Bible Character Studies: Barnabas. Pt. 3 A long journey begins as the gospel goes out.
Good Morning,
Psalm 13:5,6 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
This is the LORD's day, let us praise Him this morning!
The photo above is ruins of Salamis one of the places Paul and Barnabas visited.
Barnabas with Saul returns to his home to share the gospel of Christ.
Acts 13:5-7 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. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 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.
Luke records the first journey of Saul & Barnabas together. They first went to the port of Selucia and then sailed to Cyprus and the town of Salamis which is about 115 miles. They went right to a Jewish Synagogue and preached the Word of God and Luke notes that John Mark ministered with them.
We see Saul (Later to be called Paul) and Barnabas obeying Christ's command. Saul was sent back to his home town of Tarsus to be a witness for the gospel of Christ after his conversion (Acts 9:30). Now, Barnabas is going back to his native island of Cyprus to be a witness.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I previously pointed out that this applies to us as well. Jerusalem means we witness first in our own home to our family about the need to repent and be born again. Judea means that we witness in our to our neighbors. Samaria means that we witness to our community and then we witness to those in our nation and around the world as we have ability to do so.
Barnabas and Saul encountered the enemy at Paphos.
Next, the two men traveled about 140 miles to Paphos. There they encountered a sorcerer which is from the word "magus." we might know them better as the Magi who visited the baby Jesus as they followed a star.
This means that the sorcerer named Elymas was connected to the Babylonian or Chaldean wise men who interpreted dreams, used magic and astrology and claimed to speak with the dead.
This particular sorcerer had influence over the civil magistrate name Sergius Paulus. The deputy was appointed by Caesar and he had heard about the gospel of Christ and wanted to learn more about it. The text says he was a prudent man, a man with an inquiring and open mind.
Elymas withstood the witness of Saul and Barnabas which means he fiercely resisted the preaching of the gospel. The sorcerer was worried that he would lose his grip upon the deputy and would no longer be able to enjoy having his needs met by the government.
God defeated the enemy and Sergius Paulus was born again.
Acts 13:9-11 tells us how Paul used his apostolic authority to judge this man and God blinded him putting an end to his sorcery. I would also note that from Acts 13:9 Saul will now be called Paul.
All this had an overwhelming impact upon Sergius Paulus and he believed the gospel and was born again.
Paul and Barnabas travel to Antioch of Pisidia.
Acts 13:13-16 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
First, notice that no reason is given why John Mark decided to leave Paul and Barnabas but he decided to return to Jerusalem. We will discover later that this became a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas.
They sailed about 150 miles to Perga in Pamphylia. Perga was an important city because it was a gateway to many Gentile cities in Asia Minor. Paul and Barnabas traveled 100 more miles from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia.
The ministry pattern for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is clear. Paul and his companions always went to the Jewish people with the good news first by attending the synagogue.
The Jews invited Paul and Barnabas to share "any word of exhortation" to those in the synagogue. The first sermon of Paul is recorded in Acts 13:17-41 and it was preached in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia.
The power of the Gospel changed many lives.
Acts 13:42-50 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
Some of the Jews seemed lukewarm in their response to Paul's sermon but many followed Paul and Barnabas who persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. The Gentiles who attended especially pleaded with Paul and Barnabas to preach gospel truth at the next sabbath.
On the next sabbath almost the whole city came to hear the Word of God and the Jews were jealous and engaged in speech that contradicted the gospel truth. Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and bluntly told the Jews that the gospel came to them first and that God is also going to save the Gentiles. Remember that the Jews had deep disrespect for pagan Gentiles so that news was not welcomed.
The Gentiles rejoiced when they heard that the light of the gospel was also meant for them. They were glad in their hearts and glorified the Word of God and many believed and were born again. The end result of Paul and Barnabas bringing gospel truth to Antioch of Pisidia is that God's truth was published throughout the region.
There is always opposition to the Word of God and the Jews instigated some persecution against Paul and Barnabas so that they had to leave the city.
Points to Ponder...
Psalm 13:5,6 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
This is the LORD's day, let us praise Him this morning!
The photo above is ruins of Salamis one of the places Paul and Barnabas visited.
Barnabas with Saul returns to his home to share the gospel of Christ.
Acts 13:5-7 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. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 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.
Luke records the first journey of Saul & Barnabas together. They first went to the port of Selucia and then sailed to Cyprus and the town of Salamis which is about 115 miles. They went right to a Jewish Synagogue and preached the Word of God and Luke notes that John Mark ministered with them.
