Acts 13 - Introduction

The Missionary Journeys Begin Acts Thirteen

Acts chapter thirteen begins with a time of fasting and prayer in Antioch. There is power in prayer. The Holy Spirit directed the church to appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which He had chosen them. They were appointed to this work with prayer, fasting and the laying on of hands.

As their missionary work began Barnabas and Saul preached the gospel in Cyprus. There they meet a Jewish false prophet named Elymas. Sergius Paulus was a good man that wanted to hear God's message. Elymas tried to keep the governor from having faith in Christ. Saul, who is better known as Paul dealt with this false teacher. Elymas was made blind as punishment for his evil deeds. When Sergius Paulus saw what had happened, he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord and he became a Christian.

Paul and the others left Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. Here John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem. This would later cause very difficult problems between Barnabas and Paul. In Antioch of Pisidia Paul preached a sermon very much like the one preached by Stephen that led to his stoning. He proved that Jesus was the fulfillment of all Hebrew history. This sermon was followed by another Jewish persecution. This persecution caused Paul and Barnabas to departure for the city of Iconium.