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03 Acts 13 13-48 The teaching at the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia 01 Acts 13 13 Aligned with God
📖 Acts 13:13-48
01 – Thu, 01 May 2025 – *Aligned with God* - _Acts 13:13-48_ – THE TEACHING AT THE SYNAGOGUE IN ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA – _Acts 02:08-11_
_Acts 13:13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem._
Please see the map to understand the journey of Paul and the team from Paphos in Cyprus to Perga in Pamphylia.
Our verse says that it was Paul and his party that set sail from Paphos. We can see the clear shift in the leadership of the team. It was Barnabas and Paul initially. _Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me *Barnabas and Saul* for the work to which I have called them."_ / _Acts 13:7 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._
These are God’s ways in the shift of leadership. We must sense the move of God and work along with this process. Many of us in our churches, mission organisations and our place of work struggle with the shift of leadership. *How wonderful it would be if only we sense the move of God, allow the Lord’s way to take place in the shift in leadership and not resist.*
Barnabas took the leadership shift very well. He sensed the move of God in the shift in leadership, and he worked with the process of God. Please read this article to get a deeper insight into Barnabas. https://scripturesavvy.com/bible-verses-about-barnabas/
People saw Paul as the leader. _Acts 14:12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker._ This did not affect Barnabas. He was willing to be second to Paul in the missionary journey. This is such a big lesson for people in positions of leadership.
Barnabas worked along with Paul, and there was tremendous oneness among them. This is what took place after the first missionary journey. _Acts 14:26-28 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. (27) Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. (28) So they stayed there a long time with the disciples._
When the issue of circumcision reared its head, when certain Jews insisted that circumcision was necessary to be saved, Barnabas and Paul went against this doctrine with zeal. We can see their togetherness. _Acts 15:2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question._
We have much to learn from Barnabas in this matter of the shift in leadership. On the other hand, we see that John Mark did not take this shift in leadership very well, and we see that John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.
We have a contrast before us - Barnabas and John Mark. One from whom much has to be learned, and the other from whom we learn, where we must guard ourselves and not fall.
It was *Paul and his party* that set sail from Paphos. It could be that others joined Paul, Barnabas and John Mark in the missionary journey. Understanding the times, there was a need to have people who knew the local terrain, languages, customs, and the challenges to be faced in their travel.
It was the Lord who was guiding them in their journey, and they followed the Lord. The way of the Lord for them was to take them to centres with a substantial Jewish population, with whom they could share the Gospel. This strategy was part of the purpose of God for the Jews for them to be the light to the Gentiles.
_Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; *I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth*.' "_ / _Psalms 67:1-2 God be merciful to us and bless us,And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah (2) That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations._
Thus, their missionary journey was in alignment with the heart of God.
Moreover, at the first filling of the Holy Spirit, there were people from all of these regions who were converted. _Acts 2:8-11 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? (9) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) *Phrygia and Pamphylia*, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."_ / _Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"_ / _Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them._
*Our life choices and decisions ought to be aligned with the ways of God.*