Without Paul’s separate ministry that was initiated as seen in Acts 13, Paul would hardly have been prepared for his greater ministry associated with his last epistles of Romans and his Post-Acts epistles. As seen below, Acts 13 not only sets Paul apart, it provides at least four (4) outstanding features which make the contribution of Acts 13 important.

1. Acts 13, in type, foreshadowed the ‘blindness of Israel’ and the sending of the salvation of God to the Gentiles, which is obvious in the ministry of Paul as recorded here.

“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: ⁷ Which was with the [Roman] deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the [Gentile] deputy from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, ¹⁰ And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the [Gentile] deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.” Acts 13:6-12 (KJV)

Paul later wrote:

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25 (KJV)

2.  In Acts 13 Paul speaks of Israel being forsaken for a time in Egypt, again foreshadowing Israel’s temporary Lo-ammi period as “not my people” (Hosea 1:9) to occur with the end of Acts, when God through Paul turns to from Israel the Gentiles…  bringing in today’s ‘dispensation of the Mystery’ (cf. Eph. 2:2-3) concerning the Gentile ‘body of Christ.’

“The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted [delivered] the people when they dwelt as strangers [as slaves] in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. Acts 13:17 (KJV)

3. In Acts 13 Paul clearly introduces into the Biblical record that fundamental most precious doctrine of ‘JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.’ (cf. Romans 5:1).

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren [of Israel], that through this man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: ³⁹ And By Him All That BELIEVE Are JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39

“Therefore being Justified By Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 (KJV)

4. In Acts 13 Paul presents the anticipatory turning of God from Israel to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48), which actually occurs with Acts 28:28.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you [Israel]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so hath the Lord commanded us [Paul and company], saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. ⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many [Gentiles] as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:46-48 (KJV)

“Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” Acts 28:28 (KJV)