We see Saul (Later to be called Paul) and Barnabas obeying Christ's command. Saul was sent back to his home town of Tarsus to be a witness for the gospel of Christ after his conversion (Acts 9:30). Now, Barnabas is going back to his native island of Cyprus to be a witness.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I previously pointed out that this applies to us as well. Jerusalem means we witness first in our own home to our family about the need to repent and be born again. Judea means that we witness in our to our neighbors. Samaria means that we witness to our community and then we witness to those in our nation and around the world as we have ability to do so.
Barnabas and Saul encountered the enemy at Paphos.
Next, the two men traveled about 140 miles to Paphos. There they encountered a sorcerer which is from the word "magus." we might know them better as the Magi who visited the baby Jesus as they followed a star.
This means that the sorcerer named Elymas was connected to the Babylonian or Chaldean wise men who interpreted dreams, used magic and astrology and claimed to speak with the dead.
This particular sorcerer had influence over the civil magistrate name Sergius Paulus. The deputy was appointed by Caesar and he had heard about the gospel of Christ and wanted to learn more about it. The text says he was a prudent man, a man with an inquiring and open mind.
Elymas withstood the witness of Saul and Barnabas which means he fiercely resisted the preaching of the gospel. The sorcerer was worried that he would lose his grip upon the deputy and would no longer be able to enjoy having his needs met by the government.
God defeated the enemy and Sergius Paulus was born again.
Acts 13:9-11 tells us how Paul used his apostolic authority to judge this man and God blinded him putting an end to his sorcery. I would also note that from Acts 13:9 Saul will now be called Paul.
All this had an overwhelming impact upon Sergius Paulus and he believed the gospel and was born again.
Paul and Barnabas travel to Antioch of Pisidia.
Acts 13:13-16 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
First, notice that no reason is given why John Mark decided to leave Paul and Barnabas but he decided to return to Jerusalem. We will discover later that this became a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas.
They sailed about 150 miles to Perga in Pamphylia. Perga was an important city because it was a gateway to many Gentile cities in Asia Minor. Paul and Barnabas traveled 100 more miles from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia.
The ministry pattern for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is clear. Paul and his companions always went to the Jewish people with the good news first by attending the synagogue.
The Jews invited Paul and Barnabas to share "any word of exhortation" to those in the synagogue. The first sermon of Paul is recorded in Acts 13:17-41 and it was preached in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia.
The power of the Gospel changed many lives.
Acts 13:42-50 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
Some of the Jews seemed lukewarm in their response to Paul's sermon but many followed Paul and Barnabas who persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. The Gentiles who attended especially pleaded with Paul and Barnabas to preach gospel truth at the next sabbath.
On the next sabbath almost the whole city came to hear the Word of God and the Jews were jealous and engaged in speech that contradicted the gospel truth. Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and bluntly told the Jews that the gospel came to them first and that God is also going to save the Gentiles. Remember that the Jews had deep disrespect for pagan Gentiles so that news was not welcomed.
The Gentiles rejoiced when they heard that the light of the gospel was also meant for them. They were glad in their hearts and glorified the Word of God and many believed and were born again. The end result of Paul and Barnabas bringing gospel truth to Antioch of Pisidia is that God's truth was published throughout the region.
There is always opposition to the Word of God and the Jews instigated some persecution against Paul and Barnabas so that they had to leave the city.
Points to Ponder...
- Barnabas goes with Paul to his native land of Cyprus to bring the gospel. Are we following the Bible pattern of witnessing in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth?
- Barnabas and Paul encountered the enemy in Paphos and relied on the power of God to defeat him. Are we relying on the power of God to sustain us in gospel ministry?
- Barnabas and Paul shared the Word of God willingly when the Jews invited them to speak. Are we being sensitive for an opportunity to speak for God?
- Barnabas and Paul encountered Jewish opposition to the Gospel but many Jews and Gentiles believed and were born again. Will we remain faithful even when gospel ministry is hard?
Barnabas has proven himself to be a willing partner in gospel ministry. He followed the Biblical pattern of going to his own land first and then taking the gospel out further. He stood by Paul and boldly preached and exhorted the Jews to respond by repenting and turning to Christ for salvation. Barnabas remained faithful and undeterred even though there was stiff opposition. He was blessed by seeing many people converted to Christ.
May we pray that our Lord will give us some of the same passion as Barnabas in our own lives today so that we are ready and willing to serve our Lord Jesus wherever and whenever the opportunity is present. May we be found faithful and steadfast in our service in gospel ministry.
Bob
Bob
Comments
Post a Comment