Acts 13:13-16 · Bible study
Acts 13:13-16 Commentary: Paul's Mission and John Mark's Departure
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did John Mark leave Paul at Perga? This study explores the physical and spiritual challenges of early missionary work and Paul's bold response.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The departure of John Mark at Perga marks a crisis in the first missionary journey, shifting leadership to Paul and underscoring the cost of gospel advance.
- Key words: ἀποχωρήσας (having departed), παρακλήσεως (exhortation/encouragement), κατασείσας (beckoning).
- Main debate: Why did John Mark leave? Fatigue? Fear of danger? Disagreement with the Gentile mission? Family ties in Jerusalem?
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty in using human failure; setbacks followed by bold advance.
- Best use: A case study in missionary resilience and the need for perseverance despite team attrition.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
14And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.
15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
WEB World English Bible 2000
13Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
14But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
15After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
16Paul stood up, and gesturing with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.
KJV King James Version 1769
13Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
16Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
13Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
14But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
16And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
13And those about Paul having set sail from Paphos, came to Perga of Pamphylia, and John having departed from them, did turn back to Jerusalem,
14and they having gone through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia, and having gone into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, they sat down,
15and after the reading of the law and of the prophets, the chief men of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, `Men, brethren, if there be a word in you of exhortation unto the people--say on.'
16And Paul having risen, and having beckoned with the hand, said, `Men, Israelites, and those fearing God, hearken:
Darby Darby Bible 1890
13And having sailed from Paphos, Paul and his company came to Perga of Pamphylia; and John separated from them and returned to Jerusalem.
14But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and entering into the synagogue on the sabbath day they sat down.
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation to the people, speak.
16And Paul, rising up and making a sign with the hand, said, Israelites, and ye that fear God, hearken.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
13Now when Paul and they that were with him had sailed from Paphos, they came to Perge in Pamphylia. And John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
14But they, passing through Perge, came to Antioch in Pisidia: and, entering into the Synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat down.
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying: Ye men, brethren, if you have any word of exhortation to make to the people, speak.
16Then Paul rising up and with his hand bespeaking silence, said: Ye men of Israel and you that fear God, give ear.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 13:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that John Mark's departure in Acts 13:13 is a pivotal moment. The Greek phrase οἱ περὶ τὸν Παῦλον (those around Paul) marks the point where Paul becomes the central figure, replacing Barnabas in narrative focus. Vincent notes this shift. The verb ἀποχωρήσας (having departed) signals a deliberate separation. Wesley suggests Mark left 'tired with the fatigue, or shrinking from danger.' Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Gill emphasize the severe terrain from Perga to Pisidian Antioch, mountain passes infested with robbers, likely the 'perils of robbers' Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 11:26. This departure later caused contention (Acts 15:38). Calvin observes that Luke notes Mark's softness while praising others' constancy. The consensus is that Mark's withdrawal reveals real hardships of missionary work, both physical danger and human weakness, yet God's mission continues through Paul's renewed boldness.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: John Mark did depart at Perga, and this withdrawal was later considered by Paul a falling away from the work (Acts 15:38), yet the mission continued without him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| John Mark's Departure | Mark did leave at Perga, and this later caused Paul to refuse him for a second journey (Acts 15:38). | Motive: physical exhaustion/fear (Wesley, JFB) vs. disagreement with the Gentile mission (Poole) vs. personal reasons (attachment to his mother in Jerusalem). |
| Leadership Shift to Paul | After this point, Luke names Paul first instead of Barnabas. | Whether this reflects a formal transfer of leadership or simply a narrative shift as Paul takes the lead in speaking. |
| Synagogue Strategy | Paul customarily began in synagogues when entering a new city, following the Jewish pattern of worship. | Whether this was a divine mandate ('to the Jew first') or merely a practical starting point. |
| Paul's Gesture with His Hand | Beckoning with the hand was a standard way to request silence and attention (Acts 12:17; 21:40). | None; the gesture is universally understood as a request for attention. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The journey from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia was a sea voyage to the southern coast of Asia Minor. Perga lay inland on the Cestrus River, not directly on the coast, as Barnes and Clarke note. But the apostles did not stay; they pressed on through Pisidia, a rugged, mountainous region. The Cambridge Bible and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown describe the route as 'perilous,' with robber bands that made travel dangerous. Paul may have alluded to this later in his list of hardships (2 Corinthians 11:26). John Mark's departure likely happened at Perga, perhaps before the hardest part of the journey into the interior.
