30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
02 Acts 13 04-12 THE MINISTRY IN CYPRUS 07 Acts 13 06-12 The Lord is reconciling all things to Himself
📖 Acts 13:04-12
07 – Fri, 04 Apr 2025 – *The Lord is reconciling all things to Himself* - _Acts 13:04-12_ – THE MINISTRY IN CYPRUS –
_Acts 13:6-12 Now 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, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. (8) But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. (9) Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him (10) and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? (11) And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. (12) Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord._
Barnabas and Paul now moved through the Island of Cyprus and came to Paphos. Please see the map. https://bibleatlas.org/full/paphos.htm
As we will see, Salamis was on the eastern coast of Cyprus, and Paphos was on the western coast. They had to travel right across Cyprus to get to Paphos.
We see an interesting incident happening in Paphos. Let’s try to see this through the eyes of John Mark, who assisted Barnabas and Paul.
As we read the narrative, we see that Barnabas and Paul preached the Gospel in the synagogues of Salamis. We do not read of any resistance that they had against the Gospel in Salamis. Neither do we read specifically if people turned to Christ because of their preaching there.
We do know that Barnabas took John Mark and went to Cyprus after the disagreement with Paul. _Acts 15:39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;_ We can certainly assume that they would have visited Salamis since this was the place from where they had started the first missionary journey
History does tell us that the work of God was established in this part of Cyprus. Salamis held significance in early Christian history. The Monastery of Saint Barnabas, located near Salamis, was established centuries later to honour Barnabas's legacy. This site became a centre for Christian worship and pilgrimage, reflecting the lasting impact of Barnabas's ministry in Cyprus.
When they came to Paphos, they experienced their first direct opposition to the Gospel in the form of Elymas, who was also known as Bar-Jesus. He was a sorcerer, a false prophet, and a Jew. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.
What was the position of the proconsul?
A proconsul was a Roman official who governed a senatorial province on behalf of the Roman Senate. They were responsible for maintaining order, overseeing the administration of the province, and upholding Roman laws and interests.
Sergius Paulus is described as an intelligent man who sought to hear the Word of God from Barnabas and Paul. His openness to the gospel is notable, especially as his position held great authority and influence. After witnessing Paul rebuke Elymas the sorcerer and seeing God's power, Sergius Paulus became a believer. _Acts 13:12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord._
Remember, we are witnessing all of these things through the eyes of John Mark, who later would be able to connect the spread of the Gospel throughout the world to this particular incident in Paphos.
Let me digress and look at how the conversion of Sergius Paulus would have impacted the spread of the Gospel. The broader implication of Sergius Paulus's conversion is multifaceted, touching on the spread of Christianity, the influence of people of higher social status, and the power of the gospel over spiritual opposition.
- The Gospel reaching the Roman elite: Sergius Paulus, being a Roman proconsul, was a man of high social standing and political influence. His conversion demonstrates that the message of Jesus was not limited to the common or marginalized but could penetrate the upper echelons of society.
- Validation of Paul's ministry: This event marks an important milestone in Paul's ministry. Sergius Paulus’s belief after witnessing Paul's rebuke of Elymas the sorcerer signals the power and authority of the Gospel. It also reinforces the theme that the gospel can overcome spiritual opposition and deception.
- Strategic evangelism: The conversion of a leader like Sergius Paulus likely had a ripple effect, influencing others within his province and beyond. As a Roman proconsul, his decision to believe in the gospel would have lent credibility to Christianity in the eyes of others within the Roman administrative system.
- Paphos and the progress of the Gospel: This moment acts as a springboard for the early church’s mission to the Gentiles. With the proconsul's support or at least his openness, the ministry in Cyprus likely faced fewer obstacles, providing a clearer path for further evangelistic efforts on the island and beyond.
The event encapsulates the transformative power of the gospel—not just for individuals but for entire societies.
The Lord is reconciling all things to Himself through the cross. This is the truth that must take complete hold of us. The Gospel is not limited to personal salvation only but includes the transformation of systems and structures.