ACTS LESSON 27
We will begin this lesson in Acts 13:1 "Now there were in the
church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas,
and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen,
which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul."
It seems at this time that, there was a very active church in
Antioch. Prophets and teachers differ, in that the prophets foretell
of future events, and teachers are speaking of things that need to be
learned that have already happened. This church at Antioch seems to
be operating in the fullness of the five fold ministry. The name
Barnabas means son of prophecy. Barnabas was a Levite. He was also a
native of Cyprus. He was an early convert to Christianity. He seems
to be closely associated with Saul. About all we know of Simeon, that
was called Niger, is right here. His name indicates that he was a
Jew. The other two here, we know nothing about, except that they grew
up with Herod and Saul.
Acts 13:2 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I
have called them."
Here, we see a special call on Saul and Barnabas to go out as
missionaries. I have found, in my own ministry, that the Lord speaks
to us the most when we have set ourselves aside from all the earthly
things for a few days and just pray. God will not interrupt your
favorite television program to speak to you. I have found that the
Lord is still speaking to his people. We are just not listening. God
has not changed, we have. Too many people give God too little of
their time. Those whom God calls to work for Him, must make time for
God to speak to them.
Acts 13:3 "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their]
hands on them, they sent [them] away."
We see from this that even Saul and Barnabas needed extra power
from God to undertake this missionary journey. Those who were
earnestly praying and fasting were acting as agents of God when they
laid hands on Saul and Barnabas. Their strength came from God and not
man.
Acts 13:4 "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed
unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus."
Seleucia was actually the seaport of Antioch. It was like a
suburb. This is truly a missionary journey, because they are sent
forth by the Holy Ghost. Cyprus was an island. It was off the coast
of Syria in the Mediterranean Sea. It, also, was the native home of
Barnabas, as we studied before.
Acts 13:5 "And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word
of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to
[their] minister."
Salamis seemed to be a Jewish city, since the synagogues were
mentioned. Saul would have been allowed to speak, since he was a
Pharisee. It seems that the early Christians here were Jewish
believers.
Acts 13:6 "And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos,
they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name
[was] Bar-jesus:"
This sorcerer had great power, the only problem was that this
great power came from an evil source. Sorcerers of this day used
astrology, and magic, and dark arts to convince the people. This has
never changed. People are still consulting their horoscope, going to
palm readers and practicing all sorts of sorcery. Sorcery is not of
God, but is of Satan. Satan has some limited power on this earth, but
is not like Jesus Christ who is the source of all power. It seems
this sorcerer had many deceived. Many thought him to be a prophet,
because of the miracles he did. Bar-jesus was a Hebrew by birth, but
a son of Satan in the spirit. He was a false prophet.
Acts 13:7 "Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius
Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired
to hear the word of God."
Sergius Paulus (a Roman) was seeking the truth. Notice that God
will accept the wealthy and famous the same as He will the poor. The
requirement is the same. They must repent and earnestly seek the
Truth. Those who seek the Truth, find it, and Sergius Paulus is no
different.
Acts 13:8 "But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by
interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from
the faith."
Bar-jesus and Elymas are the same person. This sorcerer had
probably been living off of Sergius Paulus, and he didn't want anyone
coming in and tearing his little con game up. To work against God is
a very dangerous thing to do, as this sorcerer will find out.
Acts 13:9 "Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the
Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him," Acts 13:10 "And said, O full of all
subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of
all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of
the Lord?"
This filled with the Holy Ghost is more than what he ordinarily
had. This was an extra portion of the Spirit. This gave Saul great
boldness in the Lord. The words which came from Saul were really not
his own, but words the Holy Ghost spoke through him. This is the Holy
Ghost coming against this Elymas. He called him who he is, the son of
the devil. Elymas' power was devil power. Saul is saying to him, you
have now come against Almighty God. Elymas was not opposing Saul, but
God.
Acts 13:11 "And now, behold, the hand of the Lord [is] upon thee,
and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And
immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about
seeking some to lead him by the hand."
The judgment of God is swift when it does come. Those who oppose
the Lord in our day can expect a like fate. Notice that this
blindness is not a permanent situation, but is for a season. The
blindness was so drastic that he could not even see to walk. This man
had already been blind to the Spirit and now he is physically blind,
as well.
Acts 13:12 "Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed,
being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord."
This deputy, really, was already believing what Saul and Barnabas
had been saying. The sorcerer had tried to cause him not to believe.
When the great power of God was manifest (made real) against this
sorcerer, this deputy knew beyond a shadow of a doubt who was God.
The doctrine of the Lord was so different from all that he had ever
been taught, but this miracle with the sorcerer erased any doubt he
might have had. In Romans 10:9-10, we see that the most necessary
thing to salvation is to believe. We are not told whether he was
baptized or not, but true believers want to be baptized as a show to
the world that they have truly believed.
Notes
Acts 27 Questions
1. What ministries were going on in the church at Antioch?
2. How does a prophet and teacher differ?
3. Name four people involved in ministry at Antioch.
4. In verse 2, what do we read they were doing when the Holy Ghost
spoke to them?
5. What did He tell them to do?
6. When will God speak to us the most?
7. The Lord is still speaking, we are just not _________________.
8. What did the group do before they sent them out?
9. In verse 4, it tells us just who really sent Saul and Barnabas
forth, who was it?
10. Where did they go?
11. Where was Cyprus?
12. In verse 5, we find that they preached in what building?
13. What were most of the people of Salamis?
14. What was the sorcerer's name?
15. What was he?
16. Who was the deputy of the country?
17. What are some of the things sorcerers do?
18. Who was the deputy?
19. What did this deputy desire to hear?
20. What are the requirements for a rich man to come to God?
21. What was another name for Bar-jesus?
22. What did he try to do to the deputy?
23. How could Saul have such boldness?
24. Under heavy anointing of God, what did Saul say to Bar-jesus?
25. Whose ways were the sorcerer trying to pervert?
26. What punishment came instantly to Bar-jesus?
27. What effect did this have on the deputy?
28. What was the deputy astonished at?
Notes
Home