Boldly Confronting False Prophets

The Holy Spirit empowered the church leaders at Antioch to send Barnabas and Saul as missionaries. In Cyprus, Paul rebuked a false prophet and led the proconsul Sergius Paulus to faith in Christ.

[Scripture]

[1] Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of 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] Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. [4] So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. [5] When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. (Acts 13:1-5, ESV)

[6] When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. [7] He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. [8] But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. [9] But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him (Acts 13:6-9, ESV)

[10] and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? [11] And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. [12] Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:10-12, ESV)

[Daily Word]

The five leaders of the church at Antioch, at the command of the Holy Spirit, set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work and sent them off with fasting and prayer. During their mission in Cyprus, they encountered a false prophet, and filled with the Holy Spirit, they rebuked his wickedness, leading to the conversion of the proconsul.

Five leaders of the church at Antioch are introduced.

They served under the titles of prophets and teachers. Their names were: ① Barnabas, ② Simeon called Niger, ③ Lucius of Cyrene, ④ Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and ⑤ Saul. Barnabas is mentioned first because he served in the role of leader.

Simeon bore the Greek surname Niger, which means “black,” suggesting that he was of North African origin. Lucius of Cyrene was one of the evangelists of the church at Antioch, and Manaen was a close companion of Herod the tetrarch — a man who had been raised together with Herod.

Luke makes it clear that the driving force behind the Gentile mission was none other than the sending of the Holy Spirit.

This was true of Philip and Peter before, and it is equally true of Barnabas and Saul now.[4] So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:4, ESV) It is recorded that the two men were sent out by the Holy Spirit. Intercessory prayer is especially vital in the work of the Holy Spirit. That is why, when the church at Antioch sent off Barnabas and Saul, [3] Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:3, ESV) they fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them before sending them out. The entire church came together as one body to fast and pray.

Above all, God commanded that Barnabas and Saul be set apart for this work. The phrase ‘set apart’ was used in the Old Testament to mean ‘consecrated’ or ‘sanctified.’ In other words, this indicates that the missionary journey of Barnabas and Saul was the will of God.

Now Barnabas and Saul obey the leading of the Holy Spirit and set out on their missionary journey.

Luke had already shown that the gospel was proclaimed to the Gentiles without distinction — through Philip’s evangelism of the Ethiopian eunuch, and through Peter’s evangelism of Cornelius and his household. Now, this Gentile mission is formally commissioned.

The first place Barnabas and Saul visited was Cyprus, the hometown of Barnabas. There were already people in this region who had converted to Christianity (11:19). Even so, upon arriving at Salamis in Cyprus, they entered the synagogues and proclaimed the word of God. Notably, verse 5 records that they had John as their assistant. They then traveled to the city of Paphos, located at the western end of the island of Cyprus, where they encountered a false prophet and sorcerer named Bar-Jesus. In verse 8, he is introduced as Elymas the magician.

Elymas the magician opposed Barnabas and Saul and tried to prevent the proconsul from coming to faith. However, the proconsul Sergius Paulus was an intelligent man who sought to hear the word of God through Barnabas and Saul. His intelligence here implies that he feared God. Nevertheless, Elymas continued to oppose them and attempted to turn the proconsul away from the faith (v. 8).

Therefore, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked Bar-Jesus the sorcerer who opposed the gospel and declared: [11] And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. (Acts 13:11, ESV) Bar-Jesus received this curse because he was full of all deceit and villainy — not a son of Jesus, but a son of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness, and one who made crooked the straight paths of the Lord (v. 10). The moment these words were spoken, judgment fell upon him immediately.

Paul was blinded by a great light, but Bar-Jesus was made blind by mist and darkness — left to live trapped in that darkness. The proconsul, who witnessed this event with his own eyes, came to faith through the power Paul displayed and the power of the gospel.

At every scene of the gospel, Satan is always there trying to hinder us.

Yet Barnabas and Saul overcame these dire circumstances and prevailed. The reason for their victory was that they acted in faith alone, filled with the Holy Spirit. In other words, those who seek the help of the Holy Spirit will prevail. Those who live within God will prevail. I pray in the name of the Lord that we would once again stand before Him and be used fittingly for the gospel as those who are truly needed.

Acts 13, Barnabas and Saul, missionary journey, the sending of the Holy Spirit, false prophet

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com