Why did the Holy Spirit say, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work”?

The Holy Spirit spoke while the leaders in Antioch were worshiping, fasting, and praying. The words “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” show that their mission did not start as their own idea or just the church’s plan. God himself was choosing and setting them apart for a task he already had in mind. The church then prayed, fasted again, and laid hands on them as a public sign of support. This reminds us that real sending comes from God, and the church agrees with what he is doing.

Who are Elymas and Sergius Paulus, and what happens between them and Paul?

Elymas, also called Bar-jesus, is a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet who stayed close to Sergius Paulus, a Roman governor on Cyprus. Sergius Paulus was a thoughtful man who wanted to hear the word of God from Barnabas and Saul. Elymas tried to turn him away from faith, fighting against the message. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, sharply rebuked Elymas and told him he would be blind for a time. This judgment fell on him at once. Seeing this and hearing the teaching, Sergius Paulus believed, showing how God overcomes spiritual opposition and draws people to himself.

What is the main point of Paul’s sermon in the synagogue in this passage?

Paul’s sermon tells the story of God’s dealings with Israel and leads to Jesus. He speaks of God choosing the fathers, bringing Israel out of Egypt, giving them the land, judges, then kings like Saul and David. From David’s family, God brought a Savior, Jesus. Paul explains that the people in Jerusalem rejected and killed Jesus, yet in doing so they fulfilled the writings that are read every Sabbath. God raised Jesus from the dead, and unlike David, he did not see decay. The heart of the sermon is that through this man there is forgiveness of sins and justification for everyone who believes.

What does it mean that “by him all that believe are justified from all things”?

When Paul says, “by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses,” he is saying that Jesus does what the law could never do. The law shows what is right and wrong, but it cannot clear a guilty conscience. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God counts believers as right with him, fully forgiven even of things the law could only condemn. This justification comes through faith in Christ, not by works. It is a free gift for all who trust in him, whether Jew or Gentile.

Why do Paul and Barnabas say they are turning to the Gentiles?

After Paul’s sermon, many were eager to hear more, and almost the whole city gathered the next Sabbath. Some Jews became jealous and began to oppose Paul, speaking against his message. Paul and Barnabas answered that the word of God had to be spoken first to them, but since they pushed it away and judged themselves unworthy of eternal life, they would now go to the Gentiles. They quote God’s words about being a light to the Gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth. This shows that God’s plan always included the nations, and their faith response shows that plan in action.

What does this passage teach about the Holy Spirit’s role in mission?

The passage shows the Holy Spirit guiding the whole work from start to finish. He speaks to the leaders in Antioch, calling Barnabas and Saul to a specific work. The text says they are “sent forth by the Holy Ghost,” so their journey is not just a human project. When Paul confronts Elymas, he is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the judgment that falls on Elymas confirms God’s power. All of this shows that real mission is not driven mainly by human plans or strength, but by God’s Spirit leading, empowering, and opening hearts to believe.

How can this passage guide believers today in sharing their faith?

This passage shows believers a few clear patterns. The church in Antioch prays and fasts as they seek God’s leading, so sharing faith should be soaked in prayer, not rushed. Paul and Barnabas start where people are, speaking first in synagogues to those who know the Scriptures. Paul explains who Jesus is from God’s past works and promises, then clearly offers forgiveness and warns against unbelief. They face both interest and hostility, but they keep speaking with boldness and move on when opposed. This can encourage believers to be prayerful, clear about Jesus, patient, and ready to speak to all kinds of people.

Acts.13.1

Acts 13:1

Q: Why does Paul warn, “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets”?

After speaking of forgiveness and justification in Jesus, Paul ends his sermon with a warning. He quotes a warning about people who despise God’s work, are amazed for a time, and then perish because they will not truly believe it, even when it is clearly told to them. Paul is telling his hearers not to repeat that pattern. Hearing the message about Jesus is a gift, but rejecting it brings serious danger. The warning sits right beside the offer of salvation, showing both God’s kindness in offering life and the real cost of turning away from his Son.

KJV

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Paul’s First Missionary Journey Begins

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

On Cyprus

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

10 And said, 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?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

30 But God raised him from the dead:

31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

A Light for the Gentiles

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Cross References

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