Cyprus: Sent to Confront
Acts 13:4-12

Introduction

12:25 Antioch is the first missionary sending body in history!

The Holy Spirit sent them (13:2)…see also 1:8; 13:9; 15:8, 28; 16:6, 7; 20:28; 28:25

I. Key people in the passage

A. Barnabas

This is his home country (13:4; 4:26); he is listed first…Paul was last

Seleucia is the port of Antioch

Salamis they preached in synagogues

Paphos was on the west coast.

B. Elymas the Magician (Bar-Jesus)

Jewish…Semitic for ‘magician’…Swahili is elimu…false prophet (Jer. 23:9-32)

It was common for Roman leaders to employ local mystics to help in important decisions.

Bar-Jesus = “son of Jesus/Joshua/salvation”… “child of the devil”…intelligent irony

Contrast: Paul is full of the Holy Spirit (13:9) but Elymas is full of deceit (13:10).

Insight: Paul himself was once blinded

C. Sergius Paulus

Proconsul…no legions quartered there…22 BC

Exposed to Judaism from Elymas…Paul and Barnabas will present another form

Insight: Sergius Paulus was an intelligent man and God sent just the right person to preach the gospel to him in a way that he could understand.

Tim’s story

D. John Mark

John (Jewish)…Mark (Roman)… cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10)

John Mark is an integral part of the ministry…eyewitness?...why does he leave later?

E. Saul of Tarsus (Paul the Apostle)

1. Name shift from Saul to Paul

13:9 Popular belief is that Paul is a new name…but he’s always had both names

Luke is crafting his story …Sergius Paulus is a Gentile…Saul to Paul…shift in story

2. List of different types of believers

·   Hebrew/Aramaic-speaking Jewish believers

·   Greek-speaking Jewish believers

·   Samaritan believers (Aramaic speaking)

·   Gentile God-fearers (circumcised and Law followers)

·   Gentile sympathizers (not circumcised but followed rituals in faithfulness to the Law)

·   Gentiles with no prior connection to Yahweh (not circumcised nor sympathetic)

·   Gentiles with no prior connection to Yahweh (Cyprus and beyond, the ends of the earth)

The conversion of Sergius Paulus marks the first time a Gentile with no affinities toward Judaism is saved.

3. Paul is being led by the Holy Spirit to confront the Roman Empire.

Cornelius…Saul…Sergius Paulus…

Luke is saying, “The empire is crumbling…the dominoes are falling…Christ is the only Lord!”

Question: Who is Lord? Caesar or Christ? America? Materialism?

3. Paul’s call being fulfilled

Acts 9:15-16 Paul was told 3 things (Will Willimon):

1) he would be an instrument to carry the name of Christ

2) he would be before Gentiles and kings

3) he will be shown how much he must suffer for Christ.

II. Lessons about Leadership

1. They prayed and fasted and laid hands.

2. The diversity of their leadership led them to think outside of themselves.

3. They released their two key players to bless someone else.

McClaren diagrams

Question: How has St. Andrew’s been faithful to be the church in the world/community?

SWOT

What opportunities are there for St. Andrew’s to reach the world/community?