The Mission Begins

Intro

INTRO

All of us have been raised in a world and want to believe that for the most part men and women, boys and girls, young and old are basically good and their intentions and goals in life are for the most part for the sake of making the world and the people of the world and the things of a world a “better place, whatever or however they may define what a better place is. We, I want to think that sweet and precious little one that was just brought into the world, made in the image of God is basically good. We, I want reality to be that as we interact with people, as we interact with mankind, as we rub shoulders with each and every person from the teachers and government who lead and teach to the salesman up the road, to the guy who we are getting quote from on a job, from our co-workers, I want, we want reality to be that all mankind's intentions and inner nature is to do good, to be honest, trustworthy and truthful. To be sincere, loving, helpful and harmless. We not only want this, but we are doctrinally inundated that human nature is basically these things. That humans and the human heart is born basically good, honest and trustworthy.

The reality is, the bible says that is not reality.

The reality is that the bible communicates that outside of Christ the human heart is deceitful, deceptive and dishonest. The bible says, the human heart and nature is slanderous, sly, and sick. The bible says outside of Christ the human hearts are malicious, full of lies, evil, wickedness, and con artist capabilities. All of these words are how the bible defines the human heart from the time they are born into this world and live in this world, outside of having a heart change, outside of Christ graciously intervening.

I will not walk through these verses but if you want to jot them down there are a few on the screen that you can look up on your own. Genesis 6:5, 8:21, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 1:18-19, Romans 3:10-18, Ephesians 2:1-3, Matthew 15:19-20, Mark 7:21-23. Even Jesus himself in those last two verses was clear on out of man come evil thoughts, deceitfulness, wickedness and slander just too name a few.

This should not be shocking to us for those very characteristics are the characteristics of the father of those outside of Christ. Jesus said in John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. The characteristics from the beginning. Sly, deceitful, crafty, lying and twister of God and his truth.

I begin with this because we are now transitioned into Paul and Barnabas going on on the mission that God set them apart to do. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations and it is inevitable for them and for all of us who are Christians, who are followers of King Jesus that this mission is by no means easy for the men and women we are going to call to Christ have human hearts and human wills as described above, and before Christ so did we. Because of that, there will be much opposition to the message of the Gospel and yet we know God will build His church. Today, within no time after Paul and Barnabas are sent out, severe opposition comes.

THE MISSION BEGINS ACTS 13:4-5

Acts 13:4-Acts 13:5 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.

Acts 13: 4 Apostles, Paul Barnabas and assistant John Mark are sent out from the church at Antioch on their first missionary journey…TO DO WHAT?

To do what Jesus commanded in (Matthew 28:18-20). To make disciples, to baptise them and to teach them all that Jesus commanded. This first journey will go from Acts 13:4 in Seleucia all the way through Acts 14:26 when they return to their home church in Antioch. The entirety of the first journey lasts approximately a year and a half, beginning approximately in A.D. 46 or 47.

This mission and the ones thereafter all the way until today, is under the promise that Jesus will build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail.

The first mission begins as they are verse 4

Acts 13: 4 Sent out by the Holy Spirit:

What does it mean to be sent out by the Holy Spirit?

Jared covered this last week that the Holy Spirit made it abundantly clear to the church and leadership of Antioch that Paul and Barnabas were called by the holy Spirit and set apart to be sent off. In this unique time of the church, the Holy Spirit gave absolute clarity these were the guys. The 3 other leaders in Antioch then laid hands on them and away they went.

(MAP) This first journey begins when they leave Antioch, board on the eastern Mediterranean Sea at a seaport in Seleucia and sail west to Cyprus and arrive at Salamis. From my understanding you can actually see the edge of the island of Cyprus from Seleucia and it would have taken about a day of sailing to arrive in Salamis.

Cyprus would have been a familiar place for Barnabas. He was a native of Cyprus, born on this island according to Acts 4:36

That would have been both beneficial and possibly intimidating:

Beneficial- as he would have known many people, the culture and probably been familiar with many of the synagogues and even its leadership to get his foot in the door.

