Acts 13:1-12 "Paul's First Missionary Journey"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City. Please open your Bibles to Acts 13. Acts 13:1-12.

Last time, we observed Herod Agippa I’s persecution of the church…

Herod killed James… one of the Sons of Thunder… by the sword because it pleased the Jews.

And, arrested Peter as well… no doubt with the same intentions.

But, Peter’s death was not God’s will… and Peter seemed to know this as he slept in prison… resting in the Lord’s promises.

God sent an Angel to release Peter, and upon release Peter went to the prayer meeting of his friends to share the testimony of what God had done. Then he departed from Judea to Caesarea.

Chapter 12 contrasts Peter and Herod. Peter rested in the Lord, and lived to glorify Him… and was granted life.

Where Herod accepted the praise of men… robbing God of His glory… and was cursed to death.

As we continue in Acts… Peter is mentioned just one more time… in Acts 15:7 at the Jerusalem Council.

The remaining 15 chapters shift focus to Paul and his missionary journeys.

If you recall in our intro to the Book of Acts, some scholars outline the Book of Acts by two major divisions:

Chapters 1-12 of Acts: “The Acts of the Holy Spirit in Peter’s Ministry”, as Peter witnessed to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

And, Acts 13-28: “The Acts of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s Ministry” as Paul witnessed to the ends of the earth.

Both fulfilling Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8.

As we enter Acts 13 today… we observe Barnabas and Saul appointed by the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel to foreign lands.

This is a special chapter to me… in 2013, as my family prepared for missions to the Philippines… my missions mentor, Dave Hinchey… taught this same passage.

And, just as the church laid hands on Barnabas and Saul to send them out. The church did the same for us.

Chapter 13 marks a special time for Saul as well… he is sent, his name changes to Paul, and he steps up to lead.

The title of today’s message is “Paul’s First Missionary Journey.”

Let’s Pray!

Let’s back up to the final verse in Chapter 12… V25 and read from there.

“And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry [delivering relief funds], and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. 13 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. 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.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away."

The setting is Antioch… an important city for the church, and Paul’s headquarters,

Barnabas and Saul spent a whole year teaching the people in Antioch.

And, Paul will depart from Antioch on all 3 of his missionary journeys and returned to Antioch on his first 2 missionary journeys.

In V25, we are first introduced to John Mark, who we will see a few times, so let’s get to know him.

John Mark is the cousin of Barnabas (according to Col 4:10), and the writer of the Gospel of Mark.

Mark did not directly witness all of Jesus’ ministry, as he was young.

Many think Mark wrote himself into the Gospel… there is a mysterious scene in Mark 14 of a young man fleeing naked after Jesus was arrested at the Garden of Gethsemane.

The details of Mark’s gospel are thought to have been gathered from Peter, as Mark was a disciple of Peter as reflected in 1 Pet 5:13 where Peter calls Mark his “son.”

At the end of Acts 15, Barnabas and Paul have a sharp dispute over whether Mark should accompany them on their second missionary journey… so they divide into two groups… Barnabas and Mark… Paul and Silas.

But, Paul and Mark eventually reconcile as we see in 2 Tim 4:11 where Paul pens, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful for me in ministry.”

A good demonstration of reconciliation.

We don’t have a ton of details about Mark, but we are certainly blessed by his Gospel.

I encourage you to look for Mark in heaven and hear the rest of his story.

Now… in V1… a group of Prophets and Teachers from the church gathered. Let’s take a look at who they are, then what they are doing.

Who they are can be looked at by their positions of Prophets and Teachers and who they were as individuals.

A prophet by definition is "a proclaimer of God’s utterances." Prophets guided the church.

Teachers are "instructors" particularly of God's word. Teachers grounded the church.

The church at Antioch was guided and grounded; they had vision from the Lord and substance in His word.

Upon Jesus' ascension Jesus gave spiritual gifts to men…

Eph 4:11-12 “And He Himself [Jesus] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ...”

These positions are purposed to help the church be unified… to “grow in the grace and knowledge of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”… and to come to complete Christian maturity.

So, in Antioch… positionally and by gifting… the Prophets and Teachers received from the Holy Spirit… to guide and ground the church.

Here at Calvary Chapel Lake City, we believe these gifts are alive for today…

And reserved for outside church service… because if the Holy Spirit is working through me to teach the word… why would He interrupt Himself with a sign gift in the middle of His teaching?

After a lengthy discussion on spiritual gifts in 1 Cor 12-14… and the practice of such gifts during the church service… in 1 Cor 14:40 Paul concludes “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

Use your spiritual gifts, and use them when fitting and in an orderly way.

