Acts 13:14
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
Original Language Analysis
αὐτοὶ
G846
αὐτοὶ
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
1 of 21
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
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
4 of 21
"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 #:
5 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παρεγένοντο
they came
G3854
παρεγένοντο
they came
Strong's:
G3854
Word #:
7 of 21
to become near, i.e., approach (have arrived); by implication, to appear publicly
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
8 of 21
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 #:
10 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
12 of 21
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
14 of 21
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συναγωγὴν
the synagogue
G4864
συναγωγὴν
the synagogue
Strong's:
G4864
Word #:
16 of 21
an assemblage of persons; specially, a jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the place); by analogy, a christian church
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἡμέρᾳ
day
G2250
ἡμέρᾳ
day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
18 of 21
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Acts 16:13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.Acts 17:2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,Acts 14:19And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.Acts 13:5And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.Acts 18:4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.Acts 13:44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.Acts 9:20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.Acts 19:8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.Acts 13:42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Historical Context
Pisidian Antioch was founded by Seleucus I around 280 BC and later became a Roman colony under Augustus. The Jewish synagogue served as diaspora Judaism's center for worship, Scripture reading, and community gathering. Sabbath services included the Shema, prayers, Torah reading, prophetic reading, and exposition—the context for Paul's sermon (vv. 16-41).
Questions for Reflection
- How does Paul's consistent synagogue attendance demonstrate strategic thinking in missions—going where people already gather around Scripture?
- What does 'sitting down' among worshipers teach about incarnational ministry and cultural respect in evangelism?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
They came to Antioch in Pisidia (παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν τὴν Πισιδίαν, paregenonto eis Antiocheian tēn Pisidian)—not Syrian Antioch (their sending church) but Pisidian Antioch, a Roman colony 3,600 feet above sea level in central Asia Minor. This strategic city on the Via Sebaste (Roman military road) had a substantial Jewish population and became Paul's evangelistic beachhead for the Galatian region. The 100-mile mountain journey from Perga was arduous, possibly contributing to John Mark's departure.
Went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down (ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων ἐκάθισαν, elthontes eis tēn synagōgēn tē hēmera tōn sabbatōn ekathisan)—the simple action of sitting among worshipers follows standard synagogue protocol. Visitors with teaching credentials were typically invited to speak (v. 15), providing Paul his evangelistic platform. This pattern (arrive, attend synagogue, receive invitation, preach Christ) recurs throughout Acts.