Lesson by Pastor John Skaggs

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

P. O. Box 1173

Claypool, Arizona 85532

520-425-8345

Date: 08-27-00

Sermon Number: 021

Text: Acts 13

Topics Addressed in this Lesson

(False Prophets / The True Gospel)

Antioch was the location of the first large Gentile church. Barnabas and Saul were their first teachers but others soon followed. Our text names five men at the heart of the ministry in Antioch. Barnabas and Paul were apostles others were prophets and some were teachers. The prophets were preachers and teachers of God’s Word. Sometimes they received new revelation from God, however, this aspect of their calling ended when the scriptures were completed. ((1 Corinthians 13:8-10 NASB) "Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, (special revelation from God) it will be done away. {9} For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; (At the time these words were written the scriptures were not complete. The Bible was not finished. They only knew part of the truth and the prophets only revealed part of the truth.) {10} but when the perfect comes, (When the scriptures are finally complete) the partial will be done away." That is, the gifts and offices that had to do with revealing the scriptures will disappear. They will be obsolete and, therefore, done away with. Tongue speaking ended before the New Testament was completed and special revelation as it was once given to prophets ceased when the last book of the Bible was completed. The prophet’s office now can be compared to that of the pastor-teacher, i.e., elders and overseers, ( Eph. 4:11–12, 1 Tim. 3:1ff.; Titus 1:5–9).

Apart from sometimes receiving special revelation the prophets of that day fed and cared for the saints by teaching from existing Old Testament scriptures. Today pastors and teachers still proclaim what Peter called "the prophetic word" (2 Pet. 1:19) which now consists of both the Old and New testaments, the Bible. Without this word and the preaching of it the church could not exist. (Romans 10:13-17 NASB) "for "WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." {14} How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? {15} And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!" {16} However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" {17} So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." The Pastor-Teacher is critical to today’s church just as the Apostles, Prophets, and Elders were in the early days. His ministry is one of preaching, teaching, and explaining the scriptures so the sinner may obtain a clear understanding of the gospel for salvation. But his main concern is the growth and comfort of the saints entrusted to him in the local church. He can only fulfill his duties and mission if he faithfully preaches and teaches the Holy Scriptures.

We have already met Barnabas the "Son of Encouragement." We know about Saul/Paul but very little is know about the other men, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen. Some believe that Simeon could have been Simon of Cyrene, the black man who carried Jesus’ cross to Calvary. This is only speculation of course. Lucius is identified with the city of Cyrene in North Africa so he may have been a black man as well. The only thing certain about Manaen was that he had been reared in the household of Herod the Great. These were the shepherds of the Antioch church. Proof that there are not racial barriers in Christ.

The pastor-teacher’s work is one of "ministering to the Lord." The word "ministering" as used in the secular world meant, "to discharge a public office." Here it takes on an additional meaning. It speaks of a constant worship and devotion to God, which, is the discharge of the minister’s duties. This worship and devotion consists of offering spiritual sacrifices to God which in turn benefit the people of God. These spiritual sacrifices are prayer on behalf of himself and the people he serves, oversight of the flock, studying, preaching, and teaching the Scriptures. The Pastor’s work, if it is to be successful must be first to the Lord and not to the people. This sounds strange but it won’t work any other way. For if he is first concerned with men and what they want, like, or dislike, he will soon become a people pleaser instead of a God pleaser. He will be pressed into the compromise necessary to keep people happy. Therefore, his ministry must be for and to the Lord. For only then will he be steady, sure, and faithful to the people of God. Only then will he be truly useful to those in his charge. The instruction found in Colossians 3:23-24 sums it up for the Pastor/Elder and for Christians in general. "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; {24} knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

The text goes on to say that these men were fasting as they ministered to the Lord. This speaks of their sincerity, devotion, and sense of urgency. There were more important things on their minds than food. The Bible nowhere commands believers to fast, it simply warns those who do fast to guard against the hypocritical kind of fasting the Pharisees did. Such acts of worship are to be kept private. (Matthew 6:16-18 NASB) ""And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (Their reward is the praise and admiration of men.) {17} "But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face {18} so that you may NOT BE SEEN fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."

