SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:4
¶ Y ellos, enviados por el Espíritu Santo, descendieron a Seleucia; y de allí navegaron a Chipre.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 13:4
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 chap. iv. 36.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. So they being sent forth of the Holy Ghost , etc.] 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 f604 ; 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 f605 , 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, ( Acts 4:36 (See Gill on Acts 4:36)) Ver. 5. And when they were at Salamis , etc.] A chief city of Cyprus; and so Herodotus calls it Salamis of Cyprus; and in this island it is placed by Pliny and Ptolomy f608 : 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 f609 : 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 f610 : it was also claimed by the Cyprians, as the birth place of Homer, and is said 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 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 f613 . Epiphanius, an ancient writer of the fourth century, famous for his books against heresies, was bishop of this place f614 , 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 f615 : 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, ( Acts 12:12,25) 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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. Sau was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citize of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elyma his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit an mischief together, make a man indeed a child of the devil. And thos 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. Ther are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set other against these ways. They commonly are so hardened, that they will no 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 mor we know of it, the more reason we shall see to wonder at it. Those wh put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdo of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endur hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.
Greek Textus Receptus
ουτοι 3778 D-NPM μεν 3303 PRT ουν 3767 CONJ εκπεμφθεντες 1599 5685 V-APP-NPM υπο 5259 PREP του 3588 T-GSN πνευματος 4151 N-GSN του 3588 T-GSN αγιου 40 A-GSN κατηλθον 2718 5627 V-2AAI-3P εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF σελευκειαν 4581 N-ASF εκειθεν 1564 ADV τε 5037 PRT απεπλευσαν 636 5656 V-AAI-3P εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF κυπρον 2954 N-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Sailed. On Luke's use of words for sailing, see Introduction.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:4 {So they} (autoi men oun). They themselves indeed therefore. No contrast is necessary, though there is a slight one in verses #5,6. Luke again refers to the Holy Spirit as the source of their authority for this campaign rather than the church at Antioch. {Sent forth} (ekpemfqentes). Old verb from ekpempw and first aorist passive participle, but in the N.T. only here and #Ac 17:10. {Sailed} (apepleusan). Effective aorist active indicative of apoplew, old verb to sail away, depart from. In the N.T. only here and #14:26; 20:15; 27:1. Barnabas was from Cyprus where there were many Jews.
