Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus.pdf
DYNAMIC DUO - BARNABAS and SAUL ACTS 13:4-12
Have you ever heard the phrase "Dynamic Duo"? Who do think of when you hear this? Here's some I thought of: Laverne & Shirley, Batman & Robin, Lucy & Ethel, Abbot & Costello, Cheech & Chong, Lone Ranger & Tonto . . . In the Bible there was David & Jonathan; Peter & John; etc. In Acts chapter 13 we find a Dynamic Duo - Barnabas and Saul - who are used for God's purpose. We first find them meeting up to together right after Saul's conversion in chapter 9 - when he traveled to Jerusalem to join the disciples. The people there were afraid of him because of his reputation - and doubted that he was really converted. Barnabas teamed up with Saul, brought him to the apostles, and introduced Him so that they might get to know him better - he told them of Saul's fearless preaching in Damascus. After at, Saul felt a little bit of freedom there and started debating with the Jews. They became very angry at Saul - so they try to kill him. When the believers learned of this they ended up sending Saul back to his home in Tarsus.
In chapter 11 - Barnabas was sent to Antioch by the church in Jerusalem to teach and encourage the new believers there. He realized that he needed help so he traveled to Tarsus to look for Saul. Barnabas brought Saul back to Antioch with him and teamed up together again. They spent a whole year in Antioch teaching the converts. Page 1
Now in Chapter 13, starting at verse 4, Barnabas and Saul were "sent out" by the Holy Spirit - and by the church ("Divided to Multiply", as Paul taught last week). We are not informed of a plan or itinerary given to them. No special instructions, no contacts, no budget - just the help and power and leading of the Holy Spirit. This was their first "missionary journey".
Barnabas and Saul left Antioch and went to Seleucia - a harbor town near Antioch. They boarded a ship and sailed to the Island of Cyprus: “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos.” Acts 13:5-6 NIV
On the surface, this doesn't seem to offer anything important to us. However, throughout the Bible we see other instances where people were "LED" by God - without His plan and purposes being revealed (Abraham, Moses & the Israelites, Joshua, Jesus, etc.).
A. If God, or the Holy Spirit, is doing the leading we can be confident in His Plan and in His purpose in leading us to the right place at the right time. (*Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.")
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1. Barnabas was originally from Cyprus (see Acts 4:36 - he was a Levite from Cyprus). So he was familiar with the area, the people, and the customs. He had "Island experience". 2. Saul had probably never been to the Island before but he did have experience as a Pharisee and knew how to approach the Jews in their own synagogues (as was his custom). He had "Temple experience". 3. Barnabas was an "Encourager" - and was not only useful for encouraging new believers but he would serve to encourage Saul as well as he encountered a new territory and different people.
B. God knows we need a helper to assist us. A "Dynamic Duo" does not act alone! (*No "Lone Rangers" in God's army) 1. God/the Holy Spirit knew that Barnabas and Saul "COMPLIMENTED" each other - they made an excellent team - to spread the Gospel, promote faith in God, and to expand The Kingdom of God. AND SO, God knows we also need a good "teammate" in our lives - someone to compliment our character and spiritual gifts - and to encourage us. 2. John Mark was also with Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary trip, serving as their helper - or assistant. We are not told exactly what he did - only that he helped them. This position seems so insignificant, but IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
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C. Even though God/the Holy Spirit is leading you, and you have a helper/ teammate, you will still experience opposition. See verses 6-11 1. Barnabas and Saul and John traveled through the whole Island of Cyprus - from Salamis on the East coast, where they first landed, to the West coast town of Paphos. We can confidently assume - but we are not told - that they traveled to every town they could find along the way and preached to or taught or encouraged all the people they could find. ALL SEEMED TO HAD GONE PERFECTLY FINE until they reached the last stop along the way - Paphos. 2. Satan's Tool Revealed: It was there at Paphos where they ran into a "Jewish sorcerer" and "false prophet". This seems like an oxymoron (self-contradictory). His name was Bar-Jesus (son of Jesus) or Elymas. He served as an attendant, or personal assistant, to the Roman governor (proconsul) of the Island of Cyprus - Sergius Paulus. 3. The author tells us that the governor was an intelligent man - if so, I don't know why he had a sorcerer or false prophet as an assistant. However, the governor sent for (asked for) Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God (I guess he WAS an intelligent man after all). 4. Elymas the sorcerer OPPOSED Barnabas and Saul. We are not told how - except that he tried to confuse and turn the governor away from any notion of putting his faith in God. This is exactly how the devil, Satan, our enemy, operates. He tries to steal every "seed" that we sow into other people's lives. (*See the Parable of the soils in Matt 13 - this governor's heart was "good soil", he wanted to hear) 5. Satan's tools are not the "sharpest tools in the shed"!
