June 12, 2022
Evening Service

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

Acts 13:1  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. 

Acts 13:2  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." 

Acts 13:3  Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 

Here was a group of men from different walks of life. In these men, we see that the Lord calls them as instruments for his work, from various places and vocations in life. They have passion for His glory and it inspired these men to give up their complimentary connections and opportunities to promote His cause. The Spirit of Christ is what makes his men of the cloth both able and willing for his service, taking them from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's pastors are in service to Christ's work and under the Spirit's guidance, to act in behalf of the glory of God the Father. They are separated by God’s Spirit to take on great effort for God’s glory and not to take it on as a position. A blessing upon Barnabas and Saul in their present undertaking was prayed about, fasted over, and laid hands upon so that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit in doing their work. Whatever methods are used, or rules observed, the Holy Spirit only is what makes ministers properly proficient for their important work. The Holy Spirit within the chosen calls them to it and the called need be obedient.

Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus

Acts 13:4  So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 

Acts 13:5  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. 

Acts 13:6  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, 

Acts 13:7  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. 

Acts 13:8  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 

Acts 13:9  Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 

Acts 13:10  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? 

Acts 13:11  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. 

Acts 13:12  Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. 

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

Acts 13:13  Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 

When it comes to great men and men in power, Satan works overtime with deceit and lies to keep them from being spiritual men, because their example will influence many. This is the flawed nature of how people look to men for the example instead of looking to Christ. Saul for the first time in the city of Paphos on the island of Cyprus is called Paul, and will never be called Saul after this. Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Jesus did not change his name to Paul; it is as the scriptures are written, “Saul, who also is called Paul”. Paul, influenced by the Holy Spirit, gave Elymas his true character of being blind, because he was blind to the ways of the Lord, a son of the devil and an enemy of all righteousness. A person truly is a child of the devil when they are full of deceit and mischief together. Those who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. People, who wander from the ways of the Lord themselves, not only do it to themselves, but also often encourage others against these ways. They are so reluctant to repent and seek God; they do not cease in their own evil and intrigue company in their misery. The proconsul was astonished at the power of God and believed when he had seen it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ is astonishing and the more we study it, the more reasons we have to marvel at it. Those who are not prepared to face opposition and to endure hardship, are not suited for the work of the church. Those who put their house in order and then look back upon their old ways are not fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:62  But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

I thought of Lot’s wife looking back at Sodom and Gomorrah after being told to not look behind and immediately became a pillar of salt when she did. It was not merely the act of “looking” back, but to have some form of peering back into the past sinful life and experiences that God was bringing to judgment.

Acts 13:14  But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 

Acts 13:15  And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." 

Acts 13:16  Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 

Acts 13:17  The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 

Acts 13:18  Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 

Acts 13:19  And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. 

Acts 13:20  "After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 

Acts 13:21  And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 

Acts 13:22  And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID THE SON OF JESSE, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART, WHO WILL DO ALL MY WILL.' 

Acts 13:23  From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— 

Acts 13:24  after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 

Acts 13:25  And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.' 

Acts 13:26  "Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 

Acts 13:27  For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 

Acts 13:28  And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 

Acts 13:29  Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 

Acts 13:30  But God raised Him from the dead. 

Acts 13:31  He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 

Paul here used the opportunity to expound upon The Word; he encouraged the people to review what was known about Jesus. When we meet together to worship, we should not only pray and praise the Lord, but also read His Word and listen to it for it is Holy! The mere reading of the Scriptures in our churches is not enough; they should be put forth with purpose and details, then the people in the hearing of the Word will be given the correct incite and encouragement to be doers of the Word. This helps Christ’s believers to do what is necessary to make the word profitable, to apply it to themselves and in their daily walk with the Lord Jesus. Paul covers everything in this sermon, which could possibly help the Jews to receive and embrace Christ as the promised Messiah. All the Lord's actions with His church reminds us of His mercy and long-suffering, these are the facts of man's ungratefulness and perversion of the truth. Paul shows the lineage from David to the Son of David, and shows that Jesus is the promised Messiah; a Savior to do for them, which the judges of old could not do and to save them from their sins. Being buried with Christ, in this we die to ourselves and live in Christ Jesus, represents our complete separation from sin.

