Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 13]
(J. Lightfoot). Whether they expected to be called on or not,
they were given the opportunity as prominent visitors. The
Pisidian Antioch was really in Phrygia, but towards Pisidia to
distinguish it from Antioch on the Maeander (Ramsay, _Church in
the Roman Empire_, p. 25). It was a colony like Philippi and so a
free city. If Paul is referring to South Galatia and not North
Galatia in Ga 4:13 when he says that his preaching in Galatia
at first was due to illness, then it was probably here at
Pisidian Antioch. What it was we have no means of knowing, though
it was a temptation in his flesh to them so severe that they were
willing to pluck out their eyes for him (Ga 4:14f.). Opthalmia,
malaria, epilepsy have all been suggested as this stake in the
flesh (2Co 12:7). But Paul was able to preach with power
whatever his actual physical condition was.
13:15 {After the reading of the law and the prophets} (\meta t•n
anagn•sin tou nomou kai t•n proph•t•n\). The law was first read
in the synagogues till B.C. 163 when Antiochus Epiphones
prohibited it. Then the reading of the prophets was substituted
for it. The Maccabees restored both. There was a reading from the
law and one from the prophets in Hebrew which was interpreted
into the Aramaic or the Greek _Koin•_ for the people. The reading
was followed by the sermon as when Jesus was invited to read and
to preach in Nazareth (Lu 4:16f.). For the service in the
synagogue see Schuerer, _History of the Jewish People_, Div. II,
Vol. II, pp. 79ff. It was the duty of the rulers of the synagogue
(\archisunag•goi\) to select the readers and the speakers for the
service (Mr 5:22,35-38; Lu 8:49; 13:14; Ac 13:15; 18:8,17). Any
rabbi or distinguished stranger could be called on to speak. {If
ye have any word of exhortation for the people} (\ei tis estin en
humin logos parakl•se•s pros ton laon\). Literally, if there is
among you any word of exhortation for the people. It is a
condition of the first class and assumed to be true, a polite
invitation. On "exhortation" (\parakl•sis\) see 9:31. It may be
a technical phrase used in the synagogue (Heb 13:22; 1Ti 4:13).
13:16 {Paul stood up} (\anastas Paulos\). The Jewish custom was
to sit while speaking (Lu 4:20), but the Greek and Roman was to
stand (Ac 17:22). It is possible as Lewin (_Life of St. Paul_,
Vol. 1, p. 141) suggests that here Paul stepped upon the platform
and then took his seat as he began to speak or he may have
followed the Greek and Roman custom. Paul is the leader now and
the more gifted speaker (Ac 14:12), so that he responds to the
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