Intimidating, because imagine being raised in a particular place for a particular time with most people believing a certain way and you then are coming back into the Jewish Synagogues as sort of a lightning bolt to past friends, family members and even rabbis to tell them the Messiah has come.

Remember though, Paul and Barnabas would not have been the first Christians to enter into this area for in Acts 11:19 we are told after the scattering of the church in Jerusalem after the persecution, that believers traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch.

Well what do they do, when they arrive at Salamis?

Acts 13:5- head straight to the synagogues and the word of God is immediately proclaimed.

We see this being the normal, consistent procedure as Paul arrived in new places on the 3 missionary journey’s throughout Acts.

Actually even before the missionary journey’s, right after Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, he ended up staying there with the disciples in Damascus and right away he began speaking in the synagogue.

In...

Acts 14:1 We will see when Paul and Barnabas get too Iconium they started in the synagogues.

Acts 17 Paul and Silas at Thessalonica and Berea begin in the synagogues…The same at

Acts 18:4 Paul in Corinth heads immediately to the synagogue.

Acts 18:19 Paul in Ephesus heads to the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Why did they go to the Synagogues first? According to...

Acts 13:46- It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you (to the Jews) Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Here is the consistency of the word of God as we know in Romans1:16 it says the gospel is to the Jew first and then to the Greek.

What in particular were they proclaiming?

Remember this is in the synagogues. Paul and Barnabas understood their Jewish backgrounds, mindsets and makeup and what they believe. It appears to me they would have been proclaiming here in Salamis, what we will see starting next week in the synagogues in Pisidia.

In Acts 13:16-41 at Pisidia, Paul will give them the essence of the gospel . While doing so, he weaves in the history of Israel knowing their Jewish makeup. He essentially says in that text, our forefathers wanted a king. God gave them Saul and then raised up David and it was through David as it says in verse...

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.

Paul goes on in Acts 13:26b and says, 26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

Acts 13:28 And though they found in him (Jesus) no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. (Crucifixion) 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. (Burial)

Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead, (Resurrection)

Acts 13:32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,

Acts 13:38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, freed from the bondage of the Law of Moses.

Im convinced the main ingredients of the good news of the Gospel is what they were proclaiming here in Salamis. At the end of verse 5 its says that someone was there with Paul and Barnabas.

Acts 13:5 They had John there to assist them.

Who was John?

This was the same John we saw in Acts 12:12. John, who is also called Mark. If you recall John Mark was the son of Mary, whose house Peter would go to after God released Peter through the angels from Prison. He took off out into the street, the angel left him and he ended up heading to the home of Mary and called out at the entrance of the gate and Rhoda, one of the servants, heard him. Mark was there at his mothers home when Peter arrived.

We also know that according to Colossians 4:10 John Mark is the cousin of Barnabas.

So we know who he was, but why did Paul and Barnabas take him on the journey?

It simply says to assist them. We don’t know with exactly what he would have assisted them with, but the word assist here simply means that John helped in whatever Paul and Barnabas needed. He was a servant, a deacon like assistant to these two sent out by the holy Spirit.

It’s somewhat the same picture we saw in Acts 6. There we saw this overwhelming need of widows in the church being neglected and the apostles of the church appointed 7 deacon like super servants to assist them, to help them. It was not right for the 12 to stop devoting themselves to preaching and prayer so they chose 7 for this vitally important task.

We will see this later in Acts 19:22 that Timothy and Erastus had two helpers, servants assist them in Asia.

Paul and Barnabas had a particular task and had to be laser focused and there is no doubt they would need someone like John Mark to assist them. We do know John Mark was only with Paul and Barnabas for a short time. After this journey he ends up heading back to Jerusalem according to Acts 13:13.

So here they...Paul and Barnabas set apart and get to work on their first journey, along with their assistant john Mark knowing Jesus will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail…and not surprisingly the first conflict arrises and opposition comes.

