas, was on a missionary journey. Paul played a key role in preaching the Gospel and performing the miracle that led to the proconsul's belief.

3. Barnabas
A companion of Paul on the missionary journey. He was instrumental in spreading the Gospel alongside Paul.

4. Elymas the Sorcerer (Bar-Jesus)
A false prophet and magician who opposed Paul and Barnabas, attempting to turn the proconsul away from the faith. His temporary blinding was the miracle that led to the proconsul's belief.

5. Cyprus
An island in the Mediterranean Sea where this event took place. It was the first stop on Paul and Barnabas's missionary journey.
Teaching Points
The Power of the Gospel
The Gospel message is powerful and transformative, capable of reaching even those in high positions of authority.

Miracles as a Testimony
Miracles can serve as a powerful testimony to the truth of the Gospel, leading others to faith.

Opposition to the Gospel
Expect opposition when spreading the Gospel, but trust in God's power to overcome it.

The Role of Faith and Reason
Sergius Paulus was described as intelligent, showing that faith and reason can coexist and that the Gospel appeals to both the heart and the mind.

God's Sovereignty in Salvation
God orchestrates events, such as the blinding of Elymas, to bring about His purposes and lead people to faith.(12) Being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.--The genitive is, probably, that of the object, the teaching which had the Lord, i.e., the Lord Jesus, as its main theme.

Verse 12. - The proconsul for the deputy, A.V.; teaching for doctrine, A.V. Believed. We cannot, perhaps, conclude positively from this that Sergius was baptized and became an avowed Christian, though the usual language of the Acts rather leads us to infer it (see ver. 48; Acts 2:44; Acts 4:4; Acts 8:12, 13; Acts 11:21; Acts 19:18). Farrar thinks that if so marked a person had become a lifelong convert, we should have heard of him as such in other writings, Renan says, "La conversion d'un Romain de cet ordre, a cette epoque est chose absolument inadmissible." Alford and Olshausen speak doubtfully. Lange and Howson and Meyer look upon him as a genuine convert. The 'Speaker's Commentary' speaks of him as "the first fruits of heathenism." Being astonished at the teaching. "For the connection of the judgment concerning the doctrine with the miracle seen, comp. Mark 1:27" (Meyer).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[When]
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

proconsul
ἀνθύπατος (anthypatos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 446: A proconsul. From anti and a superlative of huper; instead of the highest officer, i.e. a Roman proconsul.

saw
ἰδὼν (idōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

what
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

had happened,
γεγονὸς (gegonos)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

he believed,
ἐπίστευσεν (episteusen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

for he was astonished
ἐκπλησσόμενος (ekplēssomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1605: To strike with panic or shock; I amaze, astonish. From ek and plesso; to strike with astonishment.

at
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

teaching
διδαχῇ (didachē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1322: Teaching, doctrine, what is taught. From didasko; instruction.

about the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord.
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.


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