Acts 13
(1) Antioch Church Sends Missionaries
These were the prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch [modern-day Antakya, Turkey]:
Barnabas
Simeon (who people called Niger)
Lucius from Cyrene
Manaen (who grew up with Herod the tetrarch)
Saul
While they were serving the Master and fasting, the Different Spirit said,
“Take Barnabas and Saul, and set them apart for Me. Set them apart for the work I’m asking them to do.”
So the group fasted, prayed, put their hands on them, and sent them off.
(4) Paul Visits Cyprus; Bar-Jesus Blinded
Being sent out by the Different Spirit, Paul and Barnabas went to Seleucia [Antioch’s port city] and caught a boat to Cyprus [Mediterranean island]. When they arrived in Salamis [Cyprus’s main city], they began sharing God’s message there in the Jewish churches. John also went with them to help. The group eventually made their way across the whole island, reaching as far as Paphos. During their journey, they came across a magician named Bar-Jesus [whose name means “son of Joshua” and translates to “Elymas”]. He was a Jewish false prophet, and he was accompanied by a proconsul [Roman official] named Sergius Paulus who was very intelligent. Sergius wanted Barnabas and Saul to tell him about God’s message, but Bar-Jesus opposed them, trying to discourage the proconsul from the faith. So Saul (who was also known as Paul) looked directly at Bar-Jesus and said,
“You’re full of deception and fraud! You’re the son of the one who falsely accuses people [the devil], and you’re an enemy to everything that’s right and good. When will you ever stop taking the straight ways of the Master and twisting them up? Watch: the Master is placing His hand is on you, and you’re about to become temporarily blinded and unable to see the sun.”
Bar-Jesus’s eyes were instantly dimmed with darkness, needing others to lead him by the hand. After the proconsul witnessed that, he believed and was amazed by the Master’s teaching.
(13) Paul Preaches in Pamphylia
Then Paul and his team left Paphos and set sail for the city of Perga, which is in the province of Pamphylia [near modern day Antalya, Turkey]. (John didn’t join them for this part of the trip though; he went back to Jerusalem.) The team spent some time Perga, and then went to Pisidian Antioch [which is further north, in the province of Galatia]. On the Sabbath, they visited a church there. After the church leaders read from the Law and the Prophets, they told Paul’s group,
“Brothers! If you want to share any encouraging words with the congregation, we’d love to hear from you.”
So Paul stood up and started motioning with his hands, saying,
“Hello to all you Hebrews and God-respecting non-Hebrews! Please hear what I’m about to say. The God of the Hebrew people chose our forefathers and multiplied them during their time in Egypt, then led them out with a mighty arm. He put up with them for 40 years in the desert, then took down 7 nations in Canaan and distributed their land as an inheritance. All of that took about 450 years. Then after that, He gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the Hebrews asked for a king, so God gave them Saul (Kish’s son from the tribe of Benjamin), who ruled for 40 years. God removed him and raised up David to be their king, saying,
‘Jesse’s son, David, is more aligned with My own heart and will carry out all My wishes.’
“Through David’s genes, God kept His promise and brought Israel a Rescuer named Jesus. John the Baptist taught Israel about being immersed in a mindset-change [baptism of repentance], and Jesus showed up shortly after. While John was fulfilling his role, he kept saying,
‘What do you suppose I am? I’m not the guy you’re expecting, but Someone is coming after me whose shoes I’m not even worthy of untie!’
“Brothers—you guys are either Abraham’s descendants or God-fearing non-Jews—and this message about being rescued is for us! Everyone living in Jerusalem failed to recognize Jesus (even the city leaders)! And they failed to recognize the prophets’ messages (even though they’re read in church every Sabbath)! But in failing to recognize Jesus and the Prophets, Jerusalem actually fulfilled the prophets’ words by turning Him into a villan. They couldn’t find any grounds for killing Him, yet they still asked Pilate to execute him. They carried out everything that was written about Jesus, then took Him down off the cross and laid Him in His grave. But God lifted Him up out of death, and He spent a number of days appearing to the people who had come with Him to Jerusalem from Galilee—and now those people are the ones who are His eye-witnesses to everyone. And that’s why we’re here today, sharing this good news with you! God made a promise to our forefathers, and now He’s fulfilled it for us by raising up Jesus! Just as Psalm 2 says,
‘You are My Son, and today I caused you to be born.’
—Psalm 2:7“God pulled Jesus up out of death to never return, which is why He said,
‘I’ll give you the sacred and trusty blessings that David had.’
—Isaiah 55:3“And another Psalm says,
‘You won’t let Your Perfect One rot.’
—Psalm 16:10“After David accomplished God’s purpose for him, he fell asleep, was laid next to his ancestors, and rotted away. But the One who God raised never rotted! So brothers, please understand that your shortcomings and mistakes can be pardoned through Jesus. Everyone who relies on Jesus is made right—and that’s something Moses’s law could never do! Be careful not to experience what the Prophets warned about when they wrote,
‘You guys who are making fun of this now will one day watch in awe before you disappear. I’m working on something during your lifetime—something you wouldn’t believe even if someone described it to you.’
—Habakkuk 1:5”
(42) Many Recognize Jesus as the Rescuer
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the church, everyone kept begging for someone to preach that kind of sermon next Sabbath. After the church service was over, lots of people started following Paul and Barnabas, both Hebrews and God-respecting converts. Paul and Barnabas strongly encouraged them to continue operating with God’s graciousness.
(44) Jews Get Jealous
The next Sabbath, practically the entire city showed up to hear God’s message. But when the Jews saw how big the crowds were, they got jealous and started opposing Paul’s message and bad-mouthing him. Paul and Barnabas outspokenly told them,
“God’s message was actually shared with you guys first! But since you rejected it and decided that infinite life wasn’t a good fit for you, now we’re bringing it to the non-Jews! That’s what the Master was telling us to do when He said:
‘I had you be a light for the non-Jews so you’d bring rescue to the ends of the earth.’
—Isaiah 49:6”
(48) God’s Message Spreads
When the non-Jews heard that, they started celebrating and making much of the Master’s message. Everyone who had been appointed for infinite life there believed. But as the Master’s message started sweeping through that region, the Jews retaliated. They stirred up the influential people in the city and started a campaign against Paul and Barnabas until they kicked them out of that district. But Paul and Barnabas just shook the dust off their feet in protest and went to Iconium [another city in Galatia]. The Jesus-followers stayed full of gladness and of the Different Spirit.
