Acts 13

 Good morning! This is a long chapter with lots of names and things going on!

Let's begin with some of the names of the people:

Simeon (AKA Niger)- "Niger" is Latin for "black" so Simeon was an African among the congregation in Antioch; some commentaries say he may be the same Simeon that carried the cross of Jesus 

Manaen- knew Herod the Tetrarch; tetrarch means a subordinate prince or ruler of the fourth province; this is the Herod beheaded John the Baptist and was at the trials of Jesus (Luke 23:7-12). Interesting how two people could be in the same environment and one turns out nasty and one turns out good.

Lucius- one of the founders of the church in Antioch and presumably the first "bishop"of Cyrene; there is a Lucius mentioned in Romans 16, but we don't know if they are the same people; Cyrene is a city in Libya, so Lucius is presumably black.

Notice the  cultural diversity of the early church!

Fasting (v 2) and prayer was important for these first church starters. Fasting is a way to seek God.  While they prayed, Barnabas and Paul (Saul) were called into service (v 3). We are not sure why Barnabas and Paul were called- maybe they were best fit for the job ahead? Maybe they were the most gifted to teach? We know God's thoughts about Paul from Acts 9, "He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake. This was not a touchy-feely “feel good” call – it was a serious call to a serious ministry.When God calls, they went. Do you? When God calls, how do you respond?  Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Spirit (v 4). The church can send people to do things; other people can send people to do tings, but when the Holy Spirit is involved there is more to it!

See the map below for Paul's (and Barnabas') first missionary journey.

Paul and Barnabas' First Missionary Trip

Seleucia was close to Antioch; there was a thriving church in Antioch- so this was probably a good place to begin the next church. There were probably already some Christians there. We are not told why they went to Cyprus next, but we do know Barnabas grew up on that island (Acts 4:36). They are invited to speak at the synagogue (v 5). This custom of the open synagogue gave Barnabas and Saul many opportunities to preach. This tradition invited any learned man to speak to the people of the synagogue at the Sabbath meeting.They meet up with John Mark (likely the author of the Gospel of Mark). Mark was a valuable companion for Barnabas and Saul. He grew up in Jerusalem, and was an eyewitness of many of the events in the life of Jesus and could relate them with special power to Barnabas and Saul, and to others whom they preached to.

Next stop- Paphos. This city on the west coast of Cyprus was known for its immorality. Here Barnabas and Saul faced a combination of immorality and spiritual darkness that was common across the pagan world of the Roman Empire. Paphos was infamous for its worship of Venus, the goddess of sexuality. In Paphos, they meet Bar-Jesus (AKA Elymas); the name Bar-Jesus means “son of Joshua” or “son of the Savior" ("Elymas" means magician). He is good friends with Sergius Paulus-- a Roman proconsul responsible for an entire province and answered to the Roman Senate-- and he wanted to listen to Paul and Barnabas about God! The door to Christianity had been opened by a Roman- but tries to be hindered by the magician! Is it surprising that the work of God is hindered by magic?

The confrontation between Paul and Elymas is familiar to us! As Elymas was struck with blindness, we can’t help but think Paul would remember his own experience with God. Paul was struck blind at his conversion on the road to Damascus. Certainly, those who resist God are blind spiritually, so God just gave Elymas a physical blindness that matched his spiritual blindness. Sadly, we never hear of Elymas repenting, as Paul did. The proconsul immediately converted to Christianity as he saw the power Pal had (and also the power that Elymas wielded!). 

Notice the name change. When we began the journey- it was Barnabas and Paul; the group is now called "Paul and those with him" (v 13). This change shows the prominence and leadership of Paul. The missionary trips are called "Paul's missionary trips" even though he often had companions with him!

Perga is a major coastal city and the ship Paul was on would have docked here. Antioch in Pisidia (different city from the Antioch we read about earlier) was about 135 miles inland, to the north. This general region was known as Galatia, and later Paul wrote a letter to these churches that is included in our New Testament epistles. Paul begins his sermon in the synagogue (v 16), explaining how God’s work in history leads up to Jesus. In this quick survey of Israel’s history, Paul noted important events – the choosing of the patriarchs, the deliverance from Egypt, the time in the wilderness, the conquest of Canaan, the time of the Judges, the creation of a monarchy – but it all led up to Jesus. Paul then continues his survey with the things of Jesus and focused on things that actually happened, not on philosophy or even theology. He ends (v 37) with the big point and applied the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. The resurrection means that Jesus truly is the unique Son of God.  The promise is that, because of who Jesus is and what He did for us, forgiveness is offered to us freely in Jesus.The warning (v 41) is that if we do not embrace the person and work of Jesus with our whole lives, we are despisers who will perish. This message from Paul is very similar to the one Peter preached in Pentecost-- 15 years earlier! It is also similar to the message Stephen gave in Acts 7- when Paul was there at the stoning! Maybe the sermon of the first martyr of the church still rang in the ears of the man who presided over his execution.Proof that people can change!

Both Jews and Gentiles at the synagogue responded positively (v 42+). The next Sabbath day (v 44), the whole city came to hear Paul! Today we are inundated with news (and noise) from TV, radio, magazines, etc. However- back in the day- they didn't have those sources of information, so, when somebody came through from another city, the person was a source of information and people naturally gathered about him. The Jewish members of the crowd respond negatively (v 45)- Paul was more popular than the leaders- and the leaders became jealous! We can’t all be popular to the same degree, but we can all serve and please God to the same degree in Jesus Christ.

Paul and Barnabas wouldn’t let this challenge go unanswered (v 46+), because they really believed the truth about Jesus. They rebuked those who rejected Jesus, letting the Jews know that it was a privilege that this message should come to them first, a privilege they were now rejecting. When you want to tell others about Jesus, begin with your own group. But if they don’t receive it, or when they start to reject it, don’t stop telling others about Jesus. Just find others to tell, others who will listen. The Gentiles responded to Paul’s invitation with enthusiastic belief, learning with joy that God does not hate Gentiles, but offered them salvation in Jesus. This is where we- the Gentiles- really become incorporated into God's salvation. 

In one week, a church was started! On one Sabbath Paul and Barnabas preached in the synagogue and there was a wonderful response. The following Sabbath there was a mixed response, some very hostile and some very receptive. They took the receptive ones and started a church that was lasted for hundreds of years and through that church. However, Jewish opposition was strong enough to force Paul and Barnabas to leave the area. How often does  the success of something cause an opposing group to drive out the "leadership" of the successful program, possibly hoping that it will fail.

Paul and Barnabas leave- not defeated but excited to get on with their missionary trip - to Iconium. Their defeat left them with joy and the Holy Spirit. How often does defeat leave us sad and upset, rather than full of joy and the Holy Spirit?

Lots to soak up in this chapter! Have a great day!
Shalom+
Pastor Paul