July 20, 2014
Morning Service

Acts 13:1-13

 

            As I looked at Greg’s notes from last Sunday morning’s service, I was very impressed with the message.  The way he explained the different Herods, the martyrdom of James, the miraculous release of Peter, the death of Herod.  Luke is impressing on us just how God is still in control of everything that is going on.  God is not through with Peter, but today Luke switches us to Saul, and Barnabas.

            We recall in Matt. 16:18, Jesus saying that He would build His church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.  We saw Jesus give Peter the keys of authority to this church.  We have seen Peter use those keys to open the door of salvation to the Jews in chapter two, and to the Gentiles in chapter 10.  This morning Luke shows us again that God is still working miraculously in the church.

 

Let’s begin:

 

Chapter 12 ended with this verse:

Act 12:25  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

            Now if we recall back, after Peter explained to the elders, and other Apostles what happened in the house of Cornelius, Luke told how that Barnabas left Antioch, and went to Tarsus seeking Saul.  How they came back to Antioch, and taught the Word of God for a year.  That there were certain Prophets at Antioch, and they had prophesied of coming hard times in Jerusalem.  The disciples in Antioch decided to send relief to the saints in Jerusalem, and they sent it by the hands of Saul, and Barnabas.  The above scripture tells of them returning to Antioch from delivering this relief.

 

Chapter 13:

Act 13:1-13  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  (2)  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  (3)  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 

·         As we see these men worshipping the Lord, Luke tells us that the Holy Ghost spoke to them.  This is the start of missionary work of Barnabas, and Saul.

·         As they fasted, and prayed, then laid hands on them.  This was for God to protect them, and also for authority to speak for the church that met at Antioch.

(4)  So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia;

·         Seleucia was but a short distance to the coast line of the Mediterranean Sea.  West.

and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 

·         Cyprus is an island between the middle east, and Turkey.  Salamis is a city on this island.

(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. 

·         Now John Mark, was ministering to their needs.  Not having the same gifts, or authority that they had.

(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: 

·         Paphos was a city on the other end of this island.

·         Now this Barjesus would have been similar to Simon, whom Peter confronted in Samaria.  In chapter eight.

(7)  Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man;

·         Sergius Paulus, a man of authority, and also, learned.  Interested in things that were new to his hearing.

 

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 deputy from the faith.  (9)  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 

·         Here is where we leave the name of Saul, and from now on the Apostle will be called Paul.

·         Paul is filled with the Holy Ghost.  He is acting, and speaking in all authority of God.

(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. 

·         God manifesting His power through the Apostle Paul.

·         For how long a time this blindness was to continue is nowhere specified. It was, however, in mercy ordained that the blindness should not be permanent and final; and though it was a punishment, it was at the same time benevolent, for nothing would be more likely to lead him to reflection and repentance than such a state of blindness. It was such a manifest proof that God was opposed to him it was such a sudden divine judgment; it so completely cut him off from all possibility of practicing his arts of deception, that it was adapted to bring him to repentance. Accordingly there is a tradition in the early church that he became a Christian. Origen says that “Paul, by a word striking him blind, by anguish converted him to godliness” (Clark).

·         If we look back on the conversion of Paul, he also was struck blind, look how God is using him. 

 (12)  Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. 

·         This is the second thing that was accomplished, the deputy believed in what Paul was saying.  However, we are not given if he followed his belief by being baptized into Christ.

(13)  Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

·         Now Perga is a city in Pamphylia, which is in our modern day Turkey.  It lies on the southern sea shore.

·         John Mark leaves Barnabas, and Paul, and goes back to Jerusalem.

·         When we look at this story of Elymas, we see him have two choices.  First he could get angry with God, and do all he can to fight against the faith, or he can repent, and become a Christian.  In one sense of the word, we could call this hard love from God. 

·         The scriptures teach us that God is long suffering not willing that any should perish.

·         It reminds me of the story of the prodigal son.  After blowing all his inheritance, found himself eating corn husks in the pig pen.  Life had gone sour for him, and the choices he had made were destroying his life, he had no life.  But, he knew where there was life, and it was in his Father’s house, or presence.  So, he made the right choice, he returned to his Father’s house, and what did he find?  His Father’s wide open arms of love anxiously waiting to receive him home.

That’s such a great example of the way God is with us.  Many of us have made the wrong choices in life, and got ourselves in a mess, but God stands there with open arms, saying come home my child, you are always welcome in my house. 

It’s actually the gospel message.  Repent, turn from the way you are going, and follow God’s teaching.

 

Almighty God, I pray that should there be one here this morning that has made wrong choices thus far in their lives, that You would make it easy for them to step forward and meet You at an altar of repentance.  In Jesus name.