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D. Satan's Tools - The Opposition - can be defeated by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . Not by our own power. 1. Saul - now identified as Paul - being filled with the Holy Spirit, got in Elymas' face (looked him square in the eye) and boldly confronted him. He called him "a child of the devil" and "an enemy of everything that is right." 2. Paul spoke a curse - a judgment - against Elymas. Paul spoke through the Holy Spirit with God's authority.
E. The boldness and power of God working through us (evidence) gives "Credibility" to our message. * The governor saw the power of God in Paul - he witnessed God's supernatural authority at work and was amazed - AMAZED AT THE TEACHING ABOUT THE LORD. His heart was open and ready to receive the Gospel Message - and what he had just witnessed slammed-the-door on any unbelief! A. We can have confidence in God - the Holy Spirit - leading us. We can trust Him. B. We need a helper - not just the Holy Spirit, but a real person we can count on. C. We will experience opposition. D. Opposition is overcome and defeated by God's Power - not ours. E. The evidence - God's Power and Boldness - gives credibility. Not just our words.
THEREFORE, BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN GOD
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Have you ever heard the phrase "Dynamic Duo"? Who do think of when you hear this? Here's some I thought of: Laverne & Shirley, Batman & Robin, Lucy & Ethel, Abbot & Costello, Cheech & Chong, Lone Ranger & Tonto . . . In the Bible there was David & Jonathan; Peter & John; etc. In Acts chapter 13 we find a Dynamic Duo - Barnabas and Saul - who are used for God's purpose. We first find them meeting up to together right after Saul's conversion in chapter 9 - when he traveled to Jerusalem to join the disciples. The people there were afraid of him because of his reputation - and doubted that he was really converted. Barnabas teamed up with Saul, brought him to the apostles, and introduced Him so that they might get to know him better - he told them of Saul's fearless preaching in Damascus. After at, Saul felt a little bit of freedom there and started debating with the Jews. They became very angry at Saul - so they try to kill him. When the believers learned of this they ended up sending Saul back to his home in Tarsus.
In chapter 11 - Barnabas was sent to Antioch by the church in Jerusalem to teach and encourage the new believers there. He realized that he needed help so he traveled to Tarsus to look for Saul. Barnabas brought Saul back to Antioch with him and teamed up together again. They spent a whole year in Antioch teaching the converts. Page 1
Now in Chapter 13, starting at verse 4, Barnabas and Saul were "sent out" by the Holy Spirit - and by the church ("Divided to Multiply", as Paul taught last week). We are not informed of a plan or itinerary given to them. No special instructions, no contacts, no budget - just the help and power and leading of the Holy Spirit. This was their first "missionary journey".
Barnabas and Saul left Antioch and went to Seleucia - a harbor town near Antioch. They boarded a ship and sailed to the Island of Cyprus: “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos.” Acts 13:5-6 NIV
On the surface, this doesn't seem to offer anything important to us. However, throughout the Bible we see other instances where people were "LED" by God - without His plan and purposes being revealed (Abraham, Moses & the Israelites, Joshua, Jesus, etc.).
