Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 13
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 13
On Cyprus
4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who 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. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9Then 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? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable 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. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
As the disciples prayed and fasted, it became clear that they needed to set apart Saul (later Paul) and Barnabbas for the mission God had entrusted them. At once they laid hands on them (and John, presumably John Mark) and they set out as they were led by the Holy Spirit.
When they arrived at Cyprus, as was their custom, they went to the synagogue to teach, and there encountered a Jewish sorcerer. The Pro-consul (governor of the province) was intrigued by Paul’s words and wanted to hear more. But the sorcerer, Bar-Jesus, tried to prevent the Pro Consul from coming to faith.
At this, Paul confronted the sorcerer and told him he would become blind for a time. When the man became blind, the Pro-Consul, Sergio Paulus came to faith immediately.
This is what we might call a “power-encounter”. The sorcerer had some power but used it to deceive and trick and specifically tried to use it against what the Holy Spirit was doing through Paul. As we can see the power of God overcame this demonic power that had influenced Bar-Jesus. As a result of the this display of power, the Pro Consul came to faith and would become a major influencer for the faith as a result of position of influence in that province.
Paul tells us in Ephesians that our battle is not against “flesh and blood”, but against, “principalities and powers of this present darkness”. As we seek to be more and more led by the Holy Spirit, there is bound to be opposition. But as believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, we do not have to be afraid. We can look the opposition in the eye and tell it to be gone in Jesus’ name.
Prayer: God protect us from the evil one. You have set us apart for the work of ministry and you have given us the power of the Holy Spirit and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We know we do not need to be afraid because if you are for us, no power can stand against us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
On Cyprus
4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who 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. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9Then 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? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable 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. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
As the disciples prayed and fasted, it became clear that they needed to set apart Saul (later Paul) and Barnabbas for the mission God had entrusted them. At once they laid hands on them (and John, presumably John Mark) and they set out as they were led by the Holy Spirit.
When they arrived at Cyprus, as was their custom, they went to the synagogue to teach, and there encountered a Jewish sorcerer. The Pro-consul (governor of the province) was intrigued by Paul’s words and wanted to hear more. But the sorcerer, Bar-Jesus, tried to prevent the Pro Consul from coming to faith.
At this, Paul confronted the sorcerer and told him he would become blind for a time. When the man became blind, the Pro-Consul, Sergio Paulus came to faith immediately.
This is what we might call a “power-encounter”. The sorcerer had some power but used it to deceive and trick and specifically tried to use it against what the Holy Spirit was doing through Paul. As we can see the power of God overcame this demonic power that had influenced Bar-Jesus. As a result of the this display of power, the Pro Consul came to faith and would become a major influencer for the faith as a result of position of influence in that province.
Paul tells us in Ephesians that our battle is not against “flesh and blood”, but against, “principalities and powers of this present darkness”. As we seek to be more and more led by the Holy Spirit, there is bound to be opposition. But as believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, we do not have to be afraid. We can look the opposition in the eye and tell it to be gone in Jesus’ name.
Prayer: God protect us from the evil one. You have set us apart for the work of ministry and you have given us the power of the Holy Spirit and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We know we do not need to be afraid because if you are for us, no power can stand against us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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