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When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Acts 13:12 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
  • KJV Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
  • ESV Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
  • NKJV Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
  • NASB Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.
  • NLT When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Seeing this, the proconsul believes, astonished at the teaching of the Lord. The sign confirms the message and a Roman official comes to faith.

Overview

Sergius Paulus's faith rests not merely on the miracle but on the teaching about the Lord, which the sign authenticated. His conversion shows the gospel penetrating the highest ranks of Roman society early in the mission. The episode demonstrates that God overcomes both occult opposition and worldly power to save those who seek him.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • 2 Cor 10:4–5The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
  • Acts 13:7an 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 4:22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
  • Matt 27:54When 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 7:16A 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!”
  • Acts 15:35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
  • Acts 28:7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
  • Acts 13:49And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.
  • Matt 7:28–29When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
  • Acts 19:7There were about twelve men in all.
  • John 7:46“Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.
  • Acts 6:10but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 13:12YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 13:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.