Monthly Archives: April 2026

ACTS THE SEQUEL…DARK CLOUDS GATHER – 30

Bible Study, ,

“The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭49‬-‭52‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Every picture has its shades of light and dark without which its details would be indistinct and insipid. So, the darkness of systemic persecution began to gather around these two courageous men as the background to their world-changing work. Despite the increasing persecution, first from their own countrymen, the Jews, and then, later, from those representing the Roman government, the  gospel message spread and the church was rooted  and grew in the soil of Asia Minor.  

Against the backdrop of deep spiritual darkness, the light of the gospel began to shine…at first like the feeble light of many candles…but later, with ever-increasing brightness and influence. 

Perhaps, this is my opportunity to inject one of Paul’s greatest spiritual lessons into the narrative at this point. Fleeing from one city to the next to escape the hatred of his Jewish compatriots began to get to him. He was called to take the message of Jesus to the Gentiles but he never excluded his own people despite their opposition. 

However, the Jews were the ones who constantly hindered his ministry. So he prayed, three times, for release from this, what he called, “thorn in the flesh.” 

“…Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul had experienced heavenly revelations that were becoming a problem to him…pride! A subtle feeling of superiority, perhaps… Was he starting to feel, somehow, special? His flesh was beginning to rise up so, God had to teach him a lesson that would keep his feet firmly planted on the ground.

Paul knew what a “thorn in the flesh” meant. After Israel’s conquest of Canaan, God was angry with His people because they were worshipping the gods of the Canaanites. 

“So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The gods they worshipped would become a trap to them…idolatry…what God hated the most. 

Was the Lord warning Paul that pride would elevate him to becoming his own idol…a dangerous trap that would drive a wedge between himself and God? 

So God said; “No!” Paul’s bubble needed to be pricked before the damage was done. The message was subtle but clear. 

God’s method of discipline was effective…to keep His servant dependent on Him, He kept him weak through persecution…always having to lean on Him for strength to endure.  

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What Paul needed was not freedom from trouble but strength to endure, no matter how difficult the way…relying on God’s grace. In his weakness, Paul traded complaining for gratitude. Every time he faced hatred, opposition, danger, he thanked the Lord for the weakness that made him eligible for His strength. 

Paul’s new attitude, giving thanks in all circumstances, was a powerful antidote to discontent…his passport to victory over the ravages of his flesh. He was learning to ignore the pricks because, cushioned by God’s grace, they no longer hurt him. 

We do well to heed this lesson in  our own lives. God allows situations that drive us to lean on Him, for one important reason. When we are genuinely grateful for the troubles and hardships that keep us weak and humble, we will strengthen the bonds of faith and love that keep us close to Jesus. 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…TURNING POINT – 29

Bible Study, ,

“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.”

Acts 13:44-45 NIV

Once again, Paul and Barnabas hir a brick wall…fanatical and unbelieving Jews! Rejection! Abuse! The weapons of character assassination! These Jewish opponents revealed the true nature of their hearts. Their words condemned them. 

“When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.”

Finally…the Holy Spirit was making clear to these two pioneer missionaries that their target was to be the Gentile world…no less difficult or hostile than the Jews but the field in which He had called them to labour. These Gentile people were cemented in pagan religion… superstition…witchcraft…the realm of demonic activity…and delusion. 

The Greek and Roman world had no background knowledge of God’s dealings with them. They had no experience of a covenant commitment to the only true God…of a history of the God who had revealed Himself to them…given them His instructions for life and made them His representatives among the nations. 

Theses pagans lived in fear of gods that could do great harm to them if they did not appease them…offer sacrifice to them…do rituals for them. They could also manipulate these gods to do what they wanted. Their gods were the product of human imagination…at its worst!

The  Caesars themselves demanded worship as God and, if their subjects disobeyed, could condemn them to die in the most cruel and horrible way…to entertain the bloodthirsty citizens. 

Into this pagan and hopeless arena, Paul and Barnabas plunged, armed with the Holy Spirit and truth. God had called them…and they obeyed with whole-hearted zeal , knowing that He would not fail them. 

What follows was nothing short of miraculous. The Gentiles responded to the gospel with gladness and faith. Their introduction to Jesus as a loving and forgiving Saviour brought relief and joy to their tormented  souls. They were not eaten up with self-righteousness. They were grateful for God’s peace in their hearts as they opened up to truth. 

“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord…

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭48‬a NIV‬‬

Then Luke added a Holy Spirit-inspired comment that has had scholars and believers puzzled down the centuries…

“…and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭48‬b NIV‬‬

Luke, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, revealed that the heavenly “selection committee” was at work…choosing for Himself, from among the Gentiles, the living stones that would be built into His holy temple along with the Jews who recognised and surrendered to Jesus as their Messiah and Lord. 

This introduction to the Gentile ministry must have encouraged Paul and Barnabas after the rough treatment they had received from their fellow countrymen. So…they continued to seek out the Gentiles who would, in the end, also give them a mixed reception. 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL – ON TO ASIA MINOR – 28

Bible Study, ,

“From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.”

John Mark? By this time, he had had enough! What got to him we don’t know. Perhaps it was the hardships of missionary life…perhaps the clashes with enemy forces…perhaps it wasn’t what he expected… or, perhaps it was the rigours of traveling with men driven by a passion for Jesus which he did not share. Whatever it was, he quit…and Paul didn’t like quitters!

“From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!”

