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Introduction
We are drawn to dramatic stories. Story is essential to human culture as far back as we can tell. A good narrative holds a surprise ending and has some extraordinary details. Acts gives us plenty of engaging reports.
If we focus only on the extraordinary stories, we will miss the ordinary way that the church advances as Acts records. The church does not normally advance through the extraordinary, but the ordinary. We see this in Acts as the church sends Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel and plant churches by the Gospel’s power. The Lord uses Gospel preaching to advance the church. So as we work through Acts, we need to wrestle with the whole story rather than simply picking out the most exciting parts.
The Church Sends (Acts 12:25-13:3)
Luke picks up the story with Barnabas and Saul. They return to Antioch from Jerusalem, and they have John Mark with them.
Luke describes Antioch as a gifted church. They had New Testament prophets, teachers, and dedicated leaders in that church. This church shows that Pentecost is undoing Babel. There are a variety of social classes and races unified around the one Gospel. Babel divided the human race, resulting in the spreading out to the world. Now, the church unifies the human race, taking the Gospel to the world.
The congregation is worshipping, praying, and they receive revelation that Paul and Barnabas are to be sent out. The leaders lay hands on Saul and Barnabas and send them out to bring the Gospel to the nations (Acts 13:1-4).
Mixed Results (Acts 13:4-8)
They sail for Cyprus and preach in the synagogues all around the island. They end up in Paphos, which is southwest Cyprus. They encounter a man named Bar-Jesus. His name literally means, “son of Yahweh saves” or “son of Jesus.” He is also identified with the name Elymas, and Luke tells us that he is a magician. When we put Bar-Jesus with Elymas we learn that this man claims to discern the spiritual realm as a magician.
He is associated with Sergius Paulus, who is a proconsul. This simply means that he is a governor in a peaceful place that does not require military presence to maintain order. Bar-Jesus is probably an advisor to Sergius Paulus.
The proconsul wants to learn about the Gospel. Saul, now going by the name Paul, presents the Gospel to Sergius Paulus.
Luke tells us that Saul now goes by Paul. The implication seems to be that Saul is embracing his identity as the apostle to the Gentiles. He remains a Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin, but his calling now looks outward to the nations, and he goes by a Roman name that fits that calling. His name shift seems to communicate that Saul is stepping into the role of Paul the apostle, preacher to the Gentiles.
Paul preaches the Gospel, but Bar-Jesus stands in the way. He has a nice job, and if the proconsul converts to Christianity, Bar-Jesus would be out of a job. So, this man uses his influence to hinder the Gospel going forth .
Paul’s mission is to bring the Gospel to the nations. Cyprus is evidence that the Gospel goes forth. Bar-Jesus demonstrates that the Gospel goes forth with opposition. We know that the Gospel will take root as Christ’s resurrection guarantees his victory. Christ’s resurrection binds Satan, but Satan will continually make war against the seed of the woman until Christ returns. Christ will preserve his people, and when Christ returns, the satanic rebellion will publicly be put down. Bar-Jesus reminds us that Satan will rear his ugly head even as the Gospel advances.
The Lord’s Answer (Acts 13:9-12)
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronts Elymas directly. Bar-Jesus does not live up to his name. Paul calls him a son of the devil.
Paul pronounces blindness on him, showing that this man is a blind seer and does not see into the spiritual realm. Paul knows blindness. The Lord struck him with it at his conversion and apostolic calling. Paul thought he could see and clearly discern the prophets, but had to come to grips with the fact that he was, in fact, blind. He needed the Lord to open his eyes.
The miracle is a dramatic result of Elymas Bar-Jesus’ rebellion. However, miracles only testify to the Apostle’s credibility. Miracles testify that Christ works through his Gospel message. The proconsul properly sees Christ through Paul and Barnabas’ preaching and teaching. The miracle confirms the preached word.
Conclusion: The ordinary means of grace
The Gospel advances through the normal means of Gospel preaching. We see in Acts that the church prays, worships, fasts, and the church sends the missionary after discerning the Lord’s will.
The normal advancement of the Gospel is the missionary preaching the Gospel and planting churches. We see in this first-century culture, like every age, that the Gospel advances, and the Gospel has opposition. The seed of the woman and the serpent will continue to fight through the ages.
We should not discount the ordinary. The ordinary is what the Lord uses to build his church and build up his people. We start with prayer, we interact with our neighbors, and we invite them to church as the ordinary way that the Lord works.
The Lord builds his church. The Lord uses his means to build his church. Let us celebrate how the Lord builds his church.
Additional Resources
My summary of Matthias Media's Two Ways to Live Gospel outline. Their evangelism training can be easily adapted for a personalized, clear presentation of the Gospel.
Matthias Media's Two Ways to Live evangelism training provides a simple framework that can be adapted for clearly presenting the Gospel.
T. David Gordon gives a caution concerning the “equipping ministry” model that has been built from Ephesians 4:12.