Barnabas And Saul On Cyprus (13:4-12)
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Last week we
were...
As we get started this morning let’s take a quick look back at the verses wee read last week.
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As 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 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.
1. Previously we studied "The Call Of Barnabas And Saul", two men who were...
1. Last week we studied "The Call Of Barnabas And Saul". Now we’ve seen previously that they’ve been here in Antioch for awhile. They had spent a year teaching believers there. But we saw in these verses last week that here are two men who were...
a. Working with the church at Antioch with other prophets and teachers -
-
b. Separated by the Holy Spirit for the work to which He had called them -
them -
c. Sent out by the church with fasting, prayers, and laying on of hands -
hands -
So now let’s pick up with our text for this morning beginning with the next verse, verse 4
4 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. 6 When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? 11 Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Acts 13:
2. Thus "sent out by the Holy Spirit" (), Barnabus and Saul begin their missionary journey...
2. Thus "sent out by the Holy Spirit" (), they began their missionary journey...
missionary journey...
a. First they go to Seleucia, a port city on the Mediterranean coast, 16 miles away from Antioch
away
b. Then sailing to Cyprus, an island 130 miles southwest of Seleucia
[Upon their arrival at Cyprus, Barnabas and Saul began their preaching ministry. We begin our study with a few observations about...]
ministry. We begin our study with a few observations about...]
I. THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS
A. GEOGRAPHICAL FACTS...
1. 43 miles S of Asia Minor, 76 miles W of Syria
1. The third largest island of the Mediterranean, after Sicily and Sardinia
and Sardinia
2. Maximum length E-W is 138 miles; maximum width N-S is 60 miles
3. An area of 3584 square miles
B. BIBLICAL FACTS...
1. Barnabas himself was from Cyprus -
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement),
2. The gospel had previously been preached in Cyprus -
2. Barnabas and Saul weren’t the first to preach the gospel there, but it had only been shared with the Jews -
19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
3. The church in Antioch of Syria, where Barnabas and Saul had just come from, had been started by men from Cyprus -
20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
Cyprus -
4. Barnabas and John Mark would later return to Cyprus -
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.
4. Barnabas and John Mark would later return to Cyprus -
So Barnabas and Saul arrive at the port of Salamis and begin preaching the gospel.
[It is interesting the Spirit sent Barnabas and Paul to Cyprus, a place well-known by Barnabas (Perhaps a principle to be gleaned regarding missionary efforts?). We next read of their preaching in...]
well-known by Barnabas (Perhaps a principle to be gleaned regarding
missionary efforts?). We next read of their preaching in...]
II. THE SYNAGOGUES AT SALAMIS
A. BARNABAS AND SAUL PREACH THE WORD...
1. In the synagogues of the Jews - - Why in the synagogues again? We’ve already seen that the gospel had already been preached to the Jews on Cyprus and we’ve seen through this study of Acts that Saul was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.
So again, why the synagogues? Well, as the verse says, Saul was chosen to preach to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. But then, from a simply practical standpoint,
2. As Jews, Barnabas and Saul would have access
2. It was a ready made crowd of listeners and as Jews, Barnabas and Saul would have had access.
3. Being from Cyprus, Barnabas may have been well-known
4. Starting at Jewish synagogues became Paul's pattern -
1 After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
cf.
; cf.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
; cf.
So we see that this is the beginning of a pattern for Paul’s ministry that he will follow through the years. He enters a town and goes to the synagogue to share the gospel. We’ll see this repeated over and over as we continue through the rest of the book of Acts.
B. ACCOMPANIED BY JOHN MARK...
Then the last sentence of verse 5 almost seems like an afterthought. You wonder why the writer threw it in there. But remember, the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit, so everything is there for a purpose. That last sentence tells us,
1. “They also had John as their assistant.” -
1. As their assistant -
This John mentioned here is also known as John Mark, and he is mentioned frequently throughout Paul’s writings.
2. His mother Mary had a home in Jerusalem that was a gathering place for believers - We see this in after one of the many times Peter is rescued from prison.
