Acts 13:50 Meaning: When the Devout Stir Up Persecution
But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
But the Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders.
And the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the first men of the city, and did raise persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and did put them out from their borders;
But the Jews excited the women of the upper classes who were worshippers, and the first people of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their coasts.
Meaning in one sentence
The Jews used devout women and city leaders to persecute Paul and Barnabas. See why opposition to the gospel often comes from the most respected people.
Context
Paul and Barnabas are in Pisidian Antioch, on their first missionary journey. The pattern is by now familiar: they preach in the synagogue, many believe, but the Jewish leaders grow jealous and start contradicting them. When Paul and Barnabas boldly turn to the Gentiles, the message spreads all through the region. That success triggers something darker. The Jews do not confront the apostles directly this time. They work through people who have influence: women of high standing who are drawn to the Jewish faith, and the city's leading men. By stirring up these respected figures, they turn the city against Paul and Barnabas and force them out.
Key Words
The Greek verb Luke uses for stirred up is parotruno. It means to spur on, to incite, like someone jabbing a goad into an ox to make it move. This was calculated, not spontaneous anger. The word carries the sense of deliberate manipulation.
The women are called devout (sebomai, meaning to worship or revere) and prominent (euschemon, which paints a picture of good standing, wealth, and elegance). These were not fringe figures. They were people whose opinion carried weight. When the Jews turned them against Paul, they turned the city's respectability against the gospel.
The final word is threw them out (ekballo, to cast out with force). It is the same verb used when Jesus drove out demons. It speaks of violent rejection. The apostles were not gently asked to leave; they were expelled from the district as though they were a threat.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most commentators agree these women were not Jewish but Gentile proselytes, women drawn to the Jewish religion who held local influence. Matthew Henry notes the irony: devout people become instruments of persecution. Calvin is concerned about the weak who might be scandalised when those of good reputation oppose the gospel. Gill points out that the Jews worked through the women to reach their husbands, the city leaders. Across traditions, Christians see this as a sobering reminder that religious respectability can become a weapon against God's work. The gospel often faces not just open enemies but opposition from the well-regarded.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that this verse criticises the women for being devout or prominent, as though their faith was a facade. In fact, Luke never questions their sincerity. What he shows is that genuine religious devotion can be manipulated by those who oppose the gospel. The mistake is to assume that being devout makes someone immune to being used against God's purposes.
Living This Out
This week, you may face opposition not from the openly hostile but from people you respect, people who seem devout, successful, and well-meaning. They may question your faith, dismiss your calling, or quietly push you aside. It hurts more because you expected better. Take heart: Paul and Barnabas walked the same road. They did not stop because important people turned against them. You do not need everyone's approval to follow where Jesus leads. Let respectability have its place. But do not let it have your obedience.
Main takeaway: Opposition to the gospel often comes not from the openly wicked but from the respected and devout who resist a change they cannot control.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some important people did not want Paul to tell others about Jesus. They made him leave the city. But Paul kept going to the next place, because telling people about Jesus was the most important thing.
For ages 9, 12
The people who opposed Paul were not bad people. They were respected women and city leaders who were serious about their religion. But they let jealousy and pride get in the way. They used their influence to hurt Paul and Barnabas instead of helping the good news spread. It shows that even good people can make wrong choices when they feel threatened. Paul and Barnabas did not fight back. They simply moved on and kept preaching.
Questions People Ask
Who were the 'devout and prominent women' in Acts 13:50?
They were likely Gentile women who had become proselytes to Judaism. They were wealthy and well-connected, and their husbands were probably the city's leading men. The Jews stirred them up because their social influence could turn the city against Paul and Barnabas.
Why did the Jews target these women specifically?
The women had influence with the leading men of the city, likely their husbands. By persuading the women, the Jews could indirectly pressure the city officials to expel the apostles. It was a strategic move to use social respectability as a weapon against the gospel.
What does 'stirred up a persecution' mean here?
The phrase describes inciting a coordinated opposition against Paul and Barnabas. It was not a spontaneous riot but a deliberate campaign to use the city's leaders and mob to harass and remove the apostles. The same word is used elsewhere for raising an army or rousing a crowd.
Did this persecution stop the spread of the gospel?
No. Acts 13:52 says the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium and continued preaching. The expulsion actually pushed the gospel into new regions, fulfilling Jesus' instruction to shake off the dust and move on.
Is there a lesson here about how opposition to Christianity happens today?
Yes. Oppression does not always come from obvious enemies. Sometimes it comes from well-respected people who are religiously devout. The gospel can be blocked by social pressure from influential people who see it as a threat to their order. Christians are reminded not to be surprised when this happens.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study