Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
5. And when they were at Salamis ] Salamis was the nearest port of Cyprus for voyagers from Seleucia. It is at the eastern end of the island in the bay which is now called Famagousta.
in the synagogues of the Jews ] who were living in Salamis in sufficient numbers to need several synagogues.
they had also John to [as] their minister ] This is John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas. His office may have been to baptize, from which service the Apostles seem to have refrained where it was possible (see above on Act 10:48). But there is perhaps also implied in the word rendered “minister” some degree of the same service which in old times Elisha rendered to Elijah (2Ki 3:11). The same Greek word is used for the minister in a synagogue (Luk 4:20).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And when they were at Salamis – This was the principal city and seaport of Cyprus. It was situated on the southeast part of the island, and was afterward called Constantia.
In the synagogues of the Jews – Jews were living in all the countries adjacent to Judea, and in those countries they had synagogues. The apostles uniformly preached first to them.
And they had also John to their minister – John Mark, Act 12:12. He was their attendant, yet not pretending to be equal to them in circe. They had been specifically designated to this work. He was with them as their friend and traveling companion; perhaps also employed in making the needful arrangements for their comfort, and for the supply of their needs in their travels.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. Salamis] The capital of the island of Cyprus; afterwards called Constantia, and now Salina, situated on the eastern part of the island.
They preached the word of God] , The doctrine of God, the Christian religion, emphatically so called.
They had also John to their minister.] This was John Mark, of whom we heard, Ac 12:25; for their minister, , to assist them in minor offices, as deacon or servant, that they might give themselves wholly to the doctrine of the Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Salamis; the chief city of Cyprus, now called Famagusta, situate on the east side of the island, over against Syria.
They preached, here and elsewhere, in the synagogues, either because they found no other such convenient places to preach in; (these being large structures, and many resorting to them); or rather, because though they were sent unto the Gentiles, yet it was not till afar the Jews should have refused the gospel, as may be seen throughout all this book, and in the conclusion of it, Act 28:28.
They had also John to their minister: as Act 12:25.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. and when they were at SalamistheGrecian capital of the island, on the eastern side, and not manyhours’ sail from Seleucia. At this busy mercantile port immensenumbers of Jews were settled, which accounts for what is here said,that they had more than one synagogue, in which Barnabas and Saulpreached, while other cities had one only.
they had . . . JohnMark.
to their minister“fortheir officer”. (See on Lu 4:20).With what fruit they preached here is not said. Probably theirfeeling was what Paul afterwards expressed at Antioch in Pisidia (Ac13:46).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when they were at Salamis,…. A chief city of Cyprus; and so Herodotus f calls it Salamis of Cyprus; and in this island it is placed by Pliny g and Ptolomy h: it was built by Teucer, the son of Telamon, after his return from the Trojan war; and so called by him, from his native country Salamine, in Greece, as is generally agreed by historians i: it was the birth place of the famous philosopher Solon, who is from thence called Salaminius; he died in the island of Cyprus, in the eightieth year of his age; and before he died, gave orders to carry his bones to Salamis, and being reduced to ashes, to scatter them throughout the province k: it was also claimed by the Cyprians, as the birth place of Homer, and is said l to be prophesied of that it should be; it was afterwards called Constantia, and now Famagusta, and is in the hands of the Turks; of it Jerom m thus writes:
“Salamis, a city in the island of Cyprus, now called Constantia, which, in the time of the Emperor Trajan, the Jews destroyed, having killed all the inhabitants of it:”
