Paul and his companion Barnabas have now departed from Antioch in Syria (sort of “home base” for Paul during these early years) and sailed out into the Mediterranean Sea. Heading for Barnabas’ native Land, the Island of Cyprus. A “missionary” journey, one of several!

“So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia (the nearby seaport for Antioch); and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.” Acts 13:4

Soon they are preaching their way through the whole Country, primarily in the larger cities. This was Paul’s general practice.

“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus.” Acts 13:6, “religious but lost,” this man certainly was!

And he vehemently opposed Paul’s preaching the Gospel there! Much like the lost Jews (the religious but misguided Pharisees and Scribes and Priests) had opposed Jesus! In fact, they feel sure they crucified Him, though we know that He really gave His life, “laid it down” … for us sinners to be saved! (John 10:18)

But back to this Barjesus, also called Elymas. As he seeks to try to “divert” a man from believing in Jesus! “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy (the Governor of the Island) from the faith.” Acts 13:10, as did the Jews again, trying to stop this same Paul from preaching the Gospel of the Grace of God! Yes, a faction of Jews from Jerusalem followed Paul for most of his ministry, trying to divert hundreds (maybe thousands) from believing in Jesus for salvation!

But look what happens to Elymas, Paul sternly condemning him: “Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee (Barjesus) and thou shalt be BLIND, not seeing the sun. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.” Acts 13:11, again … as happened to Israel. She too, for her disbelief and rejection of Jesu, was struck spiritually blind!

Paul really got bold that day in Paphos! Speaking to this false prophet: “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, THOU CHILD OF THE DEVIL, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” Still in Acts chapter 13, folks.

“Child of the devil,” that’s exactly what Jesus called the lost Jews in John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil.” I am saying again that this enemy of the Gospel (Barjesus or Elymas) is a picture/type/symbol of the lost Jews of Jesus’ Day.

Blind Jews … yet God (in His amazing Grace) gave Elymas this blindness “for a season!” Back to Acts 13:11, King James Version … “Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun FOR A SEASON.” Apparently his affliction eventually left him, not being permanent.

A reminder of lost Israel, again! Paul preaching in Romans 11:25 … “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that BLINDNESS in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Temporary blindness, like Elymas!

Because some day … Romans 11:26 … “ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Blindness turned into sight!

And that day, so long ago, on the Island of Cyprus … as Paul opposed this enemy of the Faith … two things happened. Keep reading …

One, it is no longer “Barnabas and Saul” on this Gospel preaching Journey! it is now “Saul and Barnabas.” (Compare verse 2 of Acts 13 with verse 13, Paul now becoming the preacher, the leader!) That’s one change, Paul will refute any who oppose this precious Gospel of Grace! (A leadership change, apparently effected by the Holy Spirit!)

And number two, Saul changes names! He will no longer be “Saul of Tarsus,” but “Paul the Apostle!” Likely taking the name of his first Cyprian convert, the Island’s Governor Sergius Paulus, whom Barjesus had tried so hard to dissuade from belief in our Saviour!

Thus the Holy Spirit leads Luke to pen: “Now when PAUL AND HIS COMPANY loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia.” Did you get that? “Paul and his company!” (Still including helpful Barnabas, though.)

Note …

Opposition here made the Apostle Paul stronger in his faith! It did not deter him a bit! He will hereafter be the leader (under Christ, of course). And he will be called “Paul” (meaning the “little one,” or just “small”) and no longer be called “Saul” (named for the biggest man in all Israel, Saul the first King, who “from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.” 1 Samuel 9:2)

Wow, what changes!

Long Lesson today. But it being a day many of you are “off” from work … perhaps worth the extra time reading and studying.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

More tomorrow, the Lord willing …

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You Bible students are probably already familiar with the miraculous account of Peter’s deliverance from prison, just hours prior to his scheduled execution by wicked King Herod.

Acts 12:1-17 tells the whole Story.

Briefly, here’s the Scriptural Background. Take the time to read (not scan) it please. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, THE SAME NIGHT Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.” Acts 12:1-6

Then comes the angel, and the series of miracles: “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.” Acts 12:7-10

I would deduce God was not “through” with Peter yet! There must have been “work” for him yet to do. to accomplish. For the Glory of God, likely (I suspect) the writing of the two Epistles that bear his name. And maybe even helping in the composition of the Book of Mark! (Read 1 Peter 5:13 sometime, linking Peter and John Mark.)

But where did Peter go that night? That mid-night? He certainly would have been furiously sought by Herod’s soldiers as soon as he was discovered missing!

Acts 12:12 tells us: “Peter came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.” Praying in the wee hours of the night, early morning! What a Church!

Then of course … “Peter knocked at the door of the gate.” And upon finally being recognized: “He declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren.” Acts 12:17

Then it happens! A strange end to our Story and … the next to last time Peter is mentioned in the whole Book of Acts! Here he definitely leaves the “center stage” in Acts! (Previous to this he has been mentioned 55 times! I just counted.)

The Bible just says: “And he (Peter) departed, and went into another place.” (He hereafter only appears briefly in Acts 15, but even then only as an adjunct to the Apostle Paul.) What “other place,” we simply do not know! (Not to Rome to become the Pope, there’s not a shred of Bible evidence for that!)

Here we clearly have a dramatic change of Emphasis in Luke’s Book of Church History!

Peter fades.

Paul begins to dominate.

Another way of saying, the Gospel Mission to the Gentiles (telling of God’s saving Grace) is now fully underway!

Obeying Jesus’ Commission in Mark 16:15 … “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE.” Including those heretofore (despised) Gentile “dogs,” then!

Paul with his Gospel of Grace!

With his “whosoever will” Gospel.

