Acts Chapter 13

                                                                                        

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

 1.  Chapter 13 marks what turning point in our story of the early church?

 The first 12 chapters focus on Peter; the remaining chapters revolve around Paul. With Peter, the emphasis is the Jewish church in Jerusalem and Judea; with Paul, the focus is the spread of the Gentile church throughout the Roman world, which began at the church in Antioch.

 2. Why would prophets be important?

 Prophets. These had a significant role in the apostolic church. They were preachers of God’s Word and were responsible in the early years of the church to instruct local congregations. On some occasions, they received new revelation that was of a practical nature, a function that ended with the cessation of the temporary sign gifts. The prophets are second to the apostles in Paul’s lists. Their office was also replaced by pastor-teachers and evangelists. Teachers were gifted in the interpretation of (OT) Scripture.

3. The Holy Spirit said?

Paul’s first missionary journey did not result from a planning session but from the Spirit’s initiative as the leaders worshiped. The communication from the Holy Spirit may have come through the prophets.

 13:3 placed their hands on them. For the purpose of separating the two for the designated  work (see 14:26 for the completion of the mission). Fasting and prayer accompany this appointment. Notice how at this point Barnabas get first billing, but soon it will be Paul and Barnabas as Saul takes on his role as Paul the leader of this first missionary journey.

On Cyprus

4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

  4. Why start their missionary journey in Cyprus?

Saul and Barnabas chose to begin their missionary outreach there because it was Barnabas’ home, which was only a two-day journey from Antioch, and had a large Jewish population.

5. Which John is this?

 John … Mark. Cousin of Barnabas, acquaintance of Peter in his youth, he accompanied Barnabas and Paul to Antioch and later to Cyprus. He deserted them at Perga and Paul refused to take him on his second missionary journey because of that desertion. He accompanied Barnabas to Cyprus. He disappeared until he was seen with Paul at Rome as an accepted companion and coworker. During Paul’s second imprisonment at Rome, Paul sought John Mark’s presence as useful to him. He wrote the second gospel that bears his name, being enriched in his task by the aid of Peter.

  6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

 6. Who was this Bar-Jesus/Elymas dude?

This is satanic opposition. This man had the governor under his influence. Bar-Jesus means son of salvation. He was a false prophet not because he gave false predictions but because he falsely claimed to be a prophet. It was a common practice for rulers to have magicians and astrologers in their retinue.Sergius Paulus was the proconsul of the province. Rome had two types of provinces—those under the emperor and those under the senate. The former, like Judea, were governed by procurators appointed by the emperors, while the latter were governed by proconsuls. In 22 b.c., the status of Cyprus was changed from imperial to senatorial province, as Luke correctly indicates. Elymas. Another name for Bar-Jesus, probably a Semitic word bearing a meaning similar to the Greek magos, which means “sorcerer” or “magician.” Elymas sensed that if the proconsul accepted the message of Barnabas and Saul, his own position would be impaired, and he therefore attempted to turn the proconsul from his faith.

In Pisidian Antioch

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

7. Why did John leave?

 The missionaries turned from Barnabas’ native land of Cyprus to the country bordering Paul’s native land. Pamphylia. A district on the coast of Asia Minor. Perga. A city situated about twelve miles inland. For some unexplained reason, John Mark forsook Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. Paul considered this desertion inexcusable, for later when Barnabas wished Mark to accompany them on another trip, Paul refused to take him, and separated from Barnabas over this issue. Mark’s desertion may have been due to some change in their missionary plans of which he did not approve. Others have suggested that he was jealous because Paul was outshining his cousin Barnabas. There is no reason to think that the basis of the difference was doctrinal.

 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the 

Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” 16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 26 “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When  they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. 32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.

As it is written in the second Psalm: 

“‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’. 
34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: 
“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 
35 So it is stated elsewhere: 
“‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’ 
36 “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 38 “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 
41 “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ ” 
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

 8. Why would the Gentiles be so accepting of the word of the Lord but the Jews rejected it?

God offered the plan of salvation to the Jews first. Although the thrust of Paul’s ministry was to Gentiles, he had a desire to see Jew saved, we are turning to the Gentiles. Because the Jews rejected the gospel. But God never planned salvation as an exclusive possession of the Jew. They were to be alight to the Gentiles that would attract and enlighten them, but instead out of their own stubborn pride they rejected that role and became an obstacle.

 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Becausethey sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.   Romans 9:31-33 (KJV)

9. How does one respond to rejection?

 Shook the dust. To show the severance of responsibility and the repudiation of those who had rejected their message and had brought suffering to the servants of the Lord. The Jews’ antagonism toward Gentiles extended to their unwillingness to even bring Gentile dust into Israel. The symbolism of Paul and Barnabas’ act is clear that they considered the Jews at Antioch no better than heathen. There could have been no stronger condemnation.

And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” Luke 9:5 (NKJV)

 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Matt 7:6 (KJV)

Move on.

• ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes

• MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
• NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes.
• JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
• ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
• BN …..Barnes Notes
• WBC……   Wycliffe Bible Commentary
• CN …… Constables Notes
• IC……….Ironside Commentary
• NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
• JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset  Brown Commentary
• VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
• CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
• BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
• Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT
• Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.
• NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary:  Matthew and Mark.
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