2. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
No assembly, no group of gifted brethren decided what service Barnabas and Saul should undertake. But fellowship was expressed with those the Spirit of God had called to this special ministry.
The mind of the Lord was not casually found. The five “prophets and teachers” at Antioch were completely occupied with serving the Lord. Do we sometimes wonder at the seeming lack of power in our prayers and blessing in our lives? Perhaps if believers knew a bit more of fasting we would also know more of His blessing in our individual, family and assembly lives.
3. “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away [they let them go—JND].”
Though the servant of the Lord is directly responsible to the One who calls him to service (Rom. 14:44Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)), let’s not lose an important principle found in this passage. Barnabas and Saul did not leave on their appointed mission until there had been fasting and prayer for them and fellowship expressed with them. How happy when a servant of the Lord is the object of such earnest prayers and the fellowship of those who know him well.
The brethren did not send Barnabas and Saul on this service; that was the work of the Spirit of God. But they did submit to the Spirit’s leading and were given liberty of conscience to let them go. There is no suggestion of an independent spirit with them.
4. “So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”
5. “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.”
At this point, the Word of God is still being preached to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile. Until the church was formed at Pentecost (and for some little time after), the synagogues and the temple represented the places where worship (the temple) could be offered to the true God and the truth of God could be learned (synagogues).
It was fitting that as the apostles first went forth with the gospel, they identified with the places where the true God was known. How careful we must be not to connect divine truth with anything that dishonors our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
Though not called to preach the gospel, John Mark was to serve the servants! How many things can be done to help those called to preach the gospel or those engaged in other service for Him.
6. “And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus.”
The Lord’s work and His servants are immediately opposed by Satan, through one of his servants, Bar-jesus. May the Lord grant us courage to continue our appointed labor in the face of the enemy’s attacks. The particular character of opposition here is striking. There was apparent power (sorcerer), understanding (prophet) of God’s mind, association with God (Jew), and apparent love for Christ (Bar-jesus). But in reality, all was false.
Much that passes as truth today in professing Christianity is, in reality, the work of the enemy of souls. How careful and dependent on the Lord for wisdom and guidance we must be in our service!
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.”
Sergius Paulus called for the apostles—a proof that their actions and words had made a favorable impact on this upright man. But it was not by the efforts of the apostles that this happy result was accomplished, but by the Spirit working in his heart.
8. “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.”
Bar-jesus (meaning “son of Jesus”) was his name in relation to his seeking to confuse the pure gospel truth of God. Elymas (meaning wise man) was his name in the character of seeking to turn away, by false reasoning, an earnest, seeking soul. Satan uses both today—religion and reason to turn aside souls from the truth of God.
9-10. “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
The Spirit records that Saul (“desired”) is henceforth to be known as Paul (“little”). Acceptable service for the Lord Jesus must begin with the realization that the flesh, no matter how desirable, can never please or serve God acceptably (Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)).
Humility is vital for discerning the enemy’s attempts to pervert the gospel, as well as for receiving power to overcome such efforts.
11. “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.”
The Jewish false prophet comes under God’s governmental judgment of blindness “for a season”—an apt picture of the nation of Israel. Today, those who knowingly, willingly turn away from the light and wisdom of God’s Word will sadly taste the same fate—morally blind—“ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
12. “Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
Once again works are connected with words. Sergius Paulus’s amazement at the teaching of the Lord came from the Spirit’s power displayed in the apostles’ actions. May our lives adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.
Ed.