Perga

Perga in Pamphylia

ACTS 13 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 13:7-12 Proconsul

Acts 13:13-16 Perga

ACTS 13:13-14 13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

Where is "Perga in Pamphylia" (Acts 13:13)?
Perga was the capital of the Roman province of Pamphylia, which is the southern coastal province of Antalya in Turkey today.

Why did John Mark leave Barnabas and Paul in Perga and return to Jerusalem?
The Bible doesn't give the reason why John Mark left them in Perga to return home, but it was one that Paul did not consider legitimate (see John Mark).

Where is "Antioch in Pisidia" (Acts 13:14)?
Pisidia was the mountainous province north Pamphylia, and Antioch (not to be confused with Antioch in Syria where Paul, Barnabas and John Mark began their missionary journey) was its capital, located about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north and uphill from Perga.

ACTS 13:15-16 15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” 16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

What is meant by "the Law" (Acts 13:15)?
The first five Old Testament books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

What is meant by "the Prophets" (Acts 13:15)?
The Old Testament books of Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

How big was this synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia?
Big enough for its rulers to have invited Paul and Barnabas to speak by having someone "sent to them" (Acts 13:15) with the invitation.

Who were in the audience?
Both Jews - "Men of Israel" (Acts 13:16) - and gentiles "who fear God" (Acts 13:16), which means gentiles who believed in the God of Judaism but had not been circumcised (see Proselyte).