Opportunity and Opposition

Acts 13:4-13

– Our text today reveals a dramatic ‘Power Encounter’ between the Apostle Paul and a false Jewish prophet named ‘Elymas’

– As we make the most of every opportunity and encounter opposition from the enemy, we can trust God for the outcome

I. The Opportunity (vv. 4-7)

1.  Sent out by the Spirit and by the Church (vv. 3-4)

• Beginning of the ‘First Missionary Journey’
• Spirit works through the Local Church!
• John Mark (Banabus’ cousin) sent to help

2.  Mission on the “Happy Island” of Cyprus (v. 4)

• Homeland of Barnabus (cf. 4:36)
• Located on a major trade route with good climate and many natural resources
• Large Jewish population which had been previously evangelized (11:19-20)

3.  Pattern of Early Missions

• ‘To the Jew first’
• Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but never forgot about his own people
• Evangelistic activity usually began in the Jewish synagogues
• ‘…and also to the Greek’
• First notable Gentile contact in Cyprus was in Paphos (90 miles from Salamis)
• Invitation from the top Roman official on the Island – Proconsul Sergius Paulus!
• Saul’s name change to ‘Paul’ is related to his Gentile mission

II. The Opposition (vv. 8-10)

1.  Satan’s agent:  Bar-Jesus (aka. ‘Elymas’)

• He was an apostate Jewish sorcerer
• His Hebrew name ‘Bar-Jesus’ means “Son of Salvation”
• His livelihood as the court magician was threatened by the gospel

2.  God’s agent:  Paul the Apostle

• Paul had acute discernment from the Spirit
• Paul had prophetic boldness!
• Paul exposes the so-called ‘son of salvation’ as a ‘son of the devil’
• Paul confronts the power of darkness with the power of Almighty God!

III. The Outcome (vv. 11-13)

1.  Elymas is struck blind

2.  The Roman Proconsul is converted

• He saw God’s power through the miracle
• He was “astounded” by the gospel teaching

3.  John Mark jumps ship