What an opportunity! Handed to Paul on a platter! As usual, the missionaries went first to the synagogue. They were testing the waters…the Jews first. Like Stephen, Paul began with a resume of Israel’s history, culminating with Jesus, the core of the story of God’s covenant people. Perhaps these Jews had forgotten their heritage and their place in God’s eternal plan. Perhaps life in the thick of pagan society had diluted the awareness of who they were. So, Paul reminded them of who they were or who they were supposed to be. 

 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

That got their attention! The people were interested. They wanted more. Some believed! Another flame was lit…in Asia Minor. 

At first, Paul and Barnabas received a friendly hearing…

“As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬-‭16‬, ‭26‬, ‭32‬-‭34‬, ‭38‬, ‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Until…

To be continued

AFTER THE SEQUEL…HEAVEN MEETS HELL – 27

Bible Study

“The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.”

Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, the first port of call for these two unseasoned missionaries, Barnabas and Saul.  was the island of Cyprus. 

First detail…they went to the synagogues. You have to admire their courage. Despite their calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, Saul and Barnabas went first to the Jews. It had to be because the good news was always for God‘s own covenant people first and then the Gentiles. It seems there was no opposition to the gospel from these Jews. Perhaps they were more open-minded than their counterparts in Israel. 

Second detail…John Mark! Obviously, Barnabas included him in the party. However, like Lot in Abraham’s story, John Mark eventually became a liability according to Paul, and caused a rift in the partnership. 

Next detail…Elymas, the sorcerer. 

“They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. 

Why Paphos?

“Paphos is a historic coastal city in southwestern Cyprus, renowned as the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite and a major UNESCO World Heritage site. Historically, it was a vital religious center for the goddess’s cult and served as the island’s capital during Roman times. It boasts ancient ruins, including mosaics and the Tombs of the Kings.” (Source: Google AI)

None other than a henchman of the devil himself…and his name? Bar-Jesus! What a deception! The son of Jesus? Nothing could have been farther from the truth. 

In the hotbed of pagan worship in the capital city of Cyprus, this imposter was in league with the devil and claiming, according to his name, to be a son of Jesus, using Satan’s power to gain attention and influence. Quite comfortable in this environment, he was both a sorcerer and a false prophet. 

“The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.”

Elymas was not comfortable in the present of Jesus. He clashed with his superior, the proconsul. by trying to oppose them and block the missionaries from speaking to his boss. He wanted none of this Jesus-thing!

“Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “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? 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.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul quickly assessed the situation. This was war! The battle lines were drawn. Unfortunately for Elymas, he was up against more than he bargained for…! Paul, on the learning curve, in the power of the Spirit, spoke the word that changed everything. Here was a demonstration of the power of the kingdom he and Barnabas represented…the power of the spoken word. 

Elymas became blind, exactly as Paul had declared. His evil heart exposed, Paul spoke darkness over him…the darkness of unseeing eyes that mirrored the darkness in his soul. 

Well! That did it! The proconsul was convinced…not because of the judgment on Elymas but because of the truth about Jesus. 

“When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Luke did not divulge the content of Paul’s message to the Roman officer but, together with God’s power through the spoken word, he was convinced and believed the truth. 

What a battle! What a victory!  

Paul was learning to use the power of the Word of God and the kingdom of which he and Barnabas were representatives. Their equip equipment was infallible. 

So, another seed planted…another soul won…another branch of God’s kingdom established on an island in the Mediterranean  sea! The flame was burning in the Roman Empire and would soon spread, against all odds, throughout the known world. The power of the gospel is unstoppable!

To be continued 

ACTS THE SEQUEL…PREPARATION AND PRACTICE – 26

Bible Study, ,

“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. 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.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

From chapter one, Luke had set the scene for the kingdom of God to spread from Jerusalem into Asia Minor and finally to reach Rome. God had  chosen and prepared His men. The church was firmly established in Israel and Syria, and a slender branch had sprouted in Africa.  The apostles had clearly understood and taught the gospel of grace, linking the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus with the Old Covenant and its prophetic message of salvation to the whole world. 

The moment had arrived…the Holy Spirit moved with clarity and purpose…hand-picking Barnabas and Saul, from a group of leaders in Antioch, for their new task. These two men had been honed through the discipline of hardship and testing, and moulded together into a partnership that would be vitally important as they faced the wall of Jewish and Roman push-back against the gospel. The power of Jewish religion and Roman imperial paganism that seemed like an impenetrable barrier, would stand between them and their calling.

But…they had the Word and the Spirit…and no power on earth or in hell could neutralise their strategy or their weapons, or kill their zeal for Jesus and His church. 

So. the Holy Spirit called…and the leaders answered with prompt obedience. With prayer and fasting, they set Barnabas and Saul aside for the mammoth task that lay ahead of them. Finally, Saul, the soon-to-be Paul…the “little” man…would be let loose on the Roman world, with the explosive message of Jesus, to turn that world upside down. 

Up to this point, it was Barnabas in the lead, and Saul tagging behind, following and supporting Barnabas in their pioneer work of spearheading the mission of the kingdom in a hostile environment. However, slowly…the leadership changed. Saul became the leader and Barnabas the follower because it was Saul…the chosen replacement for the renegade Judas Iscariot…who had fallen from his position in the Apostolic band…who would become the greatest apostle and missionary in the history of the early church. 

The two men…chosen, called, and equipped…set out, with the church in Antioch at their backs, on the first leg of their long and eventful journey into the Roman world, the island of Cyprus their first port of call. 

It wasn’t long before they hit the first obstacle. 

To be continued