Acts 13: 4-12: Paul & Barnabas in Cyprus

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1)     vv. 4-5 – Start with what you have

A)   Cyprus

1)     Acts 4:36-37 – Barnabas was “a native of Cyprus”

B)    Synagogues

1)     13:14-15, 46 – Pisidian Antioch

2)     14:1-2

3)     ESVSB – “This was a natural starting point, since the Jewish people already believed that the OT Scriptures were the absolutely authoritative and truthful words of God.”

C)    Others

1)     The demon possessed man (Mk. 5:18-19)

2)     The Samaritan woman (Jn. 4:28-30, 39-42)

2)     vv. 6-7 – Introduce Characters

A)   The Proconsul

1)     Rome had two types of provinces:

(a)   Imperial – Like Judea. They required a heavy military presence to keep things under control and Legates were appointed directly by the emperor himself.

(b)   Senatorial – Like Cyprus. They were generally peaceful and governed by Proconsuls who were appointed by the Senate.

2)     Sergius Paulus

(a)   He had already served in Rome and was plugged into all the right places.

(b)   He was highly educated and was the highest-ranking official with the most power on the entire island of Cyprus. He controlled the economy, the courts and the infrastructure.

(c)   v. 7 – “a man of intelligence”

B)    Bar-Jesus

1)     v. 6 – A magician (v. 8 – Elymas – this word apparently means “magician”)

(a)   Magician doesn’t mean Harry Potter.

(b)   Magos = “wise men” (Matt. 2:1, 7, 16x2)

(c)   cf. Deut. 18:9-12a – They likely would fit into this category, which is disturbing since he was a Jewish false prophet.

(d)   It’s probably best to think of him as an advisor to the most powerful man on the island.  

(i)    This is an extremely prestigious and profitable position.

C)    v. 7 – He was with the proconsul when they met Paul and Barnabas.

1)     The Proconsul says, “Hey, I’d like to hear more about this.”

3)     v. 8 – PROBLEM: “Elymas opposed them seeking to turn the proconsul from the faith”

A)   It’s basically a turf war.

1)     The guy who was supposed to give good advice was more worried about his position than the truth.

2)     ESVSB – “Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas, opposed the missionaries because he viewed them as a threat to his profitable relationship with the proconsul.”

3)     More on this in v. 10 (“villainy”)

B)    Throughout Acts, jealous and personal loss are consistent reasons to oppose the Gospel.

1)     5:17-18

2)     13:44-45

3)     16:16, 19

4)     17:5

5)     19:23-27

C)    I realize that this is pie-in-the-sky thinking (like if you could just explain to all the prisoners that their life could be so much better if they would all just be nice), but wouldn’t it be nice if people could make their decisions based upon what was true, and right and good, instead of based upon what benefitted me personally the most.

1)     This guy is a shyster who cares more about himself and his own power than listening to the truth and giving actual good advice to the guy he works for.

2)     Practically, the best take-away for us is that it’s probably not reasonable to expect this from other people, but we can choose to be this kind of person.

4)     vv. 9-11

A)   v. 10 – Paul calls Bar-Jesus 5 things:

1)     You son of the devil

2)     You enemy of all righteousness

3)     You are full of all deceit

4)     You are full of villainy

(a)   NASU – fraud

(b)   BDAG: an endeavor to gain some personal end through clever or tricky means” … chicanery, fraud

5)     You are making crooked the straight paths of the Lord

(a)   A lack of clarity is the enemy of fraud

(b)   You’re making this way harder than it has to be

B)    POINT: There is a time and place to call out evil.

1)     v. 9 – Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t just throwing a tantrum.

2)     v. 9 – “looked intently at him”

(a)   Paul is able to see clearly what is happening AND what is at stake.

(b)   Bar-Jesus was actively, deceitfully, and maliciously keeping someone from finding the truth.

3)     Jesus did this.

(a)   Matt. 23:13-16a

(b)   Matt. 18:6 – “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

4)     Paul doesn’t try to find common ground, or just politely agree to disagree on this.

(a)   Being polite should never override telling the truth.

(b)   James 3:17 – “Wisdom from above is FIRST pure, THEN peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” POINT: Purity comes first.  

C)    To speak about something so plainly and clearly you have to have clarity on it first to SEE it for what it is.

1)     NOTE: v. 11 – God struck Bar-Jesus with blindness.

2)     He read the stars to lead other people into darkness. God took his sight so he couldn’t see the sun and people had to lead him in his own darkness.

5)     v. 12 – The proconsul believed when he SAW what had occurred

A)   Note what astonished him: “for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord”

1)     He wasn’t drawn to Paul and Barnabas’ trick. “Wow, these guys are way better magicians than Bar-Jesus.”

2)     The miracle silenced the noise and distraction so that he was able to hear what was true.

B)    It’s way more important to have a message of truth and substance than to have a bunch of flashy tricks to get someone’s attention.

6)     Take-away lessons:

A)   Work where you are with what you have.

B)    Take yourself out of the equation and ask, “What is the thing that is TRUE AND RIGHT AND GOOD?”

C)    When the truth is clear, be brutally honest with yourself and with others about it.

1)     I’m not just interested in the things that make me feel good about myself. I’m interested in the truth.

2)     I’m probably not going to start calling people the son of the devil; but there are times when I need to speak up when it would be easier to just go along.