Acts “The Mission of Paul in Cyprus, Galatia and Pamphylia” – Part 1 13:1 - 15:33

After returning to Antioch from Jerusalem, Saul and Barnabas were chosen to go out as missionaries and then sent to Cyprus, Galatia, and Pamphylia. The missionary journey that we are about to explore is often referred to as the first of three missionary journeys carried out by the Apostle Paul (Saul). But this isn’t entirely accurate. Through the book of Acts we’ve discovered that a couple days after Saul was converted he became a missionary, spreading the gospel in many places. There exists 5 periods of Saul’s missions work between Acts 9 and Acts 11.

Period 1 – Saul was a missionary in Damascus.

Period 2 – Saul was a missionary in Arabia and Nabatea.

Period 3 – Saul was a missionary in Jerusalem.

Period 4 – Saul was a missionary in Syria, Cilicia, and Tarsus.

Period 5 – Saul was a missionary in Syria and Antioch.

The first 5 periods are then followed by 10 additional periods. Saul engaged in a whopping 15 periods of missional work in 27 different cities! As I said, days after being saved, Saul became a missionary. And he remained a missionary even while in jail. When he was locked up he preached the gospel to guards and to other convicts. Saul took very seriously the calling Jesus put on his life and his goal was to honor the Lord by being obedient to His command to spread the gospel.

When we ponder Saul/Paul’s missions work we begin to think to ourselves, “I could never do what he did because I lack what it takes to pull it off, or, Paul had a unique and special calling on his life, what he did was specific to him and not necessarily for other Christians.” I’d like to caution you. Make no mistake, if you are in Christ, God has given you time, talent, and treasure to use for the advancement of the gospel and Matthew 28:19-20 makes it absolutely clear that every believer is a missionary and is called to make disciples right where they are and beyond. It is never right for a believer to downplay the great high calling God has on their life.

Never think to yourself that I do not possess what it takes to be a missionary for Christ here or beyond. God has given you time, talent, and treasure, invest them wisely. You can begin right here at RHC. Invest those things here. We are a missional church. We want to expand and plant more churches. We want to reach this community with the gospel. If you do not take ownership and invest we cannot move forward. Never think to yourself that Saul was Saul, he was special, and I am me, a regular Christian, so I don’t have to live as Saul lived. I don’t have to be consumed with the kingdom of God and pour myself into it like he did. Wrong. There is no escape clause for Christians in the Bible. Every one of us has the responsibility to pour ourselves into the work of the church, every one of us. And every one of us will have to give an account for how we invested in the kingdom (2 Cor 5:10).

This morning we’re going to begin to examine Saul/Paul’s missionary journey through Cyprus, Galatia and Pamphylia (pam-foo-lia). We will begin with Acts 13:1 and end at Acts 15:33 in the coming weeks. I’ve decided to change up my teaching style a bit. I’m going to try something different. My typical way of teaching is to give an introduction, expound the text, and then give an application. This is becoming more and more difficult each week because the storylines continue to grow in length. Some of them take up an entire chapter or multiple chapters which causes me to go much longer than our attention spans can handle, especially my own.

So for now on I’m going to stop at 45 minutes and then give 5-10 minutes of wrap up and lead in for communion. The following Sunday we will pick up right where we left off. This means that I will not be cutting out any sermon content. In fact I will probably be adding even more details. It also means that church will probably get out a little earlier which will leave us with more fellowship time or whatever. Let’s pray together and then get to work in Acts 13.

Verse Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Commentary Luke tells us that there were 5 guys who served as prophet/teachers at the church of Antioch. Firstly, what is a prophet? A prophet was like the apostles in that they were preachers of God’s Word and responsible in the early years of the church to instruct local congregations. Sometimes they received new revelation from God, as in Acts 11:28 and 21:10-11. Both of those incidents record that the prophets, in contrast to the apostles, received practical, not doctrinal revelation. Some believe that the office of prophet ended when the apostolic era ceased or when the signs and wonder gifts ceased. I agree. Both the prophets and the apostles were eventually replaced by elders, pastors, or evangelists. It is true however that throughout the century’s men have preached the gospel like the ancient prophets. Some men do it today. Any man who stands before people or a congregation and declares the revelation of God which is the Word of God boldly, authoritatively, and simplistically mimics the ancient prophets. That is how they rolled.