12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.
3. He had accompanied Barnabas and Saul back to Jerusalem -
25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark.
4. He was the cousin of Barnabas -
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),
So Barnabas and Saul and John have come to the island of Cyprus, they’ve begun preaching the gospel in the synagogue at Salamis, but they don’t stay there. The next verse tells us that they travel the island. They go from Salamis on the eastern coast of the island to Paphos on the western coast.
synagogue in our next study. But as we continue with Barnabas and
Saul's ministry on the island of Cyprus, we read about...]
III. THE PROPHET AND PROCONSUL AT PAPHOS
A. A FALSE PROPHET CONFRONTED...
1. A Jew whose surname was Bar-Jesus -
6 When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
a. Who was also called Elymas the sorcerer
b. Who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus
c. Who sought to prevent Sergius Paulus from hearing the gospel
2. Whom Saul (also called Paul) miraculously blinded -
9 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? 11 Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
a. Being filled with the Holy Spirit
1) Paul was not acting on his own initiative
2) He was moved by the Holy Spirit (i.e., inspired)
b. Able to see Elymas for what he truly was:
1) Full of deceit and fraud
2) A son of the devil and enemy of righteousness
3) Seeking to pervert the ways of the Lord
c. Blinding Elymas by a mist and a darkness
1) The hand (judgment) of the Lord was upon him
2) But only for a time (perhaps as an act of mercy?)
3. Should we emulate Paul's manner? (Not unless we are similarly inspired!) - cf.
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
inspired!) - cf.
Yes, we should absolutely oppose people who are teaching something contrary to the gospel, contrary to what the Bible tells us, but these verses from 2 Timothy make it clear that we are to do it in a gentle way, in a loving manner. Unfortunately that gentle, loving manner has been neglected by many Christians over the years, and even when it’s been used, it’s been lost on the opponents of the gospel in many cases. But we still must use this gentle, loving approach when we approach those who oppose the gospel.
B. AN INTELLIGENT PROCONSUL CONVERTED...
1. Proconsul - the highest-ranking official in a Roman senatorial province
province
2. Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, wanting to hear the word of God -
God -
3. He believed -
12 Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
a. Seeing what was done to Elymas
a. Seeing what was done to Elymas
b. Astonished at the teaching of the Lord
4. Teaching that was confirmed by miracles! - cf.
19 So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
;
3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.
This still happens today. Unfortunately for many, we have become so accustomed to the “miraculous” things brought about by science and technology that we miss the true miracles when they happen. I’ve heard it said, that miracles are not things that can’t be explained. There are various scientific explanations for just about every miracle in the Bible. I remember seeing a documentary once about the crossing of the Red Sea and they explained how if the conditions were just right the wind could drive back the water on a portion of the Red Sea and cause this dry path to form. And that’s all great, and it may be true. But you know what, the miracle wasn’t so much that the water was parted; the miracle was that the water parted at just the time the Israelites needed it to. That’s a miracle.
CONCLUSION
1. An auspicious start for a missionary journey begun by the Spirit...
a. The word of God proclaimed in the synagogues of Salamis
b. The teaching of the Lord confirmed in the city of Paphos
2. Note that Luke begins using the name of Paul instead of Saul...
a. Up to this point, Saul was called by his Hebrew name - ,
b. From this point on, Paul will be called by his Roman name - ,
Leaving the island of Cyprus, they sail on to Perga in Pamphylia, where we will pick up next week...
a. Formerly the two men were called Barnabas and Saul - ,
b. Now the two men will be called Paul and Barnabas - ,,
But for now, would you join me in prayer?
The precedence of Paul is seen further as Luke describes their departure from Paphos ("when Paul and his party" - ). Leaving the island of Cyprus, they sail on to Perga in Pamphylia, where we will pick up next week...
from Paphos ("when Paul and his party" - ). Leaving the island
of Cyprus, they sail on to Perga in Pamphylia, where we will begin our
next study...