Sent on Their Way by The Holy Spirit

Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

March 2, 2021

Sent on Their Way by The Holy Spirit

When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Acts 13:12

Read: Acts 13:1-12

About four years after Herod’s death (12:23), Paul, Barnabas, and his cousin, John Mark set off for Cyprus. That the prophets and teachers were well known in Antioch shows that Antioch had become the second center, after Jerusalem, of the new Christian church. In our passage today, two patterns of the new church are revealed.

First, the life of the church was characterized by worship, fasting and prayer. In this environment, there was an anticipation the Holy Spirit would lead the church. And he did; Paul and Barnabas were set apart by the Holy Spirit, and they were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. In many churches today, the congregation is separated from the leadership, and it is not clear if either the congregation or leaders follow this pattern of worship, fasting and prayer seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What if our churches followed this pattern today?

Secondly, they first proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. This is a pattern Paul would follow throughout his missionary journeys. There is also another pattern; the proclamation of the Gospel was met with resistance. This was true two thousand years ago, and it is true today. While the Gospel proclaims Jesus came that we may have life, and have it to the full, the forces of evil come only to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10)

My Takeaway: Saul changes his name to Paul lest his Jewish name would be a stumbling block to his mission as the apostle to the Gentiles. That was the extent of his becoming culturally relevant. He never retreated from knowing nothing but Jesus and Jesus crucified for our sins. May it be so for the followers of Jesus today. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.