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Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Acts 13:12 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
  • BSB When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about 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 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 10:4–5(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
  • Acts 13:7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
  • Luke 4:22And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
  • Matt 27:54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
  • Luke 7:16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
  • Acts 15:35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
  • Acts 28:7In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
  • Acts 13:49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
  • Matt 7:28–29And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
  • Acts 19:7And all the men were about twelve.
  • John 7:46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
  • Acts 6:10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

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.