Acts 13

Barnabas and Saul Are Commissioned

1Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”*), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas*), and Saul. 2One day as these men were worshiping the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to Mistakes are effective teachers. Their consequences have a way of making lessons painfully clear. But those who learn from their mistakes are wise. John Mark was a good learner who just needed some time and encouragement. Mark was eager to do the right thing, but he had trouble staying with a task. In his Gospel, Mark mentions a young man (probably referring to himself) who fled in such fear during Jesus’ arrest that he left his clothes behind. This tendency to run showed up later when Paul and Barnabas took him as their assistant on their first missionary journey. At their second stop, Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. it was a decision Paul did not easily accept. In preparing for their second journey two years later, Barnabas again suggested Mark as a traveling companion, but Paul! flatly refused. As a result, the team was divided. Barnabas took Mark with him, and Paul chose Silas. Barnabas was patient with Mark, and the young man repaid his investment. Paul and Mark were later reunited, and the older apostle became a close friend of the young disciple. Mark was a valuable companion to three early Christian leaders: Barnabas, Paul, and Peter. The material in Mark’s Gospel seems to have come mostly from Peter. Mark’s role as an assistant allowed him to be an observer. He heard Peter’s accounts of the years with Jesus over and over, and he was one of the first to put Jesus’ life in writing. Barnabas played a key role in Mark’s life. He stood beside the young man despite his failure, giving him patient encouragement. Mark challenges us to learn from our mistakes and appreciate the patience of others. Is there a “Barnabas” in your life you need to thank for his or her encouragement to you? Strengths and accomplishments • Personal maturity usually comes from a combination of time and mistakes • Mistakes are not usually as important as what can be learned from them • Effective living is not measured as much by what we accomplish as by what we overcome in order to accomplish it • Encouragement can change a person's life Key verse 6Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be heipful to me in my ministry” (Paul writing in 7Timothy 4:11). John Mark’s story is told in Acts 12:25-13:13 and 15:36-39. He is also mentioned in Colossians 4:10; 9Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24; 1 Peter 5:13. 6 Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing. 9Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the LORD? 11Watch now, for the LORD has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. 12When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the LORD.

Paul Preaches in Antioch of Pisidia

1313Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.* On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. ‘After the usual readings from the books of Moses* and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.” 16So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me. 13:13-14 Pamphylia and Pisidia were districts in what is now Turkey. 13:15 Greek from the law. 17The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. 18He put up with them* through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. 19Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. 20A]I this took about 450 years. “After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 22But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’* 23And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! 24Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. 25As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’ 26“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of Salvation has been sent to us! 2” The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. 28They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway. 29“ When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross* and placed him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead! 31And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel. 32“And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors,

33and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This iswhat the second psalm says about Jesus:“You are my Son.Today I have become your Father.*’

34For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’* 35Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rotin the grave,’* 36This is nota reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. $7No, it was a reference to someone else— someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay. 38*“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.

40Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you.For they said,4 ‘Look, you mockers,be amazed and die!For I am doing something in your own day,something you wouldn't believeeven if someone told you about it.’*”

42As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them ty 5 4 about these things again the next week. 43Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism foljgyy Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of Gog

Paul Turns to the Gentiles

4444The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the LORD. 45But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said. 4eThen Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we firs, preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves un. worthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.

47For the LORD gave us this commanqwhen he said,‘Ihave made you a light to the Gentiles,to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’*”

48When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the LORD for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49So the LORD’s message spread throughout that region. 50Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 51So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. 52Anq the believers* were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.