FIRST OPPOSITION TO THE MISSION Acts 13:6-8

Acts 13:6-7 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

Acts 13:6 Paul, Barnabas and John Mark started in Salamis and went about 100 miles west and end up at Paphos. There they encounter a certain magician, Bar-Jesus.

Bar-Jesus the name meaning, Son of Jesus or Son of Joshua is:

A Magician-

Now the original term here used in and of itself was not evil at its roots. It’s also used in Matthew 2 for the wise men while also being a term to describe those who were intelligent when it came to astronomy, astrology and so on. Along with that it was a Hebrew word used to describe the dream interpreters in Daniel.

Wit that said, that he was named a magician and knowing is a Jewish False Prophet, it may for our mind sake be better translated as it is in the KJV, NKJV and NIV as A sorcerer

It’s the same picture brought up in Acts 8:9-11 when Peter is sharing the truth of Christ and he comes upon or runs into a guy named Simon who had practiced magic. If you remember Simon did this to draw a crowd and then told everyone how great he was. They believed him as we saw in Acts 8:10b as they were shouting “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”

Simon had a following. He had power and then as soon as Peter came and people began to believe the good news of the gospel, Simon then tried to jump on board. His following had left him due to the power of the gospel and it appears he wanted that power back. What did he do? He tried to jump on the bandwagon by offering the apostles money and said, in Acts 8:19 “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Simon was not a follower of the risen Jesus, but wanted the power of the Holy Spirit to deceive people and have them worship him, which is why Peter called Simon out to repent of his wickedness and ask for forgiveness.

Like Simon, Bar-Jesus was a deceiver and a trickster all under the religion of Judaism as it says he was a False Prophet and a Jew. We will also see Paul calls him a son of the devil in verse 10

In other words, he knew the word of God, but would use the word of God and twist the word of God to deceive and lead people in the ways in which he wanted them to go for the sake of prestige, power and profit. Like Simon, Bar-Jesus was nothing but a fraud.

He literally made a living mislead and deceiving people and leading them blindly with false hope, making them think he had some sort of greater connection to god, through dreams and the false prophecies he would tell them. Through these lies and craftiness he would con them to pay him.

In the study notes of the ESV study bible it says

“Paul’s subsequent characterization of him suggest that his magic was assisted by demonic powers. Magic in antiquity was practiced by both pagan and Jewish people with the goals of healing diseases, bringing physical blessings, cursing or harming others and guarding against both curses and demons. Magicians also claimed to foretell the future.”

Sound familiar. Today we see the false gospel and false movement of healings, health and wealth, all under the umbrella of Christianity. They prey on the hopeless, getting them to give their last bit of whatever they have, and give them false hope and promise them that by doing so they, the false teachers and prophets, in turn can heal them, cure them, and get them to where they tangibly want to be, all under the name of Christianity. These false teachers then sit back on their private jets or in their homes in the hills, watching their bank accounts grow.

Sometimes we see this as being “over there”, or just on our social media sites, or in the news…sad to say they are right in our backyard.

A guy like Bar-Jesus loves power and prestige. In turn, its ideal for him to connect himself to someone who is actually so powerful and so prestigious. A man such as Sergius Paulus, A Proconsul. Look at verse 7.

Acts 13:7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

From my understanding Cyprus would have been previously conquered by Romans and in turn under Roman rule. Because of this the major, or main cities within Cyprus would have been under the rule of a Roman senator that would have then appointed for 1 year terms a governor like or what is called a Proconsul. This guy would have been the highest ranking official in Paphos at the time. He would had have complete authority and power of both the military and the courtroom.

The people of Paphos would have intently listened and watched and wondered what a guy like this would do or not do because there decision making would either be beneficial or oppressive to the people and their city.

He was not only in charge Luke adds the details that he was a man of intelligence or a learned man. A man who yearned for understanding.

We have to ask the question, why would a guy of his position and power, send for these two guys to hear the word of God?