which shows what a multitude of Jews dwelt in this island, and even in this place; hence, in this verse, mention is afterwards made of synagogues of Jews in it, where the apostles preached, and which was the reason of their coming hither. This place, with the whole island, was taken from the Venetians by Mustapha, general to Selimus the Second, emperor of the Turks, in the year 1571, after a siege of eleven months; which, when he was possessed of, contrary to the agreement made, he put all the Christians to death; and having cut off the ears and nose of Bragadinus, the governor of it, took off his skin alive n. Epiphanius, an ancient writer of the fourth century, famous for his books against heresies, was bishop of this place o, when it was called Constantia, from Constantins Augustus, the emperor; and before him, we read of Gelasius, bishop of this place, who was in the council of Nice; there was a church here in the fifth century; and mention is made of a presbyter of it, in the sixth century, present at the fifth council at Constantinople; and in the seventh century, a bishop of this church was in the sixth council of Constantinople; and in the Nicene synod, in the “eighth” century, John, bishop of this place, assisted p:
they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; the Jews being in great numbers in these parts, to them the apostles first preached, though they were sent unto the Gentiles; and this they continued to do, till the Jews put away the Gospel, which made their way more clear and open to the Gentiles:
and they had also John to their minister: this was John Mark, whom they brought with them from Jerusalem, Ac 12:12 who waited upon them, and provided for them the necessaries of life; for this is not to be understood of the ministry of the word, which is peculiarly ascribed to them, or of his being an assistant to them in it; nor can it be understood of his being the minister in any of the synagogues for them, to bring out the book of the law, and direct public service, where it cannot be thought he should have any such office and authority; but of his ministering in civil and secular things to the apostles, or to the poor by their orders.
f L. 4. c. 162. g Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 31. h Geograph. l. 5. c. 14. i Vellei Patercul. Hist. l. 1. in initio, Isocratis Evagoras, p. 375. Vid. Horat. Carmin. l. 1. ode 7. k Laert. Vit. Philosoph. l. 1. p. 30, 41. l Pausanias, l. 10. p. 656. m De locis Hebraicis, fol. 96. I. n Petav. Rational. Temp. par. 1. l. 9. c. 12. p. 507. o Epitaph. Paulae, fol. 58. K & Vita Hilarion. fol 82. M. p Magdeburg. Hist. Eccles. cent. 4. c. 2. p. 5. cent. 5. c. 2. p. 6. cent. 6. c. 2. p. 5. cent. 7. c. 2. p. 4. cent. 8. c. 2. p. 6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Proclaimed (). Imperfect active of , inchoative, began to proclaim. This was Paul’s rule of procedure, “to the Jew first” (Rom 1:16; Acts 13:46; Acts 17:2; Acts 18:4; Acts 18:19; Acts 19:8).
They had also ( ). Imperfect active, descriptive.
As their attendant (). Literally, “under-rower” (, ) in the trireme. Probably here minister () or assistant in the synagogue as in Lu 4:20. Cf. Mt 5:25. It is not clear what John Mark did, though he was evidently selected by Barnabas as his cousin. He may have helped in the baptizing. There were probably others also in the company (verse 13). The “also” may mean that Mark did some preaching. Barnabas was probably the leader in the work in these Jewish synagogues.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Synagogues. The plural implies that the Jews were numerous in Salamis. Augustus, according to Josephus, made Herod the Great a present of half the revenue of the copper mines of Cyprus, so that numerous Jewish families would be settled in the island. In the reign of Trajan, upon the breaking out of a Jewish insurrection, the whole island fell into the hands of the Jews, and became a rallying – point for the revolt. It is said that two hundred and forty thousand of the native population were sacrificed to the fury of the insurgents. When the rebellion was extinguished, the Jews were forbidden thenceforth, on pain of death, to set foot on the island.
Minister [] . Better, as Rev., attendant. See on Mt 5:25.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And when they were at Salamis,” (kai genomenoi en Salamini) “And being or having arrived in Salamis,” a seaport on the east of Cyprus, known as the city of Famagusta today. The other chief city of Cyprus at that time was Paphos. The Antioch church perhaps owed its existence to brethren in Cyprus, Act 11:19-23.
2) “They preached the word of God,” (katenngellon ton logon tou theou) “They preached, heralded, or gave out the Word of God,” witnessed, began to proclaim the word of God, concerning Jesus Christ, Act 1:8. It is the word that all true ministers and witnesses must preach and bear, Psa 119:160; 2Ti 4:1-2.
