THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 13, Part 1, The First Missionary Journey

 

THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 13, Part 1

The First Missionary Journey

Previously, Jesus had summoned His twelve Apostles and gave them authority over unclean spirits, and told them to heal every disease and every sickness, instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; but rather, only go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (see Matthew 10:1-15). Then we read in John 1:11-13, “He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.”

So began the spread of Christianity and God’s gift of salvation being offered to the entire world. This marks the beginning of the prophesied great apostasy and the great persecution of Christians. Jesus warned that they would be handed over to tribulation and would be killed and hated by all nations because of His name. And at that time many would fall away from the faith, and they would betray one another and hate one another. And that many false prophets would rise up and would mislead many people. And because lawlessness would increase, most people’s love would become cold. This would be one of the hallmarks that the Last Days were well underway.

First Missionary Journey

Acts 13:1, Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas (son of prophecy), Simeon (hearing) who was called Niger (black, a Christian), Lucius (illuminated, a Christian) of Cyrene, Manaen (a Christian) who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Verse 2. While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.” Verse 3. Then, when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

(Commentary Break): The Holy Spirit “said” (to lay forth). We must assume the Holy Spirit spoke to all who were present: Barnabas (son of prophecy), Simeon (hearing) who was called Niger (black, a Christian), Lucius (illuminated, a Christian) of Cyrene, Manaen (a Christian) who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul; and the Holy Spirit said “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.”

[The phrase “set apart” indicates a divine selection for a specific purpose, echoing the Old Testament practice of consecrating individuals for God’s work (e.g., Jeremiah 1:5). Barnabas and Saul (later named Paul) were chosen for a mission that would expand the church’s reach beyond Jewish communities. Barnabas, known for his encouragement and leadership, and Saul, a former persecutor turned apostle, were uniquely equipped for this task. Their selection underscores God’s sovereignty in choosing and equipping His servants.] (the foregoing purple text is an excerpt from a BibleHub.com commentary).

However, if all you or I get from this is a narrative on the expansion of the Church, then we are reading the Bible only as an historical document, but the Bible is not meant to be an historical document!

The Bible is the Breathed Word of God, (2 Timothy 3:16); the Bible is the longest love letter ever written, and it is written by the One True God to His beloved created ones; the Bible is the Word of God and it is alive and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword; The Bible penetrates and divides the soul and spirit of each man, woman and child, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of each person’s heart and mind (Hebrews 4:12); The Bible is creative, it is causative, instructional and prophetic – prophetic in the sense that it tells the truth to you, past present and future; and when that Word dwells in you, it tells the truth through you! Therefore, the book of Acts and this chapter and these verses in particular are speaking to you! They are instructing you and creating in you and causing you to hear and to do what God has instructed to His Church – it is telling the Truth through you if you are obedient to His Voice. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 4. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Verse 5. When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper. Verse 6. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, verse 7, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

(Commentary Break): God has a plan for each of our lives and it begins with this missionary journey. And it is not a plan to suit our personal whims, wants, selfish goals, desires, and supposed needs. It is His plan of telling the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is for the purging, cleansing, refining, redeeming and restoring His creation and His created ones into the very image and likeness of Jesus in preparation for us to spend eternity in His presence in a new and perfect heaven and a new and perfect earth. (see Daniel 12:12). This was written to you, about Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul on a missionary journey, but it is also written to you and about you. You too are sent! Now, go! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 8. But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Verse 9. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him, verse 10, and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Verse 11. Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. Verse 12. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

(Commentary Break): Paul and the others are confronted with dark magic and resistance to their Message, and Paul, instead of being in fear of offending someone and instead of shrinking back, responds with a strong spiritual rebuke, saying, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight ways of the Lord?” Then, upon instructions from the Lord, Paul proclaims, “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him. How can this be? How can this happen? Is this just a story to amaze us, today? Or is it an example of the prophetic power of a fully submitted and obedient servant of the Most High God?

This reminds me of God’s servant David, as he stood before the giant, Goliath, and spoke these words, “Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a saber, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand<mh5462, 3027=””> you over to me, and I will strike you and remove your head from you. Then I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that this entire assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will hand<mh5414, 3027=””> you over to us!” </mh5414,></mh5462,></mh6793c,>

Then it happened, when the Philistine came closer to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and the stone: he struck the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and finished him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.” (see 1 Samuel 17:45-51).

This only comes about when we are fully submitted to our God, fully prepared by His Word. Then we can say that we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of our soul (see Hebrews 10:39); and we will overcome because of the Blood of the Lamb and because of the word of our testimony, that we did not love our life even when faced with death! (see Revelation 12:11). (End Commentary Break – End Chapter 13, part 1, The First Missionary Journey).

What we are reading tells and shows us the difference between calling oneself a Christian and actually being a Christian. Although it is worthy to note that not everyone can be like Paul or Barnabas, but each of us have been called to go into the world around us and proclaim the Good News of Jesus, preaching and saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give”. We have been equipped by the Holy Spirit with Gifts for the building up of the Body and as a witness to the risen Christ.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 12, Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance, The Death of Herod.

NEXT: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 13, part 2, Paul Turns to the Gentiles.

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