Be clear at the time of his sending, this was not a man of Christ. He was not a God fearer. So why?

1- It appears because he was a learner and a yearner of knowledge, he sent to bring these two guys to him that he obviously had heard were having influence on the island. This would have kind of filled his cup of diversified knowledge. There are some who just like to learn for the sake of learning.

2- It also appears and probably held even more weight that he knew that whatever these guys were teaching was having major impact. Because of this , he needed to get his arms around this Jesus movement that was heading their direction. There was no doubt he probably had an interest in what they were saying as a learners, but more importantly he needed to investigate so he could still keep his hand on the affairs in Paphos and be able to control through military and judicial authority.

At this time, he was not a God fearer, but actually a man fearer. It appears, Sergius would have wanted to know what the rave was, so he could continue to have influence and control as a governmental authority in the province of Paphos.

This is not surprising for we have seen this through the history of mankind. Christianity begins to sweep a country or a region and the authorities of the region have decisions to make.

1- They can attempt to get rid of all the Christians usually by extreme persecution and trying to kill them off.

We have seen this in Acts already. They killed Stephen as an example of what could happen to any who followed the risen Christ.

We also see this tactic today in countries around the world. You see this clearly in at least 10 nations according to voice of the martyrs, where they do not hide that you will be killed by proclaiming the name of Christ. As we know and probably can assume there is a number of other countries who may not be so explicit, but implicit on this.

So they could 1 use extreme persecution or...

2- Try and kind of look like they are working with those who are Christians, but strategically limit them in their scope of influence.

We again saw this in Acts already. Peter and the apostles all gathered at Solomons Portico in Jerusalem in Acts 5. Many signs and wonders were being done through the apostles. It’s said more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both men and women.

The high Priest saw this and was enraged with jealousy of what was taking place and how the people were responding. The Priest had them arrested, threw them in jail and the Lord sent an angel to open the prison doors. They’re out speaking in the temple again and then officers brought them in again and said

Ac 5:28–29 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

So they beat them up a little and again tell them they must stop.

3- Option 3 is to just let Christianity alone. Usually 3 isn't an option for governmental leaders of influence.

As we move forward in this text, we see Bar-Jesus gets concerned over Sergius meeting with these guys and he steps in to try and stop the mission of the Gospel.

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Eeleemas is Bar-Jesus. Luke here chose to use Bar-Jesus’ Greek name. Eleemas was the greek transliteration which meant Magician.

Elymas, Bar-Jesus pushed back against Paul and Barnabas. He resisted them. He opposed them. Why?

Two concerns I see for Bar-Jesus if the Proconsul believes in Jesus.

1- The first would be financially. He would have been employed by Sergius. He would have been paid by the proconsul for his services of interpretation and “spiritual influence and direction.” If Sergius becomes a follower of Christ, there would be no need for Bar-Jesus. He would have literally lost his source of income and his relationship with this prestigious and highly influential man, which means he himself would have lost his position and power and influence, based on his connection to the Proconsul of Paphos.

Sound a little like Simon from chapter 8.

2- He was a Jew. He wanted nothing to do with Jesus. He fully opposed that Jesus was here to save them from their sins. If he could have been there on that dark day in Jerusalem, he would have assisted in pounding the nails into Jesus himself.

The resistance from Bar-Jesus against Paul and Barnabas was actually a resistance of the One behind the message. Their resistance was the one at the center of their message, the Messiah, the risen Jesus Christ.

The battle here for Paul and Barnabas and the resistance here is actually the schemes of the father of Bar-Jesus. Who is that?

Bar-Jesus’ name may mean “son of Jesus”, but he was actually a child of the devil. If Jesus were literally standing in front of this Jewish False Prophet , he would have said the same thing he said to the Scribes and Pharisees in John chapter 8

Jn 8:42–45 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

The battle being fought is actually a battle that was already won where the head of the serpent was crushed. Those who don’t know the Messiah that Paul and Barnabas are on mission to make disciples of, have a father…and he is the devil.