3) “In the synagogues of the Jews:” (en ta is sunagoga is ton louda ion) “In the Jewish synagogues,” or synagogues of the Jews, belonging to the Jews. They were guest speakers, teachers, prophets in these foreign land synagogues. Both Jews and synagogues were numerous in Cyprus at that time, Act 11:19-21.
4) “And they had also John to their minister.” (eichon de kai loannen hupereten) “They also had John (Mark) as an attendant,” as an assistant or helper, a nephew of Barnabas who started their journey with them, Col 4:10, then deserted, turned back at Pamphylia, Act 13:13; Act 15:36-38. He was not selected by the Holy Spirit or the church in the same solemn way that Paul and Barnabas were.
Where spirit-empowered church-sent missionaries labor, they bear fruit — when these missionaries left the Island of Cyprus: 1) A sorcerer was vanquished, and 2) A governor was converted, Act 13:8-13. God’s word never returns to Him void, Isa 55:10-11; Heb 4:12. To the soul winner, the missionary, the pastor, the layman, it returns benefits, Psa 126:5-6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
5. He saith that they began to preach the gospel first in Salamis, a famous city of Cyprus. Notwithstanding, they seem to begin amiss; for whereas they were sent specially to the Gentiles, they preach the word of God, nevertheless, to the Jews, I answer, that they were not so addicted to the Gentiles, that, setting aside the Jews, it stood them upon to go straight to the Gentiles, for when God did make them teachers of the Gentiles, he did not depose them from the office which they had heretofore exercised; so that there was no reason to let them, but that they might take pains, both with Jews and Gentiles; (781) yea, farther, it was meet that they should begin with the Jews, as we shall see in the end of the chapter. Moreover, Luke addeth by the way, that they were helped by John; for his meaning is not that he was their minister for any private use, or for the uses of body; but rather in that he was their helper to preach the gospel, he commandeth his godly study [zeal] and industry; not that the degree of honor was equal, but because the labor was common to all; for which cause he had the less excuse afterward, seeing that he forsook the holy calling.
(781) “ Ita nulla ratio prohibuit quin Judaeis promiscue et Gentibus operam suam conferrent,” so nothing prevented them from bestowing their labor promiscuously on Jews and Gentiles.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) When they were at Salamis.The city was, as stated above, at the east end of Cyprus. The mention of synagogues implies a considerable Jewish population, and to these the Apostles, following the general rule announced in Act. 13:46, naturally, in the first instance, turned.
They had also John to their minister.The noun so rendered is not that commonly used for the deacons or ministers of the Church, but implies rather the attendance of personal service. It is probable, however, that he was employed in baptising converts, and, where a church was founded, in preparing for the Supper of the Lord. Looking to the after-work of Mark, it would hardly, perhaps, be too much to say that he was, more than any other disciple, the courier of the Apostolic Church.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had also John as their attendant’.
Arriving at Salamis, on the east coast, which was the island’s most important city (although Paphos was the capital), they went to the synagogues and proclaimed the word of God. This was to be their constant practise. To the Jew first. Their fellow-Jews must be given every opportunity to respond to their Messiah, for among them were many who had been prepared for His coming by God. It would be in the same synagogues that the earlier preachers had enjoyed their successes (Act 11:19-20).
Along with them in the synagogues would be God-fearers, those who had also demonstrated their desire for the One God and for His moral ways. Both Jews and God-fearers included among them those who were good ground awaiting the seed. They were an opportunity not to be squandered.
