Are We Still Amazed

Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

Having completed their ministry in Jerusalem related to the famine and the relief effort sent by the church at Antioch, Paul and Barnabas came back and brought John Mark with them.

John Mark is the writer of MARK, cousin of Barnabas, and his mother Mary was a very prominent woman in the early church. Last Sunday we saw it was Mary’s home where the church was gathered to pray for Peter’s release from prison.

Acts 12:1 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.

Our text begins by telling us about 5 men. Leaders in the Antioch church.

Barnabas mentioned 1st. Because he was the leader of the group at that point. He was a Jew sent from the Jerusalem Church.         Good, full of faith and Spirit

Lucius was from Cyrene which was in North Africa. Map

Manaen is a Jewish name, and notice that he had been brought up with Herod. Some scholars even say that they were raised as brothers. This was not the Herod that had just killed James. This was the Herod that Jesus talked to before His crucifixion.

Saul was a Jewish man. He was a Pharisee and expert in the law- A man who was out to stop the church and end the spread of Christianity.

A man who arrested Christians and was even present at the stoning of Stephen. He was the most unexpected person to be saved.

Simeon was called Niger, Some believe this was Simon of Cyrene who was compelled to carry the cross of Christ. “Niger” means “black”. And yes, I know that seems a little awkward, but this wasn’t first-century racism going on!

God is showing us this was a multi-cultural church from the get-go; lots of ethnic diversity is reflected in the 5 leaders of the Antioch church and it’s not by accident that Luke chooses to mention it. This was a culturally diverse fellowship of believers, filled with the Holy Spirit ready to take the Gospel to the world!

Acts 12:2-5 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. 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.

Here, the leaders of the Antioch church are named; they are in prayer; the Spirit shows up, giving specific directions to the leaders of this church.

These men were worshiping and fasting there is something to be said for getting away from the normal concerns of the body to focus on God alone in prayer. (atmosphere of urgent desire) Desperation

The Holy Spirit told them to set apart Barnabas and Saul. After they fasted and prayed; and then they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

In laying hands on these men, the church wasn’t giving them anything that they didn’t already have. Rather, they were publicly identifying themselves with these men; the mission that Barnabas and Saul would undertake was their mission; Barnabas and Saul were their representatives.

This was a crucial moment in time for the church: “This moment of worship, prayer, and fasting resulted in a mission’s movement that would make Christianity the dominant religion of the Roman Empire within two and a half centuries.

Acts 12:6-7 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. 

After Salamis, they journeyed to the capital city of the province, Paphos, on the west coast, (MAP) a journey of about 90 miles, This is where they receive an Amazing Invitation: a meeting with the governor, Sergius Paulus.

They didn’t seek it out, nor did they have the choice to politely decline. Governors in the employ of Rome liked to know what was going on in their provinces, particularly those kinds of things that might serve to create a disruption, and word of these traveling preachers reached Sergius Paulus.

The Bible tells us he wanted “TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD”. Was this out of a desire to find out their teaching, philosophy, and truth? He summoned them because the Holy Spirit was clearly at work here. And that will become even more evident as we see the events unfold.

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

Bar-Jesus, Elymas, was employed by the Roman governor as something of the “court wizard”. He was a Jew, but he was far more interested in his well-being than he was in the glory of God.  Why is this sorcerer trying so hard to distract, discourage, and oppose the conversion of the governor? He’d be out of a job if the governor converted; of what use would a sorcerer be to a Christian?

Acts 13:9-10 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?

Paul doesn’t hold back with this shyster Bar-Jesus. He calls him a child of the devil! And he does so under the influence/power of the Holy Spirit!

Sounds intolerant to me, doesn’t it to you? This doesn’t play well at all in our day and age. Because we’re taught to not only be tolerant, but “nice” and harmless as doves and do our little church thing over in the corner, and not be offensive to anybody. Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you out as sheep amid wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Look, we must speak the truth in love, and we shouldn’t be needlessly offensive or put stumbling blocks in the way of others who don’t need to be there.

But sometimes, we have to tell it like it is. And sometimes, it will be what some might deem “ugly”.    The truth will sometimes be offensive in and of itself.

This doesn’t give us license to tell everybody off who we don’t see eye-to-eye with; far from it.

(CONTEXT) Here was a man who was determined to block the work of God, to keep Sergius Paulus from coming to the faith, and it was for his selfish reasons. And Paul called him on it, told him the truth in no uncertain terms, and did so, not in the flesh, but with the power of God.

I want to ask a couple of questions: Is the message of the gospel “our truth”, or is it “the truth”?   Is Jesus the only Way, or isn’t He?

Is the gospel the only way a person can find peace and fellowship with God; is this message true, and not simply one option among many others? It is true and we must contend for, and stand on that truth.

And in this day and age, that will make us unpopular in some places. Some folks won’t like it when we say what we must say, and take the stands the Bible compels us to take. So be it; the stakes are high because what’s at stake here is eternity.      Sergius Paulus’ soul.    Recap Story   (Center of Hope story)

Acts 13:11 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.

The blinding of the sorcerer might seem harsh, but the issue here is the same as in the last point: we are dealing with eternal truth, the spread of the gospel of Christ, the eternal destinies of people, and God’s plan will not be thwarted by an impostor (a child of the devil) with an agenda of self-interest.

Saul had been struck blind by God on the road to Damascus; through his blindness, he found the light of Christ. We don’t know if this ever happened to Bar-Jesus, but it’s certainly possible.

Acts 13:12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Paul (filled with the Holy Spirit) spoke harsh truth yet didn’t turn Sergius Paulus away; rather, he saw what happened and “believed”.

Notice what it was that amazed him: it’s not the miracle of a man being blinded right before his eyes, although to discount the miracle as evidence to confirm the truthfulness of the message would be a mistake.

But what amazed him? HE WAS “AMAZED AT THE TEACHING ABOUT THE LORD”. To this intelligent man, the Word of God, and the gospel of Christ, made sense— Sergius Paulus put his faith in Christ and he believed.

I see one man who was amazed by the teaching of the Lord, amazing another with the teaching of the Lord. 29 years ago, I was amazed by the teaching of the Lord!

And even today, when I truly consider the reality of my sinfulness, and the magnitude of God’s grace, I am STILL amazed by the Gospel. May we always be amazed by the grace and the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Some people make things happen, others watch things happen, and then some are left wondering what happened. The same is true with Christians. And the ones who make things happen are the ones who are filled with the Holy Spirit continually seeking god’s direction, and who are continually amazed at the TEACHING ABOUT THE LORD.

Titus 3:3-8 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. 

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying.

ARE WE STILL AMAZED?