Secondly, what is a teacher? A teacher is one who focusses more on the details of Scripture. A teacher is more concerned with peda-go-gee or the science of teaching than with proclamation. Prophets declared the gospel plainly with force but teachers liked to work through the Scriptures methodically and systematically. Teachers presented the truth in a more detailed but less effusive way than prophets. Damien Kyle comes to mind when I think of a teacher. John Byron too.

I like to teach as well. The details of Scripture really get me excited. I love learning and sharing the details. I love systematizing the doctrines of Scripture. Years ago I would read systematic theology at bedtime. I would hold these big 10 pound boring books in front of my face at 11 @ night. One time Rachel rolled over and said, “How can you read that stuff, especially before bed!?” Id’s say, “How can you read “Pride & Prejudice” before bed, you’ll be dreaming about Mr. Darcy all night instead of me?!” To each his own I guess.

Luke tells us that there were 5 of these prophet/teachers in the church at Antioch. He named them:

Barnabas The same Barnabas we’ve already studied. Barnabas the Son of Encouragement from Cyprus. Barnabas who sold his field and gave the money to the church. Barnabas who became an influential leader in the church. Barnabas who persuaded the apostles to receive Saul as a brother. Barnabas who taught in Antioch and traveled and with Saul.

Simeon called Niger Niger means black or dark complexioned in Latin. It is believed that Simeon may have been from one of the Roman provinces of Northern Africa.

Lucius of Cyrene Lucius obviously came from Cyrene in North Africa. He may have belonged to a synagogue of the Cyrenians in Jerusalem but came to Antioch fleeing from Jerusalem after Stephens execution.

Manaen Manaen had been brought up with Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, who ruled as the tetrarch over Galilee during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. Some have linked him to Chuza, a steward of Herod Antipas (perhaps a manager of one of his estates), whose wife was Joanna was among the women who accompanied Jesus (Luke 8:3). Manaen evidently belonged to a noble Jewish family with connections to Herod’s court. The text says that Manaen was a “lifelong friend” of Herod Antipas which means that he was probably educated alongside Antipas. Some believe that Manaen held an influential position at the court of Antipas until he was converted to Christ.

Saul Saul is the Saul we have already studied. Saul of Tarsus. Saul, who was present at Stephen’s death, persecuted the church, got saved on the Damascus Road, and became a great missionary and apostle.

The text implies that each of these five men had the gifts of prophesy and teaching. They could all preach with the fire of a prophet and the detail and finesse of a teacher. Let’s look at verses 2-3:

Verse 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 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Commentary Luke tells us that during a moment of worship and seeking the Lord through fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. The Holy Spirit instructed them to “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” What work did the Spirit have for them? The answer is in verses 3-5. The work was to leave Antioch and to go and proclaim the gospel in other places. The work was missions work. There are 6 very important truths that spring forth in verses 2-3. Let’s begin to examine them:

1. The Holy Spirit spoke to the leaders during a time of worship and fasting.

Verse 2 implies that the leaders were already discussing ways to spread the gospel. Saul and Barnabas had been doing so for many years at this point so it makes sense that they would hold these discussions with the other leaders. The text shows us that they had all decided to seek the Lord for answers through prayer and fasting. During that time they may have asked, “Lord, we want to spread the gospel, we want to send men out to proclaim the truth, whom shall we send?” They then intensified their efforts through fasting. MacArthur wrote: “Believers can become so concerned with spiritual issues that they lose the desire to eat, or they set aside food to concentrate on intense intercession.”

And that is essentially what fasting is. It is the setting aside of other things, like food and drink, to seek the Lord in a more intense manner. The Scriptures show us that people like Moses, Ezra, King David, and even Jesus himself fasted. Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before he began his ministry. Jesus prayed and fasted the night before he selected the 12 disciples. Saul fasted for 3 days before receiving his ministry calling through Ananias.

