Acts 13:1-22

SUMMARY
In a church in Antioch, some prophets, teachers and others gathered to fast and minister to the Lord. The Holy-spirit said “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them”.
Saul and Barnabas were sent forth by the leading of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. When they had gone through the whole Island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet and Jew whose name was Bar- Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding.
Serguis Paulus called on Barnabas and Saul to preach the Word of God to him, but a sorcerer (Elymas) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul from the faith. Saul who is also called Paul rebuke him by the power of the Holy- Spirit and commanded him to go blind. Immediately the sorcerer became blind. Proconsul saw this, believed, and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

LIFE APPLICATION
Purpose can only be found in the presence of God. The anointing of the Holy-Spirit calls and also empowers Christians to do mighty works.
Are you ready to live a purposeful life? One filled with signs and mighty works! Yield yourself totally to God and allow the Holy-spirit work through you.

Personal Declaration
I will live a life of purpose and honour in Jesus name.

Reading – Acts 13:1-22

13 ¹ Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While 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 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

On Cyprus

⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?¹¹ Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

¹³ From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

¹⁶ Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! ¹⁷ The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; ¹⁸ for about forty years he endured their conduct^[a] in the wilderness; ¹⁹ and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance.²⁰ All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. ²² After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Footnotes:

1. Acts 13:18 Some manuscripts he cared for them