Bar-Jesus’ will is in bondage. It is enslaved, chained to do and act and follow and please and be the servant of his father…in turn his will is bent towards the desires of his father, the devil. That is not just for Bar-Jesus, that is for anyone who does not by God’s grace bow the knee to King Jesus.

The devil is a liar, because there is no truth in him. In turn, Bar-Jesus is a liar and a deceiver.

The devil was a murderer from the beginning.

From the beginning, while they were in the garden the devil twisted the truths of the creator, dangled the carrot of false freedom before Adam and Eve and they believed and exchanged the truth for a lie and in turn the one who dangled the truth brought death into the world, through the consequences of that one mans sin. He, the evil one, the devil, Satan himself in turn is the father of those who are separated from God Himself.

The devil was a murderer from the beginning…In turn, as I stated Bar-Jesus would have assisted and shouted crucify Him crucify Him right along side the rest of His Jewish ancestry.

The devil character and nature is full of lies and he in turn speaks out of his own character.

The children of the devil speak out of that same character, which is full of lies and deceit for they cannot do otherwise.

Because of this, we by God’s grace, His set apart people by the Holy Spirit while still on this earth, do not ultimately fight against Bar-Jesus or any other human flesh and blood, but ultimately against spiritual forces of evil. That’s why Paul said to the church in Ephesus...

Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places

As opposition from Elymas happened we don’t know exactly what was said or what this looked like, but according to our final section of the text in verses 9-12 we do know he was full of deceitfulness, trickery and fraud.

Before we get there, be amazed and encouraged that...

This scene and our journey on this side of earth is set and opposition will come but the battle is already over.

Consider here that a crafty and deceitful man with some influence and power due to his connection to the Proconsul, thinks he has a shot in resisting the movement that is happening through two men named Paul and Barnabas.

The problem he doesn't understand is the ultimate one he is resisting is Jesus. King Jesus is the one he is resisting and hates. The one he despises, is the reason it is an impossibility for him to stop the mission they are on.

Sure, face to face he is resisting Paul and Barnabas, but behind the scenes and inside of Paul and Barnabas in the form of the Holy Spirit, the one he is trying to push back on, is the Lord of the Heavens and the earth. The creator Himself, who can stop the breath of this man in a moment.

Be encouraged that Bar-Jesus and all other resisters of the mission are attempting the impossible.

Paul knows that and because he knows that he boldly speaks the truth into the life of this false prophet and God sends consequences. Look at verse 9.

GOD’S DIVINE HAND OF JUDGEMENT Acts 13:9-12 (Conflict Resolved)

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

Saul now called Paul, full of the Holy Spirit steps in. Here is the last time we Saul called Paul. Here moving forward we have the greek name of Saul, Paul which as Jared communicated last week means “the little one.” Now weather it was due and necessary to being clear on what Paul himself had stated in 1 Corinthians 15 or Ephesians as being the least of the apostles or weather he used this name to appeal to Sergius Paulus, a Roman citizen, Paul a Roman citizen or something else not mentioned, we are unsure.

What we do know, is Luke reminds us before this showdown with Bar-Jesus, Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit.

We knew the same thing before Peter’s showdown in Acts 4. Before his encounter with the high priest and the council of the Sanhedrin after healing the lame man and speaking at the gate of Solomons Portico, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 4:8.

What came from Peter being filled with the Spirit in Acts 4:8…Boldness

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.

Here we can translate boldness to that of courage or confidence. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, committed to the word of God... when we communicate the things of God, we are under the direction of the Holy Spirit and their is confidence in knowing that what we are communicating and standing for and on is the things and promises of God.

For reminders sake; being filled with the Holy Spirit is synonomous with being filled with the word of God in the word of God.

Being full of the Holy Spirit, is synonymous with being filled with the word of God.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

When you are filled with the spirit you address one another in Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with what? Those things are based on and of the words of God.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As the words of Christ are dwelling in or living in you...when you are filled with the words of Christ...psalms and hymns and spiritual songs supernaturally but like a spiritual reflex will follow.