Beyond the positions as Prophets and Teachers, these men also had names and diverse backgrounds as individuals.

Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus (Acts 4:36-37 ). Acts 11:24 indicates “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”

He was a Levite and and sold his land to support the early church; he also befriended and introduced Saul to the Apostles (Acts 9:26-27 ).

Simeon… also a Jew as indicated by his Jewish name… but his nickname, Niger (meaning “dark in color”), was Latin potentially indicating he moved in Roman circles…

… and leads some to believe this is Simon of Cyrene… the Jew from North Africa… who carried the cross of Christ… but we can not be certain.

Lucius was from Cyrene and may have been one of the founders of the Antioch church as seen in Acts 11:20, where men from Cyprus and Cyrene were instrumental in the foundation of the work in Antioch.

Manaen was raised with Herod the tetrarch… Herod Antipas… son of Herod the Great. We talked about Antipas a little last week… he was the uncle and brother-in-law… yes weird… of Herod Agrippa who became worm food at the end of Acts 12.

Manaen was therefore an aristocrat. Interesting that Manaen and Antipas were raised together… yet found themselves as adults living polar opposite lives… one persecuted the church and the other a leader for the church!

And, we might ask, "What went wrong with Herod?"

But, that’s the wrong question. The right question is, “What went right with Manaen?"

And, we know the answer...It was Jesus Christ. Jesus changed his heart and his life.

And, as a point of application… your background in this lifetime is inconsequential.

The Spirit says, “Come.” Come as you are, but come. Bring your mess… bring your brokenness… bring your dysfunction…

Manaen is a product… not of his background, but of the restorative work of Jesus Christ… as he came to Christ.

Saul, soon to be called Paul… was a Scholar- a Jew trained in the best Rabbinical schools under Gamaliel.

He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, who zealously persecuted Christians in misguided defense of the Jewish law and traditions…

He was radically converted on the road to Damascus… and becomes a key writer of the New Testament and one of the greatest missionaries for Christ.

The church in Antioch was highly diverse. As is the church today. Every nation, tribe and tongue..

And, yet… repeatedly in the Book of Acts, the church is described as being of One Accord meaning of "one mind or unity."

And, it’s all because of Jesus. Jesus brings us together.

Most of us have deeper relationships with fellow Christians than our own families.

Acts 2:46 shares how they were of one accord… “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart...”

If you feel disconnected… are you doing these things? Spending time daily with other believers… in word, worship and meals… are you taking the time to build relationships?

If not, do these things, and you’ll be connected.

And, look what else they were doing in V2… “they ministered to the Lord...” Ministering means "to serve."

Be it through church service, meeting the physical or spiritual needs of the people in this church,… sharing the gospel to those who did not know Christ… or some other way… but their service is said to be "to the Lord."

When we serve in any capacity for God's glory with an honest heart and pure motives, it ministers to the Lord.

Your ministering could be directed towards the congregation and community, BUT it’s “to the Lord.”

When we spend time with Him… in a heart of love for Him, it ministers to Him.

When we obey Him, despite the cost to our life or our own flesh… it ministers to Him.

Anna the prophetess was said to have “served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” Luke 2:37

She served God through fastings and prayer.

Our service is to God… not for the praise of men.

Col 3:23-24 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

If you want to see the Holy Spirit in your life… if you want to see Him direct your path and call you to a work for Him… then do what these men did… minister to the Lord.

If not for calling, then do it because of the grace He has extended to you… because God sent His Son to die on the cross for you. Rom 12:1 argues that for all God did for us… our service to Him is reasonable.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

It’s reasonable, Gk. lŏgikŏs meaning “rational” or “logical.”

What’s not logical is to accept such a great eternal gift from God… salvation… and then hide your light under a bushel.

Being saved without service is not rational.

James is even more explicit on this point.

James 2:14-18 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

On a cold winter day if a person walks through our doors desperately shivering and starving… James tells us to first care for their physical body, and then care for their soul.

Works will save them physically… and then you earn the right to share Jesus… and perhaps they are saved spiritually.

And, just the same… if you have faith, but there is no extension of said faith… through ministering to the Lord… through Christian Service… it’s what James calls “dead faith.”

James wrote, “… faith without works is dead…”

I know first hand how miserable it is to be a Christian and to not know God's will and vision for my life. I know what it’s like to pray and only hear silence. I was a carnal christian the first 14 years of my Christian walk because God was not sitting on the throne of my heart, until He said, "You need to put to death the old man."

And, maybe that's what He’s saying to you today.

Please don't mistake the intent of what James was doing. This is not an issue of salvation. This is an issue of demonstration.