The following text reveals what concerned these men to the extent they began fasting. {2} "And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." {3} Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. {4} So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. {5} And when they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper."

The leaders of the Antioch church were seeking the wisdom and direction of God as concerned a missionary endeavor. God answered their prayers specifically, they were to send Barnabas and Saul. The leaders laid their hands on them, which was a form of identification or confirmation. "We, the congregation of the Antioch church, by the direction of God send these two men on their way", first stop, Seleucia. This city was located about sixteen miles away, near the mouth of the Orontes River, and served as the port of Antioch. Once in Seleucia, they took passage on a ship and sailed to Cyprus.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. The main part of the island is 90 to 100 miles long and up to 60 miles wide. In New Testament times its two major cities were Salamis, and Paphos, the capital. Arriving at the main port city, Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. The apostle Paul was always careful to take the gospel to the Jews first. As they traveled from synagogue to synagogue preaching the gospel they were being assisted by a young man named John Mark. Many believe that this man was the author of the gospel of Mark.

6} And when they had GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE ISLAND as far as Paphos, (Preaching and teaching the word of God.) they found a certain magician, a Jewish FALSE PROPHET whose name was Bar-Jesus, {7} who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and SOUGHT TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. {8} But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. {9} But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, (got in his face) {10} and said, "You who are full of all deceit (craft, guile, stealth) and fraud, YOU SON OF THE DEVIL, YOU ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, will you not cease to make crooked (pervert) the straight ways of the Lord? {11} "And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. {12} Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord."

It must have took a great deal of time preach and teach their way from one end of this Island to the other. Day after day, month after month, these two men labored in the word and doctrine, teaching truth to all who would hear them. Then they met opposition. The in-house wizard of Sergius Paulus who also fancied himself a prophet of God set himself against the truth and its messengers, Barnabas, Paul, and John Mark. He knew that if his master was saved he would loose his job. So, he sought diligently to turn him away from the faith. Paul, however, was not easily put off. The Holy Spirit within gave him insight and the strength necessary to withstand this man. The apostle’s description of Elymas has much to say to us especially when we combine it with what Peter had to say about another sorcerer.

Acts 8:20 "But Peter said to him, (he is speaking to Simon the Sorcerer) your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God (the Holy Spirit) with money! 21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. (You are not a Christian!) 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

What was the common problem shared by these two men? They were still in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity. They were both deceitful frauds. They were not saved from the wrath to come, therefore, their hearts were filled with evil unbelief. Sinners follow the desire of their evil hearts until they are born again. They can’t do anything else but that.

Ecclesiastes 9:3 "This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead." They also go to hell if they do not repent and trust in Christ before they breath their last.

Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart (of all the unconverted) come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." This is the same stuff we see coming out of the hearts of these two magicians! This is not because they are magicians, however, it is because they are sons Adam. It is because they have not trusted in Christ for salvation. All men are given over to the evil that fills their hearts until Christ becomes their Lord and Savior. The problem with these two men was one of the heart, their trouble was on the inside. This is true of all men.

Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 "Consequently you bear witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 "Fill up then the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell?" The Pharisees, the spiritual leaders of the Jews fall into the category of false prophets, deceivers and frauds. They were unclean on the inside and that is what matters to God. Why were they unclean and unacceptable? Because, like the two magicians, they did not trust in, accept, or receive the truth about Christ.

Next Paul calls Elymas a son of the devil and enemy of all righteousness. Strong language but true of all men before they trust in Christ. Before we are saved we are enemies of God, His law, and we are sons of the Devil.

