Volume 31 – 1990 (PDF) - Searching The Scriptures

Page 8
ANTIOCH — THE POWER OF THE
LOCAL CHURCH
LIVING THE DREAM
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature... " was now a step closer to realization.
Thanks to Antioch. After all, there would be no
evangel-ism in distant places if some place did not
sacrifice and send. Antioch was willing. And so with
prayers and fasting, tears and hugs they waved goodbye
to their beloved brothers Barnabus and Saul all the
while pray-ing for the success of the gospel and God's
protection over the men they loved (Acts 13: 2-3). Our
study continues...
First Stop — Cyprus
In 13: 5-6a Luke gives a quick summary of their work
on the island. Here two things happen about which the
writer offers no details. It was here that (1) Saul begins
to be referred to as "Paul" (vs. 9 - probably to render him
with greater effectivity among the Gentiles), and (2)
Paul emerges as the leader (whereas before it was
"Barnabus and Saul" (13: 2), now it is "Paul and his
company" (13: 13). Then something happens which
Luke carefully chronicles.
1. The Men, vs. 6-7. Sergius Paulus: a Roman, a man
of intelligence and most of all the governor of the island.
And we know something else. He was searching... No
doubt he had heard about the arrival of two men who
claimed to preach the word of God. Thus he "summoned
Barnabus and Saul... "
There was another man: Elymas the magician.
Lately Elymas had been spending a lot of time with
Sergius Paulus hoping to impress him with his "occultic
powers" and thereby gain a position of influence in the
house of the proconsul. It was a career move on his
part, a power play that would launch him into immediate
recognition and financial reward. It's no wonder
that he was not pleased with the preaching of Paul and
Barnabus (vs. 8b).
2. The Method, vs. 9-10. Take a good look at
Paul's response to Elymas. Is there a more fiery
denunciation in all of Scripture? Paul described him
in character (vs. 10a) and in motive (vs. 10b). Finally,
not only did Elymas feel the sting of verbal rebuke,
he received physical punishment in the form of
blindness (vs. 11).
3. The Motivation. Why such a strong
response? Three reasons. First, Elymas was a false
prophet. Second, not only was he a false prophet
but he was a Jewish false prophet who dabbled in
sorcery. But there
was a third reason... Paul uttered these scorching
words because Elymas was standing in the way of
Sergius Paulus. A careful search of the Scriptures will
reveal that the severest of words are reserved for those
who stand between other men and the truth. Here was a
man who was searching, a man of intelligence, a man attempting
to locate the will of God for his life and, at the
same time, here was another man attempting to pervert
that will. God knew the hearts of both men and allowed
Paul to know them (vs. 9). Thus the Holy Spirit inspired
Paul to speak these words of harsh rebuke and to demonstrate
the genuineness of his message by miraculous
sign. Yet in the midst of a fiery denunciation, there was
a touch of tenderness even upon the soul of Elymas. He
would be blind only "for a time. " The result is given in
verse 12 -
"Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had
happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord. "
Note the final word from the island of Cyprus: "he
believed. " We don't know much about the other events
that happened on this island but we do know this: the
message of Jesus was preached and it touched honest
hearts. Paul and Barnabus went on their way rejoicing.
Second Stop - Pamphylia
Acts 13: 13. Here again Dr. Luke presents the facts and
quickly moves on. Pamphylia was a low-lying desolate
area whose people were known for being backward and
illiterate. The living conditions here were some of the
worst in the Empire. It was here that Paul became ill
(Gal. 4: 13-14). Surely it's not fun to be sick any time but
there's nothing worse than being sick away from home.
How Paul must have longed to be back with his beloved
brethren in Antioch. But he wasn't. He was far away in
a lonely desolate place. There was nothing to do except
trust in the Lord and move on.
Except Mark. Luke in a simple statement of fact
reports that Mark went back home (vs. 13b). Why? We're
not sure. Likewise, Acts 15: 36-38 reveals the fact of his
desertion but gives no reason. Perhaps Mark missed his
association with the apostle Peter. There is no question
that no one had impacted his life quite the way that Peter
had (Acts 12; 1 Pet. 5: 13). But there is probably another
reason... a more realistic one. Perhaps Mark was homesick.
After all, the mountain-top experience of working
with the church at Antioch and then the encouraging
reception on Cyprus had now faded into the pits of
Pamphylia. Everywhere he looked the young preacher
saw sickness, disease, and danger. Everything was unfamiliar.
He had to eat strange food, observe different
customs and then to top it all off there was the set-back
of Paul's illness. What would they do if something should
happen to Paul? — he must have wondered. And so, as
Mark laid down at night on a strange bed and in a strange
place his heart must have ached of loneliness. He wanted
to go home. And did.
Maybe we've been too hard on John Mark. Maybe you
would have echoed the same sentiment as Paul: "He's not
worthy to travel again, he who deserted us in Pamphylia...
" But not me. My sympathy leans toward Barnabus.
I have a reason.
In one sense there is no joy for a preacher like that of