111. PAUL AND BARNABAS PREACH THE GOSPEL IN CYPRUS

"Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them".

Aim

To show how God first chose Saul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel in distant lands, beginning in Cyprus.

Though many Jews believed the Gospel and were baptised, many more were the enemies of the Truth. Disciples now travelled far and wide and the Word of God was preached to Jews and Gentiles.

Acts 11:19-26; 13:1-13

ANTIOCH (11:19-26)

To the north of Judea, in Syria, was a large and important city called Antioch. Disciples came here from foreign places and converted many to the Truth. A large ecclesia was established and "much people was added unto the Lord". The Jerusalem ecclesia sent Barnabas to strengthen and encourage the new believers who were mainly Gentiles. Saul had previously returned to his home town, Tarsus, and Barnabas travelled nearly 200 km from Antioch to seek him and bring him back to the Antioch ecclesia. There they worked together for a whole year (11:24-26).

Antioch (in Syria) had become an important centre for the preaching of the Gospel. Apart from Barnabas and Saul, a number of other prophets and teachers were there and the time had now come for the Gospel to be spread further abroad (Acts 11:24-25). It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians" (11:26), which means "followers of Christ". (But see Instructor Question No. 5).

A CALL TO SERVICE (13:1-3)

One day as these brethren were together worshipping God, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them" (v.2). So, with the prayers of the brethren at Antioch to encourage them, Barnabas and Saul set out on the first of many long journeys in the service of Christ.

TO THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS (vv. 4-8)

Leaving Antioch, they walked to Seleucia, the nearest seaport and boarded a ship for Cyprus, a large island at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. Barnabas had been born in Cyprus (4:36) and now he was going to take the Gospel message, which he had heard and obeyed, to his own country. He also took on the journey his nephew, John Mark, to help with this important work.

When the ship reached the port of Salamis, the three brethren went first to the synagogue and preached there. Then they travelled on foot to Paphos, the capital city of Cyprus. The Roman governor of the island, Sergius Paulus, wanted to hear the Word of God from them. He was an intelligent man and was very impressed by what he heard. However, he had with him a Jew called Bar-Jesus (also known as Elymas, the sorcerer or magician), who was a false prophet. Elymas argued with Barnabas and Saul because he could see*that the governor was becoming interested in the Gospel and he wanted to turn him away from hearing it.

ELYMAS IS PUNISHED (vv. 9-12)

As Elymas kept up his opposition to the Word of Truth, Saul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him and said, "Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season" (v. 11). He was "an enemy of all righteousness", a deceiver, who did not want the governor to see the Truth. Now he himself suddenly became blind and had to ask people to lead him by the hand. God was teaching him a lesson. The governor himself was astonished. This miraculous blinding of Elymas convinced him of those things which he had already begun to believe.

SAUL IS NOW PAUL (v. 9)

You will notice that from now on in Luke's record of the Acts of the Apostles, Saul is called Paul, meaning "little". He is known as "the apostle to the Gentiles", because his most important work was done amongst Gentiles.

LESSON FOR US

We see how hard Paul and Barnabas worked, preaching the wonderful news of salvation in Jesus Christ. They were prepared to travel long distances and suffer many trials, because they wanted to serve God and help others understand the Truth of God's Word.

Let us follow the example of these two faithful men, first by learning of God and His ways and then by telling people of this wonderful way of salvation.

You may meet people like Elymas, who not only are blind to the things of God, but who also try to blind others to the Truth. God will deal with them. We must, like Paul and Barnabas, continue to preach the Gospel.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Why was Barnabas sent to Antioch?

2. How were Saul and Barnabas chosen to journey afar with the Gospel?

3. Whom, did Saul and Barnabas take with them?

4. Who was the governor of the island of Cyprus?

5. Who was the false prophet who tried to deceive the governor?

6. What happened to the false prophet on Cyprus?

7. What was Saul's name changed to?

Detailed Answers

8. Tell the story of Saul and Barnabas when they preached on the island of Cyprus.

9. Why was Ely mas punished?