SET APART FOR GOD’S WORK
Acts 12:25-13:12
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.” (13:2)
chapter 12
25. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
chapter 13
1. Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with 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. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
5. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6. They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
7. who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
9. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,
10. "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
11. Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
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1. Barnabas and Paul had been in Jerusalem. They went there on a mission to deliver aid to help the brothers and sisters in Judea because of a severe famine. John Mark was there with them. The Antioch church to which they returned was an illustrious one. They had many prophets and teachers there. One day, while they were worshipping and fasting, the Holy Spirit came on them and directed them to set apart Barnabas and Paul for mission work. God wanted to send the two of them out as missionaries. So, the Antioch church fasted and prayed, laying their hands on the two as they sent them out. It was difficult losing two great Bible teachers. But they obeyed and sent them.
2. Barnabas and Paul took Mark, sailed for Cyprus, and proclaimed the gospel there. At Paphos they met a sorcerer, an attendant of the proconsul. When the proconsul believed the gospel, the sorcerer tried to dissuade him. But Paul, in the Holy Spirit, rebuked the sorcerer, telling him he would be blind for a time that he may know who the true living God is. When the proconsul saw what happened, he believed, amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Prayer: Father, help us to proclaim your word boldly, even in stiff opposition.
One Word: Proclaim the Lord’s word