After Saul and Barnabas return from helping the churches who were going through the drought, the need for a new ministry was weighing on the Christians.
Acts 13:1-2- 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. 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.
As they were praying and fasting, they felt the Lord leading them to separate the two men who had just returned. These two men would be the first to embark on this new missionary ministry.
Acts 13:3-5- And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 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.
Barnabas and Saul went out with John Mark on the first missionary journey. They went to the city of Seleucia, and then the island of Cyprus, and from there to the city of Salamis.
When they went to the isle of Paphos, they were met with opposition.
Acts 13:6-8- And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 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. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation ) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
On this island, they met a man whose name meant Son of Jesus, but he wasn't a Christian. This man was a messanger of Satan, a sorcerer. Barnabas and Saul called this man by his interpreted name, Elymas, which means sorcerer or magician.
This wicked man was trying to keep people from getting the gospel.
Barnabas and Saul were getting tired of this man interfering with their witness. While they were talking with Sergius Paulus, this sorcerer pushed Saul too far!
Acts 13:6-11- Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 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? 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.
Saul turned around and called him a child of the devil, then he used the power of the Holy Spirit to blind the man.
As the man went away searching for someone to lead him around, Sergius Paulus recognized the power of the Lord God Almighty.
Acts 13:12- Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Not only did this man see the power of God, but he also accepted the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
From this time on, Saul was also given a new name- no longer would he be known as Saul the once persecutor of the church; he would be known as Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:13- Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
Just a few cities later into the missionary journey, John Mark decided to return to his home in Jerusalem. Maybe he was too young a Christian to be able to handle the hardships that were asked of a missionary. Or, perhaps, he was just a young man who had gotten homesick. We don't know the exact nature of why he left, but we do know that Paul wasn't too happy about it.
Acts 13:14-16- But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Barnabas and Paul often went into the synagogues of the Jews in each city they went to. They wanted to make sure that the Jewish People knew that their Messiah had come.
This city started out just like all the rest- Paul standing up to tell the Jews about Jesus.
He recounted the promises to Moses as God led the Jews out of Egypt. He reminded them of God's faithfulness is giving them the Promised Land, and sending prophets to tell them His words. He spoke of King David and the promise of a Son from this King's lineage. And then he showed them that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the heir of King David, and the Savior of the world. He ended his message with a warning.
Acts 13:40-41- Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
He told them that the thing which happened to Jesus was something they would despise and not believe.
As they left the synagogue thinking over what had been said, some Gentiles approached and wanted to know what Paul was talking about.
Acts 13:42-45- And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
The next week almost the entire city turned out to hear what Paul had to say. Jews and Gentiles standing in the streets to hear the gospel of salvation.
But, this is where history takes a turn.
The Jews who were present didn't like that the Gentiles were being included. They thought that this was a Jewish thing that didn't concern the rest of humanity. So, they started to give Paul and Barnabas some trouble.
But, God didn't send Jesus to die for only Jews. Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world! Salvation was suppose to be preached to all mankind.
Acts 13:46-49- Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
Paul and Barnabas told these Jews that they were unworthy of the gift of salvation because of their selfishness. They had tried to include the Jewish people on their missionary journey, but now they saw that the door to the Gentiles was opened wide while the door to the Jewish people was blocked by pride and self righteousness.
Paul and Barnabas said they were now going to preach exclusively to the Gentiles. And, the Gentiles were happy to have the gospel of salvation preached to them! Many of them turned to the Lord and were saved.
But, the Jewish people just wouldn't let it go.
Acts 13:50-52- But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
The Jews got together some big wigs and forced Paul and Barnabas to leave.
But, they only brought damnation to them and their lineage! Because only the blood of Christ was accepted by the Lord God Almighty. All of their sacrifices, all of their works, all of their heritage and traditions meant nothing. And, by rejecting the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ they rejected the forgiveness of the Lord God Almighty.