If God is the love and Lord of your life, there will be a tangible demonstration of your love for Him… and this will minister to the Lord.

Works… service is one such demonstration of the reality of your faith.

If there are no works, I must ask, "what sits on the throne of your heart above God?"

Some of you can honestly say, "Nothing. I’m fully surrendered to Jesus." And, praise God for that.

But, some of you may need to take a walk with that question this week.

Maybe it’s time to tear down some high places in your life.

In Antioch, these teachers and prophets were ministering to the Lord. For them… it was Jesus and no other… even when faced of persecution and martyrdom.

In V2, we also see they fasted. They deprived the flesh of food to seek the Lord and be more attune to the spirit.

If you want a great study on fasting, I recommend studying Isa Chapter 58. Isa 58.

We are not told why they were seeking the Lord, but the Holy Spirit responded.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted… it was at this moment when the Holy Spirit spoke.

We don’t know HOW the Holy Spirit spoke…

Be it audibly… or an impression, but I imagine… since Prophets were present, that He spoke through one of them.

Whatever the case, the Holy Spirit somehow communicates His will for the gospel to go to the Gentiles through Barnabas and Saul.

Paul’s first missionary journey originates in God.

This was a God directed mission… as to the locations and those who would be sent.

This is one reason the Book of Acts has been called, "The Acts of the Holy Spirit."

HOW the Holy Spirit communicated is uncertain, but of greater importance is that He did communicate.

Today, He is the same. He wants to communicate His will for your life. And, often as we seek and serve the Lord, He communicates to us.

This could be by His still small voice… a word from another person… while listening to a sermon… while reading the Bible… through prayer.

There are a number of ways He can communicate to you… you just make sure you are seeking and listening.

In verse 2, it states, WHAT He said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul..."

The Prophets and Teachers were ministering or serving, they were fasting or seeking, and they were listening. In all of this, they were able to discern the will of God.

If you don't know the will of God for your life, for your sake, and for the sake of the people that God wants to touch through your life… serve, seek, and listen!

The Spirit says, “separate to Me”… Set Apart for Me these men for God's Purposes.

And, notice God’s timing… He says, “NOW.” Paul had been waiting for over 7 years, and “now” was the time the Spirit green lights him. No more delay.

Most of us love when the waiting season is over and God says, “Go.”

Also, notice, Not all were called.

Not all of the Prophets and Teachers were called.

Five men were listed at the beginning of this chapter (not to mention the great many people at the church in Antioch) and just TWO were called for missions.

The remaining people were to stay and no doubt to continue in the work of the Lord at Antioch or wherever else the Holy Spirit led.

But, not all are called to go. And, if you are not called to go on missions… that makes you no less of a Christian. Not all are called to go.

Your mission field is right here domestically… in our own Jerusalem and Judea. God knows America needs Jesus.

Now, if the Lord IS truly calling you to go… don't be like Jonah and run the opposite direction from the Lord's will for your life.

I know first hand how overwhelming it feels to drop everything in life to follow the Lord. But, it brings you to a healthy dependence on the Lord to honestly cry out to Him, "Lord, I can't do this, but You can. If you want this work to be done through me, You have to do it. I'm willing to follow, but You have to lead."

I've prayed that prayer many times.

And, if you’re NOT called, BUT GO anyhow, this is a mistake.

If the idea of missions is a desire for adventure or just an effort for good works, you shouldn't go. Or, go with the Red Cross… just not the Cross of Christ.

In the missions field, there are "sent ones and went ones." And, went ones leave a wake in their path.

Notice WHY Barnabas and Saul were separated V2… “for the work to which I have called them.”

Now I'm no Greek scholar, but in several Greek to English dictionaries, the word "work" means work.

There’s no getting around it. Synonyms are labor, toil, occupation, a hard task.

But, it’s a beautiful work.

Eph 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

God’s workmanship created us… and we were created in Christ Jesus for good works.

We were created to work unto the Lord.

Workmanship is an interesting word in Gk. It’s pŏiēma. The origin of our English word “poem.”

When God wrote a poem, He created you.

A similar poetic idea is found in James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Doers is the Gk. word pŏiētēs. The origin of our English word ‘poet.”

When you are doing what the word instructs… when you are following the word… you become the poet.

Be poets of the word, and not hearers only.

Lastly in V2, notice WHO is doing the calling… it’s the Holy Spirit.

The 3rd person in the Trinity, God. They are not directed by man… they are directed by God.

They weren’t taking orders from Peter or James… they were called and appointed by God.

And, when sent by God… there is a high expectation for a profitable eternal work.

