Written ~ 06-19-2024
Read Acts Chapter Thirteen
Acts 13
Barnabus and Saul were in Jerusalem when Peter was arrested in Judea. It’s not mentioned if they received word that Peter had been imprisoned, I’m sure if they knew, they were praying with the rest of the church for his safety. When Barnabus and Saul finished what they were doing in Jerusalem they went back to Antioch (Acts 12:25). John Mark is a frequent companion to Barnabus and Saul as we will see later in the Book of Acts.
Acts 13:1-5…
1Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”3So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
4So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. 5There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.
Barnabus and Saul were appointed as missionaries to carry the Word of Jesus even further. They were filled with the Holy Spirit as the other prophets and teachers laid hands on them, then they were on their way.
In verse 13:2a it says, “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them…” Sometimes we can hear the Lord speak to our hearts as we go about our day. The Holy Spirit prompts us to seek the good and act on it. But when we need answer to prayer, maybe it’s a difficult situation you face every day. Maybe it’s illness or pain. It could be a looming decision that has you all twisted inside. Or maybe it could be the yearning that a loved one would come to know Jesus personally. It might be that during those times that going to the Lord in prayer, worship, fasting and quieting your heart before Him is when the Holy Spirit can really speak to your situation. If we are so busy worrying about everything, but don’t take the time to worship the Lord, we can miss what the Holy Spirit has for us.
In verse 13:2b it says, “Appoint Barnabus and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” If those men (prophets and teachers) had not quieted their hearts before the Lord, they may not have heard the special calling that was being placed on Barnabus and Saul. They could have very easily kept themselves busy by preaching and teaching and serving others, but miss the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 13:4a says, “So Barnabus and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit…” When they reached Paphos, it’s there they were met with opposition. This opposition was in the form of a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus (or in Greek – Elymas). He was a false prophet who had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus. The governor wanted to hear the Word of God and the message of Jesus, but Elymus kept getting on the way, he would try to fill the mind of the governor with false ideas of who Jesus was and tried to keep him from listening to Barnabus and Saul.
When you and I pray for the unsaved – whether it’s a loved one, a friend or even the unsaved in the world – if they are resisting the message of Jesus it’s because a false message is being poured into their hearts and minds, instead of the life giving truth of Jesus.
Barnabus and Saul did not let the false teachings of the sorcerer get in their way. Neither should we as we pray for our unsaved loved ones.
Saul, now known as Paul (Acts 13:9) was filled with the Holy Spirit when he confronted the evil spirit of deceit, fraud and everything contrary to what was good. There was punishment handed out to the sorcerer for trying so hard to lead astray anyone who would listen to his false teachings.
Acts 13:9-11…
9Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11Watch now, for the Lord has laid His hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.
Be warned, you cannot get away with twisting the Word of the Lord, or spread false ideas to those around you just so the Scriptures can fit into a lifestyle you want to live in. There will be punishment for that kind of disobedience.
Acts 13:12…
12When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
When someone is truly searching for the truth and they have the opportunity to be released from the false ideas the world is feeding them… that’s when the Word of God can break through and Salvation is at hand!
It says in Romans 10:16-18…
16But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
“The Message has gone throughout the earth,
and the Words to all the world.”
From these first century missionaries the message of Jesus Christ has been sent out. Even today the Word of God is being preached to the ends of the earth. An eager heart is open to the truth found within the pages of the Bible.
When Paul and Barnabus return to Antioch, Paul is given the opportunity to speak on the Sabbath in the synagogue. Paul stands up and gives those in attendance a brief but powerfully convicting history lesson. And many become devout followers of Jesus through Paul’s message (Acts 13:13-43). But as more and more people began turning up to hear as much as they could about Jesus, some of the Jewish leaders became very jealous (Acts 13:45, “But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.”). Paul and Barnabus would continue to speak boldly.
Acts 13:46-52…
46Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. 47For the Lord gave us this command when He said,
‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for His message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.
50Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 51So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. 52And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
When the Word of God is rejected and the message of Jesus is denied, it’s time to move on. There will always be hungry souls waiting to hear the message of Christ. And there will be, sadly, those who will forever reject Christ.
But when is it time to move on? In the case of Paul and Barnabus it was when an angry mob began rioting against them, they shook the dust off their feet and left. Does that mean they gave up completely? No, those who did believe were filled with the holy Spirit, so when Paul and Barnabus had to leave, the Holy Spirit remained. His presence and joy would remain and the message of Jesus would continue. Acts 13:52, “…the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
What if you and I have loved ones who continually reject the message of Christ? Do we give up on them? No, but I do think there is a point where we must “shake the dust off our feet” and allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest. Do our prayers for them discontinue? Absolutely NOT. But if we have done all we can to bring the message of Jesus to them and they still reject it again and again, it’s time to leave them in the hands of the Lord and move on. It might just be that God is preparing you to take His message to those who are eager to know about Jesus and are ready to receive Salvation.
In Acts 12:24 it says, “…the Word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.” If Paul and Barnabus continued to pour out all their efforts to reach those who perpetually rejected their message, they would miss the incredible opportunities awaiting them.
Same goes for us.
Father, I pray that Your message would continue with unceasing momentum. My prayer for my loved ones who don’t yet know Your Salvation burns within my heart, I give them to you Lord. Holy Spirit do Your work in their hearts, prepare them to be ready to hear the Word of God and come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.
~AMEN~