‘They had also John as their attendant.’ John Mark (Act 12:25) had gone along with them to act as their assistant in many ways, and probably as a trainee.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
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. (6) And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: (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. (8) But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. (9) Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, (10) And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? (11) And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. (12) Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
I pass by all the observations which might be made of the extent of their labors, in those different places, to call the Reader’s attention to what is here said, of the opposition made to the preaching of Barnabas and Saul, by Elymas the Sorcerer. The account is but short, but it is awful. His name, Elymas, is probably descriptive of his employment, a magician. But the Holy Ghost hath more strongly marked his real character. The Apostle, under his Almighty influence, called him, child of the devil. And, his opposition to a child of God, as the deputy governor Sergius Paulus proved to be, is at once a decisive proof of the different kingdoms to which they belonged. The father of this Elymas, even the devil, knew, both of the conversion, and ordination of those servants of the Lord. And when Sergius Paulus called for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to hear the word of God; all hell was up in arms, to withstand their preaching. Elymas, one of the serpent’s brood, is stirred up to oppose. And the event is here recorded. But the Reader will not have drawn all the improvements from this scripture history, which it is designed to bring, if he doth not learn under the Holy Ghost’s teaching, that the same is going on every day throughout the world, and must go on to the end, in the holy war, between the seed of Christ, and the seed of the serpent. Nay, the enmity must be eternal. We have many an Elymas in our day, to oppose the truth; and who oppose it from the same cause. And if the same awful judgment of bodily blindness doth not always follow; a still more awful condemnation always takes place on the soul. The Holy Ghost, by his servant Jud 1:1 , hath said; that to them is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And the same Scripture explains the cause. See Jud 1:6-19Jud 1:6-19 . See also the Poor Man’s Commentary on Mat 12:30-35 .
As at this place we now drop the name of Saul, with which indeed we are not so much accustomed, and from henceforth call this zealous servant of the Lord, Paul: I would just detain the Reader to remark, it is very probable that he used both names. For it is here said, Saul, who is also called Paul. The name of Saul, which is a Jewish name, was no doubt given him by his parents. And this of Paul, is the name he was chiefly known by among the Gentiles, which is a Roman name, and given him because he was a citizen of Rome, Act 22:28 . But, as this name is first spoken of in this place, and at the conversion of Sergius Paulus, the Roman Deputy; is it not probable, (I ask the question, but not decide,) that it was now particularly chosen on account of this man?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Ver. 5. At Salamis ] A city of Cyprus, at the east side of it, over against Syria.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
5 .] Salamis was the nearest port to Seleucia on the eastern side of the island. It had a good harbour ( , Scylax, Peripl. p. 41). It was the residence of a king anciently (Herod. iv. 162), and always one of the chief cities of the island. There were very many Jews there, as appears by there being more than one synagogue. Their numbers may have been increased by the farming of the copper-mines by Augustus to Herod. On the insurrection of the Jews in the reign of Trajan, Salamis was nearly destroyed, and they were expelled from the island. Its demolition was completed by an earthquake in the reign of Constantine, who (or his immediate successors) rebuilt it and gave it the name of Constantia. The ruins of this latter place are visible near the modern Famagosta, the Venetian capital of the island (Winer, Realw., and C. and H. pp. 171, f.).
] Probably for the administration of baptism: see also 1Co 1:14-17 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 13:5 . : the nearest place to Seleucia on the eastern coast of Cyprus. A few hours’ sail in favourable weather would bring the traveller to a harbour convenient and capacious. The Jewish colony must have been considerable since mention is made of synagogues. : “they began to proclaim” ., it was St. Paul’s habitual custom to go to the synagogues first, cf. Act 9:20 , Act 14:1 , etc. : the marked silence about him previously seems to emphasise the fact that he was not selected by the Holy Ghost in the same solemn way as Barnabas and Saul. , cf. Luk 4:20 , and many writers give it here a kind of official sense (although the word may be used of any kind of service), “velut ad baptizandum,” cf. Act 10:48 (1Co 1:14 ), Blass; so Alford, Felten, Overbeck, Weiss. But the word may express the fact that John Mark was able to set the Apostles more free for their work of evangelising.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Salamis. The first port they would reach, at east end of the island.
preached. Greek. katangello. App-121.
word. Greek. logos. App-121.
synagogues. App-120. Compare Act 13:14; Act 14:1; Act 17:1, Act 17:10, Act 17:17; Act 18:4, Act 18:19; Act 19:8.