You might be searching for clarity or for direction from the Lord, why not seek him through intense prayer and fasting? He might provide you with the clarity and direction you need through that act of worship. The Scriptures show us that the Lord speaks to his people through intense prayer and fasting. Verse 2 of our text proves that.

2. The Holy Spirit is the One who appoints missionaries.

We tend to think that it is the church’s job to do that. Wrong. The middle of verse 2 shows us it is the work of the Holy Spirit to appoint missionaries. Why? Because he is the one who gifts people with the necessary gifts to do that kind of work. The purpose of all missions is to spread the gospel. And those whom the Holy Spirit appoints will have the ability to communicate the gospel effectively. Verse 2 shows us that the Holy Spirit selected the church’s best preachers/teachers for the job, Saul and Barnabas.

What made them the best? Was it their ability to preach and teach? Partially. They possessed more than just talent. The Holy Spirit can do something that no leader or group of leaders can do. The Holy Spirit can look upon the heart of a man to see what is truly there. Church leaders can only examine the exterior of a man. We can estimate what is in their heart by examining their works and words. But an exterior examination doesn’t completely insure that all is right on the inside. On the outside the Pharisees were perfect. But on the inside, Jesus, who looks at the heart, said that they were filled with old dead bones. The Holy Spirit gave Saul and Barnabas the tools they needed but he also examined their hearts to see if they were qualified on the inside. And on the inside Saul and Barnabas were found to be humble and filled with godly character and integrity. This is why it is so important to seek the Holy Spirit for His selection and to then to bank on His selection. You cannot go wrong with God’s choice, ever. He gives the gifts and he checks the heart. And only God is 100% accurate.

3. Missions work is the very work of God.

At the end of verse 2 the Holy Spirit told these guys that Saul and Barnabas were to engage in the work He had called them to do. The Holy Spirit is God which means that the work he calls people to do is the work of God. The gospel is the work of God. God is a redeeming God who uses the church to proclaim and spread the gospel so he can do his redeeming work. Saul and Barnabas were called to do the very work of God. What kind of work was Saul doing 10 years earlier? The work of the Devil. He was trying to stop the gospel. He was persecuting Christians and harming the church. But then he had an encounter with Jesus that changed everything. And now we see him as the chosen instrument of God to bring the gospel into Cyprus, Galatia, Pamphylia, and beyond.

Matt 28:19-20 makes it clear that every Christian is to engage in the work of God as a missionary. We are commanded to spread the gospel here and beyond.

4. It is the responsibility of the church and its leaders to support the Holy Spirit’s selection.

Look at the beginning of verse 3. How did they support the Holy Spirit’s selection? After the Holy Spirit identified the missionaries, the leaders did what? They fasted and prayed for them. What do you suppose they prayed? Luke doesn’t tell us but I think we can accurately guess.

 They prayed God would use them.

 They prayed God would protect them.

 They prayed God would make their paths clear.

 They prayed God would provide for them.

 They prayed that many souls would come to a saving knowledge of the truth through their preaching.

 They prayed God would bring them back at the appointed time.

5. It is the responsibility of the church and its leaders to affirm the Holy Spirit’s selection.

Look at the middle of verse 3. How did the leaders affirm the Holy Spirit’s selection? They laid hands on the Holy Spirit’s selection, on Saul and Barnabas. There was no power given during the laying on of hands. There was no anointing given during the laying on of hands. Saul and Barnabas were already equipped. The laying on of hands here was an affirmation or an acknowledgement. Simon, Lucius, and Manaen set Saul and Barnabas before the church and declared, “By the laying on of our own hands we affirm that the Holy Spirit has selected these men to go and preach the gospel.”

6. It is the responsibility of the church and its leaders to send off the Holy Spirit’s selection.

Look at the end of verse 3. What did they do? They sent Saul and Barnabas off. They sent them off to accomplish the mission the Holy Spirit had prepared for them which was to spread the gospel.

Closing Prayer Communion Last Songs