Acts 13 · Verse 4

Acts 13:4

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Acts 13:4, King James Version

Acts 13:4 in other translations

BSBSo Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
WEBSo, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
ASVSo they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
YLTThese, indeed, then, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, thence also they sailed to Cyprus,
DARBYThey therefore, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and thence sailed away to Cyprus.
BBESo, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they went by ship to Cyprus.
WebsterSo they being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

What does Acts 13:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 13:4-5

Ac 13:4-12. Arriving in Cyprus They Preach in the Synagogues of Salamis--At Paphos, Elymas Is Struck Blind, and the Governor of the Island Is Converted.

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. 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].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost. Having been called to this work by the Holy Spirit, and being under his direction.

Departed unto Seleucia. This city was situated at the mouth of the river Orontes, where it falls into the Mediterranean. Antioch was also built on this river, some distance from its mouth.

They sailed to Cyprus. An island in the Mediterranean, not far from Seleucia. Acts 4:36.

(*) "Ghost" "Spirit"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 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. 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. They sailed to Cyprus - A well known island in the Mediterranean Sea. See on Act 4:36 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 13:4-13
Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many. Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elymas his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit and mischief together, make a man indeed a child of the devil. And those who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. There are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set others against these ways. They commonly are so hardened, that they will not cease to do evil. The proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ astonishes; and the more we know of it, the more reason we shall see to wonder at it. Those who put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdom of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endure hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 13:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΑὐτοὶAutoiThey themselvesG846
μὲνmenindeedG3303
οὖνounthereforeG3767
ἐκπεμφθέντεςekpemphthenteshaving been sent forthG1599
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἁγίουhagiouHolyG40
πνεύματοςpneumatosSpiritG4151
κατῆλθονkatēlthonwent downG2718
εἰςeistoG1519
Σελεύκειαν,SeleukeianSeleucia,G4581
ἐκεῖθένekeithenFrom thereG1564
τεtethenG5037
ἀπέπλευσανapepleusanthey sailedG636
εἰςeistoG1519
Κύπρον.KupronCyprus.G2954

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 13:4

  • Acts 4:36

    And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

  • Acts 13:2

    As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

  • Acts 11:19

    Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

  • Acts 20:23

    Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

  • Acts 27:4

    And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
being.
20:23
Cyprus.
4:36; 11:19; 27:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 13:3

    And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

  • Acts 13:4

    So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

  • Acts 13:5

    And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

Read all of Acts 13

Acts 13:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ellos, enviados así por el Espíritu Santo, descendieron á Seleucia; y de allí navegaron á Cipro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Eux donc, ayant été envoyés par l’Esprit Saint, descendirent à Séleucie; et de là ils firent voile pour Chypre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie nun, ausgesandt von dem Heiligen Geiste, gingen hinab nach Seleucia, und von dannen segelten sie nach Cypern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ipsi quidem missi a Spiritu Sancto abierunt Seleuciam: et inde navigaverunt Cyprum.