Acts 13:13
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
Original Language Analysis
Ἀναχθέντες
loosed
G321
Ἀναχθέντες
loosed
Strong's:
G321
Word #:
1 of 22
to lead up; by extension to bring out; specially, to sail away
ἀπ'
from
G575
ἀπ'
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
3 of 22
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
περὶ
and his company
G4012
περὶ
and his company
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
7 of 22
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Παῦλον
when Paul
G3972
Παῦλον
when Paul
Strong's:
G3972
Word #:
9 of 22
(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle
ἦλθον
they came
G2064
ἦλθον
they came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
10 of 22
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
εἰς
to
G1519
εἰς
to
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
11 of 22
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Παμφυλίας·
in Pamphylia
G3828
Παμφυλίας·
in Pamphylia
Strong's:
G3828
Word #:
14 of 22
every-tribal, i.e., heterogeneous (g5561 being implied); pamphylia, a region of asia minor
ἀπ'
from
G575
ἀπ'
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
18 of 22
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
αὐτῶν
them
G846
αὐτῶν
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
19 of 22
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὑπέστρεψεν
returned
G5290
ὑπέστρεψεν
returned
Strong's:
G5290
Word #:
20 of 22
to turn under (behind), i.e., to return (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Acts 15:38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.Acts 2:10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,Acts 12:12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.Acts 27:5And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
Historical Context
The journey from Paphos to Perga (100+ miles across open sea to southern Asia Minor) marked a significant geographical and strategic shift—from familiar Cyprus to mainland Asia Minor. The rugged Taurus Mountains and malarial coastal plains presented physical hardships. John Mark likely left during the challenging transition from island to mountainous interior.
Questions for Reflection
- What caused John Mark's departure, and how do we handle those who begin ministry well but withdraw under pressure?
- How did Paul's emergence as team leader—eclipsing his older mentor Barnabas—reflect God's sovereignty in leadership development?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos (Ἀναχθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς Πάφου οἱ περὶ Παῦλον, Anachthentes de apo tēs Paphou hoi peri Paulon)—this phrase marks a subtle but significant shift: 'those around Paul' (οἱ περὶ Παῦλον, hoi peri Paulon) rather than 'Barnabas and Saul.' Paul now leads the mission. The confrontation with Elymas demonstrated apostolic authority, and Luke hereafter consistently calls him 'Paul' rather than 'Saul,' his Roman name signaling Gentile mission focus.
John departing from them returned to Jerusalem (Ἰωάννης δὲ ἀποχωρήσας ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, Iōannēs de apochōrēsas ap' autōn hypestrepsen eis Hierosolyma)—the participle ἀποχωρήσας (apochōrēsas, 'having withdrawn, departed') suggests deliberate separation, not emergency. John Mark's reasons remain unstated, but Paul later called it desertion (15:38). This premature departure would split Paul and Barnabas, yet God redeemed it by creating two missionary teams.