When they reached Pisidian Antioch, they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as was their custom. The service followed a set pattern: readings from the Law and the Prophets, then an invitation for exhortation. The 'rulers of the synagogue' (ἀρχισυνάγωγοι) controlled the order and could invite any qualified Jewish man to speak. Barnes explains that seeing Paul and Barnabas as fellow Jews, they offered them the floor. Paul's gesture of beckoning with his hand (κατασείσας τῇ χειρί) was a common way to request silence before a speech (Acts 12:17). His address to 'Men of Israel and you who fear God' divided the audience into ethnic Jews and God-fearing Gentiles (proselytes). Clarke notes this shows Paul's strategy to reach both groups.
This moment is the first recorded sermon in Paul's missionary journeys. It shows how the gospel entered new cities through existing Jewish structures.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants in Acts 13:13-16. Minor differences in manuscript traditions (such as the presence or absence of 'brethren' in some Greek manuscripts) do not change the meaning of the passage.
Reception History
Early Christian tradition, as seen in John Chrysostom's homilies, viewed John Mark's departure as a human weakness but also noted his later restoration and usefulness (2 Timothy 4:11). The medieval church often used this passage to illustrate the dangers of missionary travel and the need for perseverance. During the Reformation, Calvin focused on God's providence: the departure did not frustrate God's plan. The Geneva Bible likewise emphasized that the mission continued despite human frailty. In the modern era, this passage is frequently cited in discussions of team conflict in ministry, reminding readers that failure does not disqualify someone from being used by God again.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Setback: John Mark Leaves. The journey was costly. A team member withdrew. This tests every mission.
- The Strategy: The Synagogue Door. Paul did not abandon the Jewish community. He worked within their customs, waiting for the invitation.
- The Speech: Paul Speaks. He adapted his message to his audience, beginning with Israel's history and pointing to Jesus.
Five-point outline
- The Shift in Leadership: Paul becomes the central figure (Vincent).
- The Dangerous Journey: From Perga through Pisidia, a region of robbers.
- The Open Door: The synagogue rulers invite them to speak.
- The Gesture for Attention: Paul beckons with his hand to prepare the congregation.
- The Audience: Ethnic Jews and God-fearers, both receive the gospel.
Illustration hooks
- A hiking team loses a member halfway up a difficult mountain. The rest must press on, adjusting roles and morale.
- A new pastor arrives at a church where a previous pastor resigned in conflict. The challenge is to rebuild trust while continuing the mission.
- A short-term mission trip where one team member decides to return home early, leaving the group to cover their responsibilities.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would someone called by God walk away from the mission field?
- How do we handle disappointment when a core team member gives up?
- Can someone who leaves in weakness later be restored? (John Mark eventually becomes useful to Paul again.)
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows a real crisis in the earliest Christian mission. John Mark left. Paul and Barnabas kept going. The opening for the gospel came through a normal synagogue service. As you discuss these verses, notice both the human struggle and God's continued work.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think John Mark left? What clues does the passage give? (Consider geography, danger, or personal reasons.)
- How does the phrase 'Paul and his company' (literally 'those around Paul') change how we see Paul and Barnabas's partnership?
- What can we learn from Paul's decision to attend synagogue and wait for an invitation to speak?
- Paul gestures for silence. Why was this necessary, and what does it show about his confidence?
- 'Word of exhortation' (logos paraklēseōs) could mean encouragement or comfort. How does this shape the tone Paul might use?
- How does Paul address both Jews and Gentiles in verse 16? Why is this significant?
- Share a time when a teammate or leader disappointed you. How did you respond? What helped you persevere?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Acts 2:10 | Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, |
| Acts 12:12 | Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. |
| Acts 13:5 | When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their attendant. |
| Acts 13:6 | When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar Jesus, |
| Acts 14:24 | They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. |
| Acts 14:25 | When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. |
| Acts 15:38 | But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. |
| Acts 27:5 | When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
3 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB suggests John Mark left the missionary team because he grew weary or was intimidated by the dangers ahead. The commentator also observes that the rugged, robber-infested journey from Perga to Pisidian Antioch was so perilous that Paul likely recalled it years later when listing his "perils of rivers" and "perils of robbers."
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek phrase translated as "Paul and his company" literally means "those around Paul," indicating that Paul has now become the main figure, no longer Barnabas. He observes that this same expression is used in later writers to refer to the leading person alone.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains the synagogue custom: after the weekly readings from the Law and Prophets, anyone could address the congregation. He notes that Paul and Barnabas likely followed propriety by notifying the rulers beforehand. "Ye that fear God" included both Jewish proselytes and respectful Gentiles.