If the Holy Spirit calls you to a work… have the willing heart of Isaiah when the Lord said: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I [ Isaiah] said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isa 6:8

After the Holy Spirit’s command to separate Barnabas and Saul to Him for His work He called them to… in V3 we see the RESPONSE of the disciples…

First, they fasted and prayed…

The Prophet and Teachers continue to fast (seeking the Lord), pray (communicating with the Lord).

I find this fascinating that they continued fasting and praying.

I would think they would break the fast, begin eating and go.

They continue seeking the Lord… which displays they were completely dependent on God… and any work is only successful IF we rely on God.

This discipline of fasting and praying was not new to God’s people.

Nehemiah, David, Daniel, Anna, Jesus, Paul and Barnabas all are recorded fasting and praying… that’s a healthy list. Some of our greatest saints and Jesus Himself.

Fasting and praying was part of their ministry… and how they communicated to and served God.

If you’re fasting and praying… you’re on a list with good company.

After fasting and praying… the Prophets and Teachers in V3 “laid hands on them.”

Scholars at Dallas Theological Seminary state, "The laying on of hands identified the church with their ministry and acknowledged God’s direction for them."

Three times before we departed for the Philippines, Calvary Chapel churches did the same for us.

The laying on of hands… signifies agreement of the church with the vision the Lord has imparted upon the missionary.

It’s encouraging to have dear brothers and sisters gather around you… lay hands on you and pray before you are sent.

Departing is hard, so God uses the laying on of hands to fill your cup… so you may overflow into the lives of others as you go.

With that at the end of V3, “…they sent them away.”

Now in verse 4, we observe they were "...sent out by the Holy Spirit..."

So, who is sending? Man or the Holy Spirit?

Both. God was the sender… the leader of the sending, but He invites us to play a part… and He used the church at Antioch to tenderly lay hands on them and send them on their mission.

In this passage, Christians were faithfully serving, and seeking the Lord. As they did so, the Holy Spirit communicated to them, and imparted His will to call them to a work to take the gospel to the world.

And, as you are faithfully serving and seeking the Lord, He may reveal a new call upon your life.

When He speaks to you listen and obey.

He wants to work in you and through you because He loves you… and He loves the people He will send you to.

And, so, with V4… Barnabas and Saul now depart beginning what is commonly called, “Paul’s First Missionary Journey.”

Acts 13:4-5 “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues [plural] of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.”

Paul’s first missionary journey begins in Acts 13:4 and will end in Acts 14:26. Acts 13:4-14:26.

I have a map that charts Paul’s Three Missionary Journeys and his voyage to Rome (which some call a Fourth Missionary Journey).

These journeys were over the course of roughly 16 years… and will be highlighted from Acts 13:4 to the end of the Book… Acts 28.

Prior to Acts 13, Jesus' words in Acts 1:8 were fulfilled by means of persecution.

The gospel indeed would spread from Jerusalem to Judea and beyond, but the church was on the defensive… only going out when hit with persecution.

Now in Acts 13, the church sends missionaries with express intent to preach the word… salvation in Jesus. The church is now on the offensive.

Quick side note: The word Missionary is not in the Bible, but is an English word derived from a Latin translation of the Greek word ‘Apostolos’… or Apostle in English… meaning "a messenger -or- one sent."

This first journey takes Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark from Antioch… 15 miles away to the port city of Seleucia…

In Seleucia, we are provided no details if they simply passed through this city, or stopped and ministered.

It’s hard to imagine them not ministering, but for sure, from this port city they depart to the Island of Cyprus.

We are not sure why they go to Cyprus… perhaps this was a logical destination being Barnabas was from Cyprus.

We’re also not certain how John Mark assisted, but in any work of the Lord, there is ALWAYS the need for extra hands.

And, how blessed were Barnabas and Saul to have the help of John Mark.

Once arrived in Cyprus, they waste no time and begin their missions work in the Cyprian city of Salamis… an eastern seaport and chief commercial city.

V5 tells us the focus of their missions work… “they preached the word of God...”

Preaching the word of God is central to our mission as a church as well.

To be healthy on the vertical and horizontal… the word of God must be a focus in missions, in local congregations, in our families, and in our personal lives.

Barnabas and Saul visited various synagogues in the large city of Salamis to preach the word…

The initial focus of their preaching was to the Jews. From the Jews came the Messiah, and to the Jews first would Paul bring the Gospel.

Synagogues held a custom where any learned man was welcome to speak to the people during their Sabbath meeting.

And, so Barnabas and Saul took advantage of this open mic session, and preached the word of God… which the Jews would know.

If only the Jews could connect the OT scriptures to Jesus as their Messiah whom they anticipated.

Synagogues should have been fertile ground for the gospel, but we only read of preaching… not of completion in Christ.

And, eventually the mission focus will shift to the Gentiles.

Continuing to V6…

Acts 13:6-8 “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, 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. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.”

Barnabas, Paul, and John Mark traverse 115 miles… a 2 day journey… across Cyprus and arrive at the capital city Paphos.

Paphos was the seat of government, and was known for it’s immorality… as they worshiped the goddess of love… Venus.

So, this was a city of power and spiritual darkness, as was typical of pagan Roman cities.

At Paphos we observe two men…Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer and Sergius Paulus, the Roman Proconsul… the governor over Paphos.

Roman provinces either required military troops or not.

If troops were required… a Procurator, like Pontius Pilate, was appointed by and answered directly to the Emperor.

If troops were not required… a Proconsul was appointed by and answered to the Senate.

So, in Paphos… troops were not required… making this was a less volatile area then Judea.

The Proconsul, Sergius Paulus, is described as an intelligent man. His name means “Earth-born and Small”…

Perhaps an intelligent yet down-to-earth kind of guy… a man open to truth…

Also, a man who has been verified by archeological evidence as a real person. In 1877 an inscription of his name was found on Cyprus.

At his side is Elymas the sorcerer… Elymas means “sorcerer” and “sorcerer” can mean a “wise man.” It’s thought Elymas gave counsel to Sergius Paulus.

And, his counsel was not wise, for he sought to turn the Proconsul away from the faith.

As the Gospel is on the cusp of going straight to the Gentiles… Luke inserts this account where Sergius Paulus, a Gentile, seeks the truth.

While the Jew, Bar-Jesus meaning “Son of Jesus”… stood in opposition to the truth.

And, as Paul discerns Elymas’ disgraceful action… Paul sternly rebukes him… not in the flesh… but filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:9-12 “Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 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? 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. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

Note in V9, this is the first time Saul’s Hebrew name is changed to the Gk. name ‘Paul.’

And, from this point on, as Paul steps up to stand for truth… Paul becomes the leader of the missionary journey.

Previously the order of names was Barnabas and Saul. But, moving forward predominately we will read Paul and Barnabas.

Paul is given a new name, which means “little”… perhaps reflecting the humility we must all conform to… to be like our Lord.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” as John the Baptist declared.

Paul’s stern rebuke of Elymas lays out that he is fraudulent… truly a “son of the devil” (not the “son of Jesus”)… he opposes all that is right… and his ways are a perverse.

And, Paul pronounces a season of blindness upon Elymas.

He who attempted to shadow Sergius Paulus with spiritual blindness… now is punished with physical blindness.

How odd this must have been for Paul as he also had experienced a season of blindness on the road to Damascus.

Yet, Paul repented and turned to the Lord… whereas Elymas seems to stand condemned.

This Elymas might stand as a picture of the Nation of Israel in their hard heartedness towards Jesus… and their opposition to others coming to Jesus… and thus as a nation they too have been blinded for a season.

People like this will not stand… 2 Tim 3:8-9 “Now as Jannes and Jambres [the magicians in Egypt] resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”

And, Elymas was exposed. Paul was not harsh in his treatment, but just… for Elymas stood in the way of the salvation of Sergius Paulus.

To sin against God personally by rejecting His Son is one thing. But, to drag down others is a special kind of abomination.

Even when salvation was not the issue, Jesus said, in Matt 18:6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Elymas would have a season to ponder his crime as he exits groping in the dark.

But, in V12… light shined… as we read the words, “...the proconsul believed...”

Sergius Paulus saw the deceit of Elymas exposed and saw him shrink away blind.

And, he saw what had been done through Paul… who did not shrink away from standing for truth.

Paul could have been persecuted, but he stood for his convictions… he stood for truth in love… he stood for Jesus Christ.

He made a stand for what he believed.

In this day in which we live… can you trust God to confound your enemies should you be asked to take a stand for Jesus?

What would have happened to Sergius Paulus… had Paul folded?

What happens to the people in our lives if we fail to boldly stand for Jesus?

It’s better to look back and have full confidence we were faithful… then to feel a gut wrenching pang of conviction for our failures.

As we close, note the final words of V12… Sergius Paulus was “… astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

The astonishment was not directed at the miracle, but at the teaching of the Lord.

That a Gentile sinner who Governed over a sinful land could be accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Through Paul’s faithfulness… Sergius Paulus becomes a believer in Christ… the first convert.

As one scholar put it… “the first trophy of grace on the first missionary journey.”

Amen. Let’s Pray!

This week… minister to the Lord… and see how He may prove Himself in your life as you do.

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’