Acts 13 Part 1

Background Information

Peter has used the three keys that Jesus gave him in Matthew’s Gospel, and with those keys, Peter opened the Kingdom of Heaven first to the Jews at Pentecost, then to the half Jews after Philip preached in Samaria and finally, to the Gentiles when God told Peter to go to the house of Cornelius. Now as we end, Chapter 12 the church is open to everyone, and with that we begin to fulfill the commission that God gave the apostles in Acts 1:8 (NIV) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." They have been witnesses in Jerusalem, reminded the apostles pretty much stayed in Jerusalem; when the church was scattered after the death of Stephen, Philip and other went to Samaria, but that left the ends of the earth untouched. Well, now beginning in Acts 13, we see the ends of the earth being reached.

Points

Acts 13:1 NKJV

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.

If Jerusalem is the base for the Jewish Christians; Antioch is the base for the Gentile Christians. Remember the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to see what was going on in Antioch. And when he gets there, he sees God is at work and many more people got saved after his arrival. Recognizing he needs help, Barnabas goes searching for Paul and both ministered there about a year.

And we see, the church is on firm ground now; we have a good base of prophets and teachers. So, we can say that the church at Antioch is well established. They have five leaders.

We already know about Barnabas . His original name was Joseph; he was a Levit from Cyprus; the apostles changed his name to Barnabas which means son of encouragement. And he was the only one who befriended Paul after his conversion.

Next is Simeon which is his Hebrew name. Niger is a Latin term for black. So, he was a black Jewish man. So we now see the church has not only accepted all three people groups; but it was accepting people of color. Skin color does not matter; God is bringing everybody together. Some theologians actually believe that Simeon is Simon the Cyrene who carried Jesus’s cross.

Next is Lucius of Cyrene- he was from North Africa. Which probably would mean that he is also black. We don’t know much about him except what we learn in Acts 11:20-21 (NIV) 20  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21  The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

And then there is Manaen -he was a Jew who was brought up in the royal court of Herod Antipas . Little else is known about him.

And we all know Saul.

So there are five players in the church at Antioch. And God going to say that is too many.

Acts 13:2–3 NKJV

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.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

I think the third word is so interesting- ministering. That word in the Greek means to perform a religious duty just like the high priest ministered in the Holy of Holies. So what it is telling us that when we are ministering to God we are doing the work of a high priest in the Old Testament.

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) 9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Fasting- there is no time specifically that we must fast; but it should be a regular apart of your Christian life. Jesus does not say if you fast but when you fast.

Matthew 6:16-17 (NKJV) 16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

In this Scripture they fasted twice. They ministered and fasted. and then they fasted and prayed.

It was when they called for a period of prayer that they fasted. and just so you know the biblical fast was from sunrise to sundown. It was not for 24 hours.

Laid hands on them- symbolic that you are in agreement with what the Lord had said. God has indeed raised up Barnabas and Saul; God indeed has a work for those two and we are in agreement.

Acts 13:4 NKJV

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

Seleucia is a seaport about 16 miles from Antioch. And from their they sailed to Cyprus. It is the 3rd largest Greek island in the Mediterranean, 130 miles southwest of Antioch It is about 148 miles long and about 15 to 20 miles across. Why go there?

Acts 4:36-37 (NKJV) 36  And Joseph, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37  having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Cyprus was known for its sorcery and the pagan gods Venus and Aphrodities. If you were a woman who served Aphrodities then you had to serve as a temple prostitute sometime in your life. it is a wicked place. it does have a large Jewish population on Cyprus.

And it maybe God knew about Barnabas desire to see his homeland come to Jesus, so Jesu sends them their first.

Acts 13:5 (NKJV)

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.

Salamis is the largest city on Cyprus. It is the Greek capital of Cyprus. We also are told that they took John Mark with them. Salamis is on the eastern coast and from there, they go directly through Cyprus to the west coast and from their sail to Asia Minor .

When they get there they go to the synagogue of the Jews.

Romans 1:16 (NKJV) 16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

The Gospel is for everyone who believes. It was to the Jew first because they are God’s chosen people. It was given to them first because they were prepared in their history to receive Christ and then share with the Gentiles.

Acts 13:6–7 (NKJV)

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, 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.

Proconsul is another word for governor. He obviously heard what was going on the eastern side of the island and so this Sergius Paulus wants a private audience with Barnabas and Saul.

There was another guy there another guy there- a false prophet and sorcerer by the name Bar- Jesus. His given name was Elymas which means magician or sorcerer.

Acts 13:8 (NKJV)

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

He wants to obstruct the word of God to this governor. He was probably one of the senior counsels to the governor and he probably saw this Christ movement is going to interfere with his position.

Acts 13:9–11 NKJV

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 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? 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.

After 13:9 Saul is referred to as Paul. Saul is dropped and replaced with Paul. Remember Saul was his Jewish name name and Paul was his Gentile or Roman name. And so because his dealing are with the Gentiles, he goes by his Gentile name.

Paul don’t hold anything back - you deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness. Who does he sound like in that verse.

Acts 8:20 (NKJV) Peter talking to Simon the sorcerer 20  But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!

Those titles like son of the devil are reserved for those who hinder the truth from others. The harsh words are from others that prevent someone from receiving the truth.

Paul says: 2 Timothy 3:8 (NKJV) 8  Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;

Jesus says: Matthew 23:13-15 (NKJV) 13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

This was Paul’s first miracle- and he blinds the guy. The same exact thing that happen to Paul. I believe that Paul does not do it to be mean. If it was mean it would have been permanent. But in the temporary blindness, he can think about God.

We don’t know what happened to Elymas.

Acts 13:12 (NKJV)

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

Thing about what just happened. Elymas had powers as a sorcerer. Now Paul comes along and blinds the man and someone has to lead him by the hand. So the governor is thinking this guy is more powerful tham Elymas and I better listen to his message. And it says that he believed.