Acts 13 - Saul Becomes Paul!

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 13 

Acts 13 starts out by stating that there were both prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch. A prophet is a someone who speaks the Word of God in a timely manner. It can be both "forthtelling" and "foretelling". Meaning some prophecy is for the moment and at other times it can be predictive. Today most prophecy is God's word being delivered in a timely manner for today. 

Note they were worshipping and fasting. It is not often we see a whole church BOTH worshipping and fasting. While we don't need to get legalistic about fasting, it is a way we focus on God and His will with more intensity and focus. In this case the Holy Spirit speaks directly to them telling them to set apart Saul and Barnabas for a special work. They were set apart to be missionaries. 

On Cyprus

You can see the places they traveled. Cyprus was the island that Barnabas grew up on.  Cyprus is the third-largest and third-most populous island in the Mediterranean.It is east of Greece, north of Egypt, south of Turkey, and west of Lebanon and Syria.

Saul and Barnabas plus Mark, who was John Mark, went to the Jewish synagogues first to preach the word. They went to Paphos, which was on the West Coast and known for its immorality (Guzik). 

They met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet, and Saul (who is now as Paul) rebukes him in the power of the Holy Spirit calling him demon possessed. While he addressed him, he prophesied that he would become blind, which he did. The Pro Consul, Sergius Paulus, saw this and came to faith immediately. 

To show the accuracy and authenticity of the bible, 

“Sir William Ramsay reports that inscriptions bearing Sergius Paulus’ name have been found on Cyprus confirming that he was a Christian and that his entire family became Christians.” (Hughes)

In Pisidian Antioch

As they sailed to different places, John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem, a fact that would not be lost on the apostle Paul. 

"Antioch in Pisidia was about 135 miles (220 kilometers) inland, to the north. This general region was known as Galatia, and later Paul wrote a letter to these churches that is included in our New Testament library." - Guzik

On the Sabbath Day once again they entered the synagogue. A synagogue was a local assembly of Jews, which met regularly. They were established when many Israelites were sent into exile to all parts of the world. The leaders of the synagogue had heard about Paul, were curious, and asked him to teach them. 

Paul addressed both the Jews and the Gentile converts who worshipped there. Paul gave them a brief history lesson starting with the Exodus from Egypt, their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and the taking of the Promised Land. Luke says this took about 450 years. 

Then, he recounts the period of the judges, Saul, and finally King David from whom came the Messiah. David was a man after God's own heart, though he had sinned greatly with Bathsheba and killed her husband Uriah to cover up his sin. 

This survey of Israel’s history demonstrates that God has a plan for history, and we need to sense a connection to that plan. Jesus is the goal of history, and as we are in Jesus, we are in the flow of God’s great plan of redemption. - Guzik 

Paul concludes the message of salvation through Christ came first to the Jewish people. and also to God fearing Gentiles. But the rulers and people of Jerusalem did not recognize him, despite the fact that the Messiah was clearly shown in the prophets of the Old Testament. 

He quotes from Psalm 2, where David predicted that the promises God gave him about the Messiah would come true. They revealed that he was killed but his body did not decay as it was raised from the dead.  Paul then proclaimed to them freedom from the power of sin, which could not be received through the Law of Moses. 

Though there was not a mass conversion, the Spirit had stirred in their hearts and they wanted to hear more. The seed was planted. The Holy Spirit was revealing the truth of the gospel to them. Notice also Paul did not force it, but realized it was in God's timing that these men would come to faith. 

And it worked as the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear his message. Of course, this made the Jews jealous. I bet they weren't getting many crowds in the synagogue listening to the depressing news of the Law, which can only condemn us. They finally had heard the Good News and they wanted more of it. 

It was at this point that it says Paul decided to go specifically to the Gentiles, since the Jews had rejected the Good News. Yet, the Gentiles were honored and overjoyed that they had been appointed to eternal life. The Word spread through the whole region, but this only made the Jewish leaders angrier. They kicked them out of the city, but the apostles wiped the dust off their feet as a sign of judgment. 

They rejoiced for those who had come to faith and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, the true source of joy!