(Matthew 13:36-43 NASB) "Then He left the multitudes, and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." {37} And He answered and said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, (Jesus) {38} and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; (the elect from every nation) and the tares are the SONS OF THE EVIL ONE; (All who do not and will not believe in Jesus for salvation.) {39} and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. {40} "Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. {41} "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, (the sons of the evil one are stumbling blocks to the people of God.) and those who commit lawlessness, {42} and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. {43} "Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." All unbelievers are sons of the devil. These are still in the bonds of iniquity and their hearts are filled with deceit and fraud.

Listen to what Jesus said to the Pharisees. John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. . . ." Then there is 1 John 3:8 "the one who practices sin is of the devil; Before we were graciously moved to trust in our merciful Savior we too were sons of the Devil even as the rest. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NASB) "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, {10} nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. {11} And such WERE some of you; BUT you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." It is only by the mercy and grace of God that we have trusted in Christ and have been forgiven our sins.

Paul now asks Elymas, ". . . will you not cease to make crooked (pervert) the straight ways of the Lord?" This man spoke in the name of God but he did not speak the words of God. God said one thing he said another. He took God’s truth and bent it to suit his own needs. Paul asks, "Will you not cease from doing this?"

False prophets were common then and they are common now. They find a place in our world because the natural man does not like the truth of God, therefore, he seeks out those who are willing to "make crooked the straight ways of the Lord." This is how the health and wealth gospel came to be. People wanted to hear a comfortable message and found men willing to tickle their ears. They are unprincipled men who do not minister to the Lord first, but to men. The scriptures warn us about these truth-bending teachers. Acts 20:30 ". . . and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them."

(Galatians 1:6-12 NASB) "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; {7} which is REALLY NOT ANOTHER; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want TO DISTORT (bend, make crooked) THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. {8} But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. . . . {10} For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (and neither is any man who wishes to please men rather than God) {11} For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. {12} For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."

Paul and the other apostles would have died before bending God’s truth and in fact they did die for the faith. The false prophet on the other hand is willing to distort the truth. He may say, "Thus says the Lord" but then he puts lies in the mouth of God. The one who tells another that God could not send anyone to hell is a false prophet. The one who says God loves and will save all men is a false prophet. The man who says God will accept the works of man for the salvation of his soul is a false prophet. He is yet unforgiven, a son of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness. This person is filled with deceit and fraud.

In the case before us God was pleased to visibly judge this man so all would know he was a fake, a fraud, and an enemy of God. He was temporarily blinded. Verse twelve contains the good news. (Acts 13:12 NASB) "Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord."

One man remains in the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity, unsaved. The other, a heathen ruler, is born again, saved from the wrath to come. He had been listening to a false prophet for a long time but now hears the true gospel and is saved. But what is the true, un-distorted, message of the gospel?

The good news is this. Christ died for sinners according to the scriptures. Christ came into the world to save sinners from the wrath due them for sins committed. Christ, the merciful God and Savior of all who come to Him by faith lived, was crucified, was buried, raised from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God for sinners. This is the good news, dear ones, whether you are a sorcerer, a thief, a murderer, or an ordinary sinner, Christ is your only hope of heaven. He alone can forgive your sins, wash you with His blood and make you acceptable to His Holy Father. He alone can make the vilest sinner clean. He alone can change the leopard’s spots or the color of a man’s heart. It is Jesus, He is the good news incarnate and ascended. The good news is that no sinner, no sinner whatever, is beyond the grace of God in Christ. The Bible tells us that all who come to Him will be welcomed and saved to the uttermost. All who call upon Him will be heard and forgiven their many and horrible sins against the Holy God who made them. All the weary who come will find rest for their never dying souls. This is the good news.

Salvation is not by might, it is not by human strength, rather, it is accomplished by the power of God the Holy Spirit. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye He raises the hell bound sinner from his spiritual death. In that moment He reveals his sinfulness, guilt, and the reality of heaven and hell. In that moment He teaches the sinner the most wonderful thing; Jesus died and he died for you! God the Spirit gives the sinner all things necessary for going to Christ and then he goes. He goes crying out "Lord save me or I die." