Acts 13:1-3 Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles
“Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Saul and Barnabas are in Antioch, praying with prophets and teachers when the Holy Spirit gives them marching orders. Notice what did NOT happen! Even though all the men gathered in Antioch were intelligent, capable, and experienced, they did NOT organize a board meeting and bring up lots of points for discussion. These men did not put the question before the congregation; instead, these men ministered to the Lord and fasted. I suspect that the place was very quiet because it’s impossible to hear the Holy Spirit clearly when there’s lots of background noise. While fasting might cause noise from grumbling stomachs, it’s effective for focusing on God rather than on outside activities. It was in that stillness that the Holy Spirit spoke clearly, designating Saul and Barnabas for a new work.
One of the problems with many “worship” services today is that they are performances with all the adulation going to the worship leader and the band, rather than avenues of praise that will lead people into the throne room of grace. Years ago, we were in a church where the pastor was an anointed worship leader. A holy hush had come over the congregation and the atmosphere was almost pulsating with Holy Spirit energy….And that’s when the other worship leader suddenly chose to do one more peppy worship song, perhaps because she couldn’t tolerate the quiet. I had such a strong sense of the Holy Spirit leaving the building that I hopped out of my seat and ran out of the church, as if somehow I could still meet the Holy Spirit outside. But it was too late. The opportunity had been missed, never to come again.
Acts 13:4-12 Preaching in Cyprus
“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”
Accompanied by John Mark, Saul and Barnabas have arrived in a major city in Cyprus and are preaching the Gospel in the Jewish synagogues. At Paphos there’s a Roman proconsul who is spiritually hungry; however, Satan has sent a Jewish sorcerer named Bar-Jesus (Son of Jesus) to try to divert this man from coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. But the Holy Spirit is not about to be mocked.
Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”
We never learn what happens to this sorcerer, although you might think that being struck blind would be enough to convince anybody. But the proconsul recognizes spiritual truth when he hears it and believes in Jesus Christ.
When we are working for the Lord, we must expect opposition. When John Wesley first began the Methodist movement in England, many people in the established churches opposed him violently, driving him out of churches and forcing him to speak outdoors to large groups of people. Wesley endured so much persecution that one day he was riding along the road, wondering if he was doing the Lord’s will, for nobody had attacked him for a few days. Just then, on the other side of the hedge, a man heard Wesley talking to himself and said, “There’s that man Wesley! I’ll show him!” With that, the man picked up a large rock and chucked it over the hedge at Wesley. Wesley’s reaction was quite unique: “Praise God! I’m doing the right thing!”
Perhaps you are enduring persecution right now. You have tried to follow God’s will for your life; however, you find yourself assailed by critics desiring only to destroy your reputation and your work. Hear what Paul says in Romans 8:31-39 “What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.”
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to listen for the Holy Spirit and to be guided by Him, no matter who or what opposes us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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