also John = John also. See Act 12:25. minister. Greek. huperetes (App-190.) He was not included by the Holy Spirit’s command, but doubtless came at his kinsman (Col 4:10) Barnabas’ invitation.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
5.] Salamis was the nearest port to Seleucia on the eastern side of the island. It had a good harbour ( , Scylax, Peripl. p. 41). It was the residence of a king anciently (Herod. iv. 162), and always one of the chief cities of the island. There were very many Jews there, as appears by there being more than one synagogue. Their numbers may have been increased by the farming of the copper-mines by Augustus to Herod. On the insurrection of the Jews in the reign of Trajan, Salamis was nearly destroyed, and they were expelled from the island. Its demolition was completed by an earthquake in the reign of Constantine, who (or his immediate successors) rebuilt it and gave it the name of Constantia. The ruins of this latter place are visible near the modern Famagosta, the Venetian capital of the island (Winer, Realw., and C. and H. pp. 171, f.).
] Probably for the administration of baptism: see also 1Co 1:14-17.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 13:5. , in the synagogues) As occasions presented themselves, so they availed themselves of them: Act 13:7; Act 13:14; Act 13:42. They were by decrees led on to the Gentiles themselves more openly: ch. Act 14:14; Act 14:21.-, minister) Faith does not set aside various decrees of ministerial functions. Barnabas and Paul were divinely nominated: and it was free to them to join to themselves others. In some things there is left a greater option, in others a less.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
in the: Act 13:14, Act 13:46, Act 14:1, Act 17:1-3, Act 17:17, Act 18:4, Act 19:8
John: Act 12:25, Act 15:37, Col 4:10
their: Exo 24:13, 1Ki 19:3, 1Ki 19:21, 2Ki 3:11, Mat 20:26, 2Ti 4:11
Reciprocal: 2Ki 4:12 – servant 2Ki 6:15 – servant Act 12:12 – John Act 13:13 – John Act 17:2 – went Act 19:22 – that ministered Rom 15:19 – so that 2Ti 4:2 – be
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Act 13:5. Salamis was one of the two chief cities of Cyprus, situated on its eastern coast. Here the missionaries preached in the synagogue of the Jews because they could meet people there. It Was John Mark who was going with them as a minister. The original for that word is defined in the lexicon, “Any one who serves with his hands, a servant” John Mark went with them as an attendant to do whatever service that was needed.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 13:5. At Salamis. At this time Salamis was the chief mercantile city of the island; very many of the inhabitants here were Jews. In the reign of the Emperor Trajan it was desolated in a terrible revolt of the Cyprian Jews; the revolt ended in the expulsion of the Jews from the island.
They had also John to their minister. Among other duties which fell to the lot of John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, was of course included the important office of baptizing most if not all the converts. This rite was seldom administered by an apostle, as we see from 1Co 1:14; see, too, Act 10:48.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes one verse 4
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 5
To their minister; to be their minister; that is, their attendant, to aid them in their work. This was John Mark, mentioned Acts 12:12.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Salamis was the largest town in eastern Cyprus, about 60 miles from Seleucia. It lay on the coast, and there were enough Jews there to warrant more than one synagogue. Salamis’ population was mainly Greek, but many Jews lived there as well. [Note: Josephus, Antiquities of . . ., 13:10:4.] Barnabas and Saul habitually visited the Jewish synagogues when they preached the gospel. They undoubtedly did so because that was where the people who were God-fearers and anticipators of the Messiah assembled, both Jews and Gentiles. Of course, this was not the first time the Christian gospel had come to Cyprus, but the Christians had only evangelized Jews earlier (cf. Act 11:19). John Mark probably provided assistance in many ways. Timothy served in a similar capacity when Paul and Silas left Lystra on Paul’s second missionary journey (cf. Act 16:1-3). [Note: See the map of Paul’s first missionary journey in Longenecker, p. 248, or in Toussaint, "Acts," p. 386.]