Acts 13:1-12
The missionary expansion of the church proceeds by the Spirit’s initiative and advances despite spiritual resistance.
1 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their attendant.
6 When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus,
7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
10 and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
The missionary expansion of the church proceeds by the Spirit’s initiative and advances despite spiritual resistance.
To mark the formal sending of Barnabas and Saul from Antioch under the Spirit’s direction and to demonstrate the gospel’s authority over spiritual opposition in a Gentile setting.
This passage marks the formal beginning of the first missionary journey. Antioch transitions from a growing congregation to a sending church. The narrative contrasts Spirit-directed mission with demonic opposition and demonstrates apostolic authority through proclamation and judgment. Luke also notes the shift from Saul to Paul, signaling expanded Gentile focus.
The Antioch church includes diverse leaders: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, and Saul. During worship and fasting, the Holy Spirit directs the church to set apart Barnabas and Saul. They travel to Cyprus, preaching in synagogues, and encounter Elymas, a Jewish magician associated with the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus. Paul rebukes Elymas and pronounces blindness, leading to the proconsul's belief.
The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles
Acts 13 shows that the Holy Spirit sends the church into mission, the risen Christ fulfills Israel's promises, and rejection of the word cannot stop Gentile joy or the spread of the gospel.