Paul who is now motioned (after this event) 126 more times in the Book of Acts alone!

Acts 1:8 is clearly in force, totally so! “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

We westerners had better be thankful for Paul and his ministry. He (not Peter) brought the Gospel our way! (Remember that “Macedonian Vision” in Acts 16?)

Hallelujah!

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As more and more souls were saved by the Grace of God … they naturally became known as a certain type people.

In Jerusalem it seems the Pharisees and Elders (including the High Priest) called them “Nazarenes.” For example, in Acts 24:5 they called Paul “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”

Because Jesus was from Nazareth and the because His Disciples followed Him so meticulously. That’s why the Religious Machine of that day (with derision) named the Believers “Nazarenes,” linking them to their dear Master/Lord/Saviour.

But outside of Jerusalem, out in Gentile country, it seems another name attached itself to these men who loved our Lord. “Christians,” they said. I base my conclusion on Acts 11:26 where we are clearly told … “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

The Descriptor simply means “like Christ.”

But more specifically (grammatically and etymologically) it means “one upon whom oil has been poured!” One who has been and still is anointed with the Holy Spirit of God! Thus, one whose lifestyle matches that of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Who certainly was Spirit filled.) Being like Him as much as is humanly possible, anyway.

And likely this too. The term “Christians” as first used was (like “Nazarenes”) derogatory. The public meant it as mockery! (“Like the murdered One, on that Cross, the convicted Criminal Jesus!”) Yet these new Believers wore the Name gladly! With honor!

In fact, we still do!

Question today, and the point of today’s Lesson: Am I living like Jesus? Are you living that life as well?

If not, we should make the necessary changes!

So that the people who are watching us (and many are) will be forced to admit … “Christians!”

They are really “Christians!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Acts chapter 10 records the story of how God “touched the heart” of Simon Peter, the archetypical Jew, and “turned” it toward the Gentiles.

This chapter also delineates the conversion of the archetypical Gentile (a Roman soldier named Cornelius) to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour!

But it all begins with Cornelius “wanting” to hear more about Jesus!

Then after some stern (divine) persuasion, Peter reluctantly went from Joppa (on the Mediterranean coast) to Caesarea (also on the coast, but 33 miles to the north) to speak to Cornelius.

And this is what the Apostle Peter told the seeking sinner: “Through his name (Jesus’ Name) whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43!

Acts 11:14 adds that Peter further told Cornelius, a direct quote: “Words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.”

Wow!

Acts 11:17 further (and gloriously) avers that Cornelius and his household “Believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Even more amazing …

As the news spread of a such a heathen Gentile being born-again, even some of the staunch Jews responded: “They held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18

Today’s Lesson therefore concludes, Biblically, there is only one way to be saved! And this applies to everyone!

Not by works, but via simple faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, His finished Word on the Cross of Calvary!

Paul (also a Jew) put it this way, guided by the Holy Spirit, talking to another Gentile by the way … “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:13

More fully: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

That’s what Cornelius did. That’s what every sinner must do! That’s what I did! How about you, dear friend?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Jesus agrees in John 5:24, perhaps my favorite Salvation verse in all the Bible. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Amen!

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Saul of Tarsus was saved by the Grace of God. No doubt about that fact! And I believe that event occurred one day as he traveled to the city of Damascus … on his way to further harass and persecute certain Christians, followers of “the resurrected Jesus.”

This momentous occasion is so important to Paul that he relates it again and again throughout his ministry. (In fact, Luke tells it three times in Acts, specifically chapters 9 and 22 and 26!)

“And as he (Saul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am JESUS whom thou persecutest.” Acts 9:3-5, Jesus has just revealed Himself, the Glorified, Living Jesus!

Then … I believe it happened: “And he (Saul) trembling and astonished said, LORD, what wilt thou have me to do?” At that very second when he acknowledged Jesus as “Lord!”

Subsequently: “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” Acts 9:6, soon he would be “told what to do” by a man named Ananias.

Haughty Saul, struck by a light (or is it Light) so bright he was blinded! “And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”

God to Ananias: “Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, BEHOLD, HE PRAYETH.” Acts 9:11

Those last three words, today’s Lesson!

“Behold, he prayeth!”

Not some dead, ritualistic prayer … not any longer. Or some memorized rabbinical chant!

He, having only been saved three days (at the most) is already praying … praying to Jesus!(He was at prayer when Ananias arrived! And God already knew it!)

“Behold, he prayeth!” Sounds like even the Lord was impressed, “BEHOLD!” A 72 hour old “baby” in Christ, talking to his Heavenly Father and doing so through the name of God’s Son Jesus Christ!

And maybe Saul (soon to be Paul) was not even asking for anything! (Though he certainly could have been.) Perhaps he was just “talking or communing or enjoying” Company with his new Friend, Saviour, Intercessor! (Again, I mean Jesus!)

Point being … you do not have to acquire some complex theological vocabulary to pray! You do not have to reach some advanced stage of maturity as a Believer, either! You do not even have to pass some study course in basic prayer methods!

You just … PRAY!

Thus Saul has begun a life-long practice, praying to Jesus. To Jesus as God! To Jesus Who will present our needs to the Father, His Father.

Our Lord’s very Words … John 14:13 … “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, THAT WILL I DO, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Dear reader this morning … how’s your prayer life? Can it truthfully be said of you: “Behold, he (or she) prayeth!”

James 4:2 says: “Ye have not, because ye ask not.”

And Jesus in Mathew 7:7-8 even makes prayer a command, an obligation! “ASK, and it shall be given you; SEEK, and ye shall find; KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Wow!

Maybe now we should quit reading and go pray a while!

All of us!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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