Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
loosed.
Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Acts 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
Perga.
Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Acts 14:24,25 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia…
Acts 27:5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
John.
Acts 13:5 And 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 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Paul and his companions
This phrase highlights the leadership role of Paul in the missionary team, which included Barnabas and John Mark. The shift from "Barnabas and Saul" to "Paul and his companions" indicates Paul's emerging prominence. This team dynamic is crucial for the spread of early Christianity, showcasing the importance of collaboration in ministry.
came to Perga in Pamphylia
Perga was a city in the region of Pamphylia, located in modern-day Turkey. It was a significant city in the Roman province, known for its temple of Artemis. The journey to Perga marks the beginning of Paul's first missionary journey into Asia Minor. This region was a melting pot of cultures, providing a strategic location for the dissemination of the Gospel.
where John left them
John, also known as John Mark, was a relative of Barnabas and initially part of the missionary team. His departure from the group is significant, as it later becomes a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39). This incident highlights the challenges and human dynamics within early Christian missions.
to return to Jerusalem
John Mark's return to Jerusalem suggests a withdrawal from the mission, possibly due to personal reasons or disagreements. Jerusalem was the center of early Christianity, and his return there may indicate a preference for the familiar or a need to report back to the church. This event foreshadows future reconciliation and the importance of perseverance in ministry.
Paphos, on the southwest coast of Cyprus, was the last stop of the team’s first island mission (Acts 13:6-12). Luke’s wording reminds us that:
• The journey is Spirit-directed (Acts 13:2-4), not a sightseeing tour.
• Success in ministry at Paphos—where the proconsul believed (Acts 13:12)—did not signal a pause; the gospel keeps moving (Acts 8:4-5; Mark 1:38).
• Sailing away pictures deliberate obedience to Jesus’ “to the ends of the earth” commission (Acts 1:8).
Perga lay in southern Asia Minor, a city noted for pagan worship. Arriving there shows:
• A strategic step from an island to the mainland, broadening the reach of the message (Acts 14:25-26).
• A clear shift in leadership—Luke now writes “Paul and his companions,” signaling Paul’s emergence as primary spokesman (compare Acts 11:30; 13:2 where Barnabas had been listed first).
• God’s pattern of planting seeds in influential centers (Acts 16:12-13; 17:1-3) to let the gospel ripple outward.
John Mark’s departure—stated without comment—carries weight:
• It foreshadows the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:37-39, showing real human tensions even among faithful servants.
• Returning “to Jerusalem” may hint at homesickness or discomfort with Gentile outreach (cf. Galatians 2:12-13), yet God later redeems the failure; Mark becomes “useful…for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).
• Paul and Barnabas press on, illustrating that no single worker is indispensable; the mission belongs to the Lord (Matthew 9:37-38; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
Acts 13:13 marks a pivotal transition: having completed fruitful work in Cyprus, Paul leads the team into new territory despite the setback of Mark’s departure. The verse underscores Spirit-led momentum, strategic advance, and God’s ability to carry His gospel forward even when people falter.
(13) Paul and his company.--Literally, those about Paul. The new description is obviously chosen as indicating the new position which from this time the Apostle began to occupy as the leader of the mission.Perga.--The city was at this time the capital of Pamphylia, situated on the river Cestrus, about seven miles from its mouth. The absence of any record of evangelising work there is probably due to the fact that there were no synagogues, and that the Apostles in this mission adhered to the plan of preaching in the first instance to the Jews, and making the synagogue, as it were, their base of operations.
John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.--We are left to conjecture the motives of this departure. He may have shrunk from the perils and hardships of the journey into the interior of the country. He may have been drawn by affection for his mother, who lived at Jerusalem. It is clear, in any case, from St. Paul's subsequent conduct (Acts 15:38), that he looked on the reason as insufficient, while Barnabas saw, at least, enough to admit the plea of extenuating circumstances. The pressure of the famine at Jerusalem may have seemed to him to excuse the desire of the son to minister to the mother's wants.
Verse 13. - Vow for now when, A.V.; set sail for loosed, A.V.; and came for they came, A.V.; departed.., and returned for departing... returned, A.V. A very marked change may here be observed in the relations of Barnabas and Paul. Hitherto Barnabas has always occupied the first rank. It has been "Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11:30; Acts 12:25; vers. 2, 7). But now the whole mission, including Barnabas, is described as οἱ περὶ τὸν Παῦλον, Paul and his company, and ever after it is usually "Paul and Barnabas" (vers. 43, 46, 50; Acts 15:2, 22, 35); though in Acts 14:14 and Acts 15:12, 25, the old order is retained. Renan dwells much on the beauty of Barnabas's character as seen in his cheerful acquiescence in this change of relative position, and his single-minded devotion to the success of the work. Came to Perga, the capital of Pamphylia, in that part of the coast of Asia Minor which looks due south. Perga was about seven and a half miles inland, on the river Cestrus, which is navigable. There was a constant intercourse between Paphos the capital of Cyprus, and Perga the capital of Pamphylia, fostered probably by the two famous temples of Venus and Diana. The word for set sail (ἀναχθέντες) is a nautical term, meaning sailing from the shore or harbor into the open sea (see Acts 16:11; Acts 21:1; Acts 27:12; Luke 8:22). At Perga John Mark left them. Perhaps his position as Barnabas's cousin was less pleasant now that Paul took the first place; perhaps his courage failed him now that they were fairly launched out into the heathen world, where, unlike Cyprus, his Jewish kinsmen were a small minority, and the dangers and fatigues were great. Pamphylia was now governed by a propraetor, being an imperial province. Its name denotes that it was inhabited by a mixed race - men of all tribes, aborigines, Cilicians, Greeks, etc.