Acts 13:4
New International Version
The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

New Living Translation
So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.

English Standard Version
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Berean Standard Bible
So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore indeed having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and they sailed from there to Cyprus.

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

New King James Version
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

New American Standard Bible
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

NASB 1995
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

NASB 1977
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Legacy Standard Bible
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Amplified Bible
So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Christian Standard Bible
So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

American Standard Version
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Contemporary English Version
After Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus.

English Revised Version
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After Barnabas and Saul were sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to the city of Seleucia and from there sailed to the island of Cyprus.

Good News Translation
Having been sent by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to Seleucia and sailed from there to the island of Cyprus.

International Standard Version
After they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus.

Majority Standard Bible
So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

NET Bible
So Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

New Heart English Bible
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

Webster's Bible Translation
So they being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Weymouth New Testament
They therefore, being thus sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleuceia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

World English Bible
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
These, indeed, then, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus,

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore indeed having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and they sailed from there to Cyprus.

Young's Literal Translation
These, indeed, then, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, thence also they sailed to Cyprus,

Smith's Literal Translation
Therefore these truly, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, came down to Seleucia and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So they being sent by the Holy Ghost, went to Seleucia: and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And having been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. And from there they sailed to Cyprus.

New American Bible
So they, sent forth by the holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus.

New Revised Standard Version
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus these two were sent forth by the Holy Spirit, and went down to Se-leu’ci-a; and from there they sailed to Cy’prus.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
When they were sent by The Spirit of Holiness, they went down to those in Seluqia and from there they journeyed by sea unto Quprus.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Therefore, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and thence sailed to Cyprus.

Godbey New Testament
Then they indeed, having been sent away by the Holy Ghost, came down to Seleucia; and thence sailed away to Cyprus.

Haweis New Testament
They then being sent forth indeed by the Holy Ghost, went down to Seleucia; and from thence sailed to Cyprus.

Mace New Testament
being thus appointed missionarys by the holy spirit, they went to Seleucia, where they embark'd for Cyprus.

Weymouth New Testament
They therefore, being thus sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleuceia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

Worrell New Testament
They, therefore, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down into Seleucia; and thence they sailed away to Cyprus.

Worsley New Testament
These therefore being sent forth by the holy Spirit came down to Seleucia, and from thence they sailed away to Cyprus.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
On Cyprus
3And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.…

Cross References
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 8:14-17
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. / On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. / For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ...

Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:19-20
As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. / So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”

Acts 11:12
The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s home.

Acts 16:6-7
After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. / And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.

Acts 20:22-23
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. / I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.

Acts 21:4
We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

Luke 4:1
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

Romans 8:14
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. / There are different ministries, but the same Lord. / There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. ...

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.


Treasury of Scripture

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

being.

Acts 20:23
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Cyprus.

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 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 27:4
And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

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Cyprus Departed Forth Ghost Holy Indeed Sailed Ship Spirit Thence Way
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Cyprus Departed Forth Ghost Holy Indeed Sailed Ship Spirit Thence Way
Acts 13
1. Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles.
6. Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer.
13. Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ.
42. The Gentiles believe;
44. but the Jews talked abusively against Paul,
46. whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe.
50. The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium.














So Barnabas and Saul
This phrase introduces the two key figures in this missionary journey. Barnabas, whose name means "son of encouragement," was a Levite from Cyprus, known for his generosity and leadership in the early church (Acts 4:36-37). Saul, later known as Paul, was a former Pharisee and a zealous convert to Christianity. Their partnership signifies the unity and diversity within the early church, as they combined their unique backgrounds and gifts for the mission.

sent forth by the Holy Spirit
The phrase underscores the divine initiative and guidance in the mission. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, plays a crucial role in the book of Acts, empowering and directing the apostles. The Greek word for "sent forth" (ἀποστέλλω, apostellō) implies a commissioning with authority. This highlights that their mission was not of human origin but divinely ordained, emphasizing the importance of spiritual discernment and obedience in Christian ministry.

went down to Seleucia
Seleucia was the port city of Antioch, located about 16 miles away. The journey "down" refers to the geographical descent from the higher elevation of Antioch to the coast. This detail reflects the historical and geographical accuracy of Luke's account, as Seleucia was a significant harbor in the Roman province of Syria. The mention of Seleucia also indicates the strategic planning involved in their mission, as it was a gateway to the Mediterranean.

and sailed from there to Cyprus
Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean, was Barnabas's homeland (Acts 4:36). The decision to begin their mission in Cyprus may have been influenced by Barnabas's familiarity with the region and its people. Cyprus was a Roman province with a diverse population, including Jews and Gentiles, making it a fitting starting point for their outreach. The act of sailing signifies the beginning of a new phase in the spread of the Gospel, as the message of Christ began to reach beyond the mainland to the islands and eventually to the ends of the earth.