A. If God, or the Holy Spirit, is doing the leading we can be confident in His Plan and in His purpose in leading us to the right place at the right time. (*Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.")
Page 2
1. Barnabas was originally from Cyprus (see Acts 4:36 - he was a Levite from Cyprus). So he was familiar with the area, the people, and the customs. He had "Island experience". 2. Saul had probably never been to the Island before but he did have experience as a Pharisee and knew how to approach the Jews in their own synagogues (as was his custom). He had "Temple experience". 3. Barnabas was an "Encourager" - and was not only useful for encouraging new believers but he would serve to encourage Saul as well as he encountered a new territory and different people.
B. God knows we need a helper to assist us. A "Dynamic Duo" does not act alone! (*No "Lone Rangers" in God's army) 1. God/the Holy Spirit knew that Barnabas and Saul "COMPLIMENTED" each other - they made an excellent team - to spread the Gospel, promote faith in God, and to expand The Kingdom of God. AND SO, God knows we also need a good "teammate" in our lives - someone to compliment our character and spiritual gifts - and to encourage us. 2. John Mark was also with Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary trip, serving as their helper - or assistant. We are not told exactly what he did - only that he helped them. This position seems so insignificant, but IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
Page 3
C. Even though God/the Holy Spirit is leading you, and you have a helper/ teammate, you will still experience opposition. See verses 6-11 1. Barnabas and Saul and John traveled through the whole Island of Cyprus - from Salamis on the East coast, where they first landed, to the West coast town of Paphos. We can confidently assume - but we are not told - that they traveled to every town they could find along the way and preached to or taught or encouraged all the people they could find. ALL SEEMED TO HAD GONE PERFECTLY FINE until they reached the last stop along the way - Paphos. 2. Satan's Tool Revealed: It was there at Paphos where they ran into a "Jewish sorcerer" and "false prophet". This seems like an oxymoron (self-contradictory). His name was Bar-Jesus (son of Jesus) or Elymas. He served as an attendant, or personal assistant, to the Roman governor (proconsul) of the Island of Cyprus - Sergius Paulus. 3. The author tells us that the governor was an intelligent man - if so, I don't know why he had a sorcerer or false prophet as an assistant. However, the governor sent for (asked for) Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God (I guess he WAS an intelligent man after all). 4. Elymas the sorcerer OPPOSED Barnabas and Saul. We are not told how - except that he tried to confuse and turn the governor away from any notion of putting his faith in God. This is exactly how the devil, Satan, our enemy, operates. He tries to steal every "seed" that we sow into other people's lives. (*See the Parable of the soils in Matt 13 - this governor's heart was "good soil", he wanted to hear) 5. Satan's tools are not the "sharpest tools in the shed"!
Page 4
D. Satan's Tools - The Opposition - can be defeated by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . Not by our own power. 1. Saul - now identified as Paul - being filled with the Holy Spirit, got in Elymas' face (looked him square in the eye) and boldly confronted him. He called him "a child of the devil" and "an enemy of everything that is right." 2. Paul spoke a curse - a judgment - against Elymas. Paul spoke through the Holy Spirit with God's authority.
E. The boldness and power of God working through us (evidence) gives "Credibility" to our message. * The governor saw the power of God in Paul - he witnessed God's supernatural authority at work and was amazed - AMAZED AT THE TEACHING ABOUT THE LORD. His heart was open and ready to receive the Gospel Message - and what he had just witnessed slammed-the-door on any unbelief! A. We can have confidence in God - the Holy Spirit - leading us. We can trust Him. B. We need a helper - not just the Holy Spirit, but a real person we can count on. C. We will experience opposition. D. Opposition is overcome and defeated by God's Power - not ours. E. The evidence - God's Power and Boldness - gives credibility. Not just our words.
THEREFORE, BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN GOD
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