Acts 13:13Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
The setting
Perga, Pamphylia (modern Turkey), ~47 AD. Young John Mark, nephew of Barnabas, abandons the dangerous inland journey and returns home to Jerusalem.
The emotion here: disappointed but pressing forward with the mission
The original word
apochoresas (ἀποχωρήσας) — withdrew, departed, separated himself from
Why it matters
The journey from coastal Perga into the Taurus Mountains was notoriously dangerous with bandits and harsh terrain
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 13:13
John Mark was probably terrified of the mountain journey ahead - this wasn't casual quitting
Common misconceptionMost people assume John Mark was just immature or lazy, but he was facing a genuinely dangerous journey into bandit-infested mountains that could have killed him.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 13:13
Bible Genome reading
Acts 13:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 13:13 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 15% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include separation, ministry. Notable phrases: John departed; returned to Jerusalem.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Acts 13:13 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "deciding"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.