Bible Strands
Acts 13:12
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the proconsul Sergius Paulus observing the immediate blindness of the sorcerer Elymas following Paul's pronouncement. This occurs at the moment of transition as Paul prepares to sail from Paphos to Perga.
The words — The text highlights ἐπίστευσεν (episteusen), meaning "he believed," and ἐκπλησσόμενος (ekplēssomenos), meaning "being astonished." These terms directly link the proconsul's faith to his reaction to the demonstrated power and teaching about the Lord.
The thread — This judicial conversion echoes the proconsul's earlier intelligence and summons in Acts 13:7 and parallels the crowd's marveling at divine words in Luke 4:22. It also anticipates the theme of divine power overcoming human resistance found in 2 Corinthians 10:4.
Why it lands — The text states that the proconsul believed because he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord after seeing the judgment occur. It requires the reader to acknowledge that authoritative divine revelation, witnessed in action, compels faith in those who observe it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
- Acts 13:7 an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
- Luke 4:22 All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
- Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
- Matthew 27:54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
- Luke 7:16 A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”
- John 7:46 “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.
- Acts 6:10 but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
- Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.
- Acts 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.