Acts 13 - What's In A Name?
Acts 13 Enduring Word Commentary 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Chapter 13 marks a pivotal shift in the book of Acts. Where the mission was centered in Jerusalem under the leadership of the apostle Peter, now it moves to Syrian Antioch and the leadership of Apostle Paul. Saul, was his Hebrew name reflecting he came from the lineage of King Saul, the first king of Israel. As Paul shifts his ministry to an Gentile audience, he uses his Roamn name, "Paul" or "Paulus". He was also a Roman citizen, and this name reminded people of that. This will be of great help to him at the end of ...