(4) Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost.--The words may be only a summing up of the result of the previous facts, but looking to Acts 16:6-7, it seems more probable that they refer to a fresh revelation, following on what we should call the "ordination" or "consecration" of the Apostles, and guiding them as to the direction of their journey.

Departed unto Seleucia.--The town was situated at the mouth of the Orontes, about sixteen miles from Antioch, and served as the port for that city. It had been built by, and named after, Seleucus Nicator.

Thence they sailed to Cyprus.--The population of the island was largely Greek, and the name of the chief town at the east end recalled the history or the legend of a colony under Teucer, the son of Telamon, from the Salamis of the Saronic gulf. It owned Aphrodite, or Venus, as its tutelary goddess, Paphos being the chief centre of her worship, which there, as elsewhere, was conspicuous for the licentiousness of the harlot-priestesses of her temple. The copper-mines (the metal Cuprum took its name from the island), and its nearness to Syria, had probably attracted a considerable Jewish population, among whom the gospel had been preached by the Evangelist? of Acts 11:19. An interesting inscription--the date of which is, however, uncertain, and may be of the second or third century after Christ--given in M. de Cesnola's Cyprus (p. 422), as found at Golgoi in that island, shows a yearning after something higher than the polytheism of Greece:--

THOU, THE ONE GOD,

THE GREATEST, THE MOST GLORIOUS NAME,

HELP US ALL, WE BESEECH THEE.

At the foot of the inscription there is the name HELIOS, the Sun, and we may probably see in it a trace of that adoption of the worship of Mithras, or the sun, as the visible symbol of Deity, which, first becoming known to the Romans in the time of Pompeius, led to the general reception of the Dies Solis (= Sunday) as the first day of the Roman week, and which, even in the case of Constantine, mingled with the earlier stages of his progress towards the faith of Christ. (See Note on Acts 17:23.) The narrative that follows implies that the prudence or discernment which distinguished the proconsul may well have shown itself in such a recognition of the unity of the Godhead; and it is worthy of note that M. de Cesnola (Cyprus, p. 425) discovered at Soli, in the same island, another inscription, bearing the name of Paulus the Proconsul, who may, perhaps, be identified with the Sergius Paulus of this narrative. . . .

Verse 4. - Went down to for departed unto, A.V. (κατῆλθον). Seleucia was the sea-port of Antioch, about sixteen miles from it, and five miles north of the mouth of the Orontes. It was a free city by a grant from Pompey. It is now in ruins, but "the masonry of the once magnificent port of Seleucia is in so good a state that" it might be repaired and cleared out "for about £31,000" (Colonel Chesney, quoted in Lewin, 1. p. 119). They sailed to Cyprus. Barnabas, no doubt, took the lead, and was naturally drawn to his native island of Cyprus - within a hundred miles of Seleucia, and, on a clear day, visible from it. The number of Jews in the island, and the partial evangelization of it which had already taken place (Acts 11:19, 20), and which promised them assistance and support, no doubt further influenced them. John Mark went with them, as we learn from the fifth and thirteenth verses, and possibly other brethren as deacons and ministers (see next note). They sailed straight to Salamis, "a convenient and capacious harbor," in the center of the eastern end of the island, and the principal or one of the principal towns. It had a large population of Jews. It was destroyed in the reign of Trajan, in consequence of a terrible insurrection of the Jews, in which they massacred 240,000 of the Gentile population. No Jew was ever after allowed to land in Cyprus.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

[Barnabas and Saul],
Αὐτοὶ (Autoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

sent forth
ἐκπεμφθέντες (ekpemphthentes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1599: To send out, send forth. From ek and pempo; to despatch.

by
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Holy
Ἁγίου (Hagiou)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

Spirit,
Πνεύματος (Pneumatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

went down
κατῆλθον (katēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2718: From kata and erchomai; to come down.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Seleucia
Σελεύκειαν (Seleukeian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4581: Seleucia, on the Syrian coast, the harbor of Syrian Antioch. From Seleukos; Seleuceia, a place in Syria.

and
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

sailed
ἀπέπλευσαν (apepleusan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 636: To sail away. From apo and pleo; to set sail.

from there
ἐκεῖθέν (ekeithen)
Adverb
Strong's 1564: Thence, from that place. From ekei; thence.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Cyprus.
Κύπρον (Kypron)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2954: Cyprus. Of uncertain origin; Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean.


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Acts 13:3
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