Romans 6:6  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 

Romans 6:7  For he who has died has been freed from sin. 

Romans 6:8  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 

Romans 6:9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 

Romans 6:10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 

Jesus did not stay in the grave! He rose again from the dead, resurrected by The Spirit God the Father and saw no corruption: this was the great truth to be preached.

Acts 13:32  And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 

Acts 13:33  God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.' 

Acts 13:34  And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.' 

Acts 13:35  Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.' 

Acts 13:36  "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 

Acts 13:37  but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 

The resurrection of Jesus is the great revelation of His being the Son of God. The grip of death had no hold on Jesus because he was the Son of God, and therefore had life in Himself, which he could not lay down except to take it up again. The sure mercies of David spoken of here are that of everlasting life, the resurrection of Jesus was a sure pledge; and the blessings of redemption in Christ are a certain hope in this world. David was a great blessing to the period that he lived. We were not born for ourselves, but there are those in the world around us, to which we need look to be of service. Yet here is the difference; Christ was to serve all generations. We look to Him who is declared the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead, that by faith in Him we may walk with God. Then we can serve our generation according to His will; and when death comes, may we fall asleep in Him, with a joyful hope of a blessed resurrection.

Acts 13:38  Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 

Acts 13:39  and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 

Acts 13:40  Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 

Acts 13:41  'BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.' " 

Paul is saying that those who hear the gospel of Christ should know that through this Man Jesus, who died and rose again, is preached to you the forgiveness of sins. Our sins though numerous and dreadful, may be forgiven and they may be so without any injury to God's honor. It is by Christ only that all who believe in Him and none other are justified from all things; from all the guilt and stain of sin, from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses. The concern of convicted sinners is to be justified, to be acquitted from all their guilt, and accepted as righteous in God's sight. Therefore, if any sin is left imputed upon the sinner, he can never enter the Presence of God. Through the great work done by Jesus Christ on Calvary, we get a complete justification; for by Him as the Holy Lamb of God, a complete atonement was made for sin. We are justified, not only by Him as our Judge but by him as the Lord our Righteousness. What the law could not do for us because it only defined the sin, the gospel of Christ does in the atonement for sin. This is the most needful blessing, the forgiveness of our sins by the blood of Jesus and our belief in Him; it will impart to us the kingdom of Heaven through Grace. The threats are warnings; what we are told will come upon unrepentant sinners, to awaken us to the Truth, unless we die in our sin. The truth of us being sinful creatures will ruin many, so much so, that they despise a spiritual relationship with the Lord. Those that heed the gospel message will be saved; those that hear the message and never make a decision will perish. We need to minister to our loved ones that no decision is a decision not to accept the saving grace of Jesus. Heaven is not for mankind in his likeness, but mankind with the likeness of Christ.

Acts 13:42  So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 

Acts 13:43  Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 

Acts 13:44  On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 

Acts 13:45  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 

Acts 13:46  Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 

Acts 13:47  For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I HAVE SET YOU AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BE FOR SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.' " 

Acts 13:48  Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 

Acts 13:49  And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 

Acts 13:50  But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 

Acts 13:51  But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 

Acts 13:52  And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 

The Jews became envious by the multitudes coming to hear the gospel and opposed the doctrine the apostles preached; and when they could find no objection, they blasphemed Christ and His gospel. It is common when those who begin with contradiction, end with blaspheming. When enemies of Christ's cause are daring, its supporters should be even bolder. While many judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, others, who appear less likely, desire to hear more of the good tidings of salvation. How amazing the glory, how endless the power, we can be eternally thankful for God’s saving grace! How excellent are His ways, how precious to good living are the principles, and on top of everything else, His wonderful promises! Many wanted this way to eternal life, they had concerns about their eternal state and aimed to make sure of eternal life and they believed in Christ. God drew those to Him through Jesus and His apostles; eternal life awaits the true believer. There is only one Way to it and it was the grace of God that does the working of the heart in them. How blessed we are to have a God that loves us beyond our understanding!