We can and must stand on and be filled with the clear promises and truth’s of God and his word. We may not, as Bar-Jesus did twist, contort or water down the truths of God. this is essential as Christians.

In the day and age we live in, it’s paramount to be reminded of this . We can and must stand firm on and be confident in that when God says something, that settles it. There is a reason Peter says in the anti God culture of his time,

1 Peter 5:9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world

In other words for example Sin is sin...sin is not just messing up. Sin is much deeper, darker and uglier than a subtle mess up.

It’s as D.A. Carson called it “It’s a revolution against God. It makes me god and thus de-gods God.” –D. A. Carson

When God communicates something is worldly, thats what it is. When God says certain lifestyles are exchanging the truth about god for a lie, that’s what it is. When God says something is evil, we can say the same. When its a spade, its a spade.

Paul’s unwavering conviction and commitment and life was under the consumption and direction of the Holy Spirit. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and He was filled with the words of God. which directed his life and what he said. What does he say?

Acts 13:10- You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

As Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit, the spiritual reflex comes and he looked intently at Bar-Jesus. It appears, Paul with intensity fixes his eyes directly into the eyes of this false prophet. It appears to me this is one of those places we can clearly say Paul is righteously angry. His anger is kindled due to the twisted, deceitful, trickery of this False teacher, this false prophet.

He is courageous, powerful, firm and straight forward. There is no beating around the bush here. There is no political correctness here. There is no softening the blow. Paul, remember under the direction and fulling of the Holy Spirit, is abundantly clear that who this man is and what he is doing is purely and completely evil and is under the leadership and direction of his father, the devil.

Paul calls him, A Son of the Devil and an Enemy of Righteousness- There are only two families on this earth. The sons and daughters of the devil and the sons and daughters of the Holy One, Jesus. Bar-Jesus and all non-believers, are sons of the evil one, Satan Himself. As the sons and daughters of the evil one living on this earth, they are all under the direction and leadership of the one they willfully want to please, their father, the devil. While on this earth, they are weeds in the field as Jesus says in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.

The evil one is Satan himself. Jesus says there is one big field and in the field there is the good seed which are the sons of the kingdom of King Jesus. In that same field, while here on earth are the sons of the evil one, the devil himself.

In Ephesians 2 Paul tells the church in Ephesus those not a part of the kingdom of Jesus are lovers of the sinful things of this world. the ones that are not a part of the kingdom are under the direction and leadership of the prince of the power of the air calling them the sons of disobedience.

We, even in the church have fallen into the false theological trap that people are basically good and have others best interest at the forefront of their mind. That their intentions in life is to basically be good to all people. That is a lie.

If you go to Colossians 3 and look at the list of those earthly characteristics of those who follow the evil one, that which is believers they have some of the same characteristics as Bar-Jesus. As believers their will and their desire is to please their father the devil. how do they do that.

Through their

Evil Desires, slandering of the word of God, lying, deceitfulness and craftiness. Their nature, or will which comes out in ones life is not bent towards a pursuer of truth, holiness or righteousness. That is why Paul called this guy a

A Son of the Devil and an Enemy of Righteousness.

Elymas, Bar-Jesus was not one who was just passively living such a life of sinfulness, he was actively a servant of Satan. He was actively championing and pursuing and tricking and twisting things to pervert and point people away from Jesus.

Remember Bar-Jesus was a Jew and he was called a false prophet.

He intellectually knew the Old Testament and what they said about the true God. He actively went against the promised Messiah that the Old Testament spoke so clearly about. How?

Paul says, Full of Deceit and Villainy

He was one big fraud and deceiver. He hung with the worldly intelligent. Made a nice wage. Rubbed shoulders with those in power. Ran with the prestigious. “Followed the rules” that all could see. Had a following by his twisting and craftiness and perversion of the truth.

Because Paul was filled with the spirit he saw right through this guy. In Romans 16 Paul essentially said these smooth flattering talkers and those that deceive the hearts of naive people, be wise and run from them and protect other believers that don’t see this. =

You son of the Devil, enemy of Righteousness, full of deceit and villainy, Paul goes on and says..

Stop making crooked the straight paths of god.

Stop twisting the words of God. Stop blurring the truth.

Elymas, this false prophet knew the Old Testament. This very accusation was made against the leaders of Israel in the book of Micah. Much of the book of Micah the prophet’s, threats directed against idolaters, those who were oppressing the little man if you want to say. It was calling out priests and prophets who use their profession for financial gain, and leaders who pervert equity and abhor justice. Be worth your time to read.

Micah 3:1-2 And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— 2  you who hate the good and love the evil,

Micah 3:5  Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.

You cry peace, you cry just calm down as you continue to eat and have more than enough of all the goods, but keep oppressing those who have nothing to put into their mouths.

Micah 3:9-11 Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, 10  who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. 11  Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.”

Giving Judgment for a bribe. the Priest teach, for a price. Prophets deceive for money. Yet they “lean.” do it all in the name and under he umbrella of the Lord.

What was the consequence of the rulers of the house of Israel who led God’s people astray?

Micah 3:6-7  Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; 7  the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God

Blindness, Darkness. Those who are doing this will be disgraced. they will stumble around in darkness and be put to shame and there will be no answer from God.

What happens to Bar-Jesus? Look at verse 11.

Acts 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.

Paul is the one speaking, but its the Lord’s hand who ultimately gives the consequences.

The hand of the Lord can be a blessing and be the wrath of God. We saw the hand of the Lord in chapter 11. Barnabas who is now with Paul was sent to Jerusalem too Antioch when they had heard that the hand of the Lord was with those in Antioch and a great number who believed turned to he Lord.

Just as much as we see the blessing of the hand of the Lord we also see the Hand of the Lord being God’s judgment.

After Pharaoh’s summoned wise men, sorcerer and magicians of Egypt to do their secret acts in Exodus chapter 7 and Pharaohs heart was hardened and would not listen to the servant of the Lord, God began to send the plagues.

The fifth plague which was all livestock were put to death, the Lord said if Pharoah did not let his people go or

Exodus 9:3 behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.

In 1 Samuel 5:6, 7, 11- The Philistines capture the ark of the covenant and the Hand of the Lord, the judgement of the Lord was heavy on them.

Psalm 32: 3-4- After David sinned against the Lord, by sleeping with Bathsheba, the hand of the Lord was heavy on him as his bones wasted away and groaned all day long.

We know, according to Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

Through Paul, the hand of the Lord was on Bar-Jesus and immediately mist and darkness fell upon him. The hand, the divine judgment of the Lord, made this man blind.

Bar-Jesus, a servant of the evil one, who through deceit and trickery led people into darkness and hopelessness and blindness is now stumbling around, trying find just one to lead him by the hand.

In Exodus, through Moses, God brought divine punishment through the plagues to Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Out of those divine judgments, came a miracle. In the middle of Exodus 14, through Moses and an angel of the Lord who went before the Israelites...

Moses stretched out his hand God parted the waters and the people of God, were released from Bondage and freed from slavery. They looked behind them and God brought the sea back to normal and it says in Exodus

Exodus 14:30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day

Exodus 14:31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord and they believed in the Lord and his servant Moses.

Through Paul, God performed a miracle of divine punishment and then saved his people. Look verse 12.

Acts 13:12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

After the miracle of divine punishment, the Proconsul believed for he was in awe of the the teaching, not of Paul and Barnabas…of the Lord.

This man who at all earthly power and authority in the province of Paphos. This man who hired a false teacher, a magician.

This “king like” man ‘heart of darkness as the Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

The mission begins. The Promise that Jesus will build his church continues. Opposition comes. God works through his people. God saves sinners and the mission sets sail and continues on to Perga next week.

Let’s Pray!