Acts 13:1

Acts 13:1 says, 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.  We learn more about the growth of the early church.  We are told that in the church at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers.  In the Old Testament, prophets were those who foretold the future, as it affected God's people and the coming Messiah.  The prophets and teachers in the church pointed to the accomplished fact of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His impact on the world then and in the future.  I don't believe they saw themselves as a small church, but as the beginning of a world-changing movement.  Any church that God is at work in is never small.  Those mentioned at the church in Antioch were Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Luscius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  They were believers from diverse places and backgrounds, but they were united in the church.  God calls all people from everywhere, but when they become His followers, He calls them to unity in the church.  Verse two adds, 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 ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost spoke to them.  Maybe we don't have the Holy Ghost speak as much to us today because instead of ministering we are mumbling and instead of fasting we are feasting.  They were to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work God had for them to do.  Verse three continues, And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.  They obeyed, again fasting,  and praying and laying hands on them and sending them on their way.  The members of the church did what God directed them to do, and now it was time for Barnabas and Saul to be obedient.  The same is true for Christians today.  Verse four states, So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.  Barnabas and Saul, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, left Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus.  As followers of Christ, we should always go where the Holy Spirit leads us.  Verse five adds, 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.  At Salinas, they preached the gospel in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had John as their minister.  They were still being somewhat exclusive with the gospel, but even if we act in an exclusive manner, the gospel will not be contained to an exclusive group.  Verse six continues, And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:  On the Isle of Paphos, they met a sorcerer named Barjesus, who was a false prophet.  There are many false prophets in the world today as well as those who practice sorcery.  We need to be able to recognize them for what they are when we meet them.  Verse seven says, 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.  Barjesus was with one of the deputies of the country, who was called a prudent man who desired to hear what Barnabas and Saul had to say.  We need to pray for the lost people today, even those who may be following false gods, that they might be prudent enough to want to hear about Jesus.  Verse eight adds, But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.  The sorcerer, who is called Elymas here, which we are told was an interpretation of his name, withstood Barnabas and Saul.  He wanted to turn the deputy away from pitting his faith in the gospel, the only way to become a part of the faith, or Christianity.  There are still plenty of people today who will do all that they can to keep people from accepting the gospel.  Verse nine continues, Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.  We are told that Saul, also known as Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on Elymas.   I believe this means he looked at him intently.  We need to be willing to meet those who oppose Jesus Christ eye-to-eye.  Verse ten declares, 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?  Paul called Elymas what he was, a child of the devil, and asked him if he would cease from perverting the right ways of God.  I don’t believe that Paul said this looking down on the man, but he did it out of a genuine concern for him.  Though we need to witness to people and ask them if they will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, we don’t need to do so in an attitude of being superior to them.  Verse eleven adds, 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.  Paul told Elymus that he was going to be struck blind, and he immediately was.  He had been leading others away from God, and now he needed someone to physically lead him around.  Until we accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, we are always going to be spiritually blind.  Verse twelve continues, Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.  When the deputy saw what happened, he believed the gospel and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.   When we accept Jesus Christ, we should be astounded at the doctrine of God, which for us to understand it, must begin with the astounding fact that Jesus Christ died for sinners such as we all are.   

In Acts 13: 1-5, we learn more about the growth of the early church.  We are told that in the church at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers.  In the Old Testament, prophets were those who foretold the future, as it affected God's people and the coming Messiah.  The prophets and teachers in the church pointed to the accomplished fact of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His impact on the world then and in the future.  I don't believe they saw themselves as a small church, but as the beginning of a world changing movement.  Any church that God is at work in is never small.  Those mentioned at the church in Antioch were Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Luscius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  They were believers from diverse places and backgrounds, but they were united in the church.  God calls all people from everywhere, but when they become His followers, He calls them to unity in the church.  As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost spoke to them.  Maybe we don't have the Holy Ghost speak as much to us today because instead of ministering we are mumbling and instead of fasting we are feasting.  They were to seperate Barnabas and Saul for the work God had for them to do.  They obeyed, again fasting and praying and laying hands on them and sending them on their way.  The members of the church did what God directed them to do, and now it was time for Barnabas and Saul to be obedient.  The Holy Ghost sent them forth, and they departed for Seleucia, and then for Cyprus.  At Salinas, they preached the gospel in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had John as their minister.  They were still being somewhat exclusive with the gospel, but even if we act in an exclusive manner, the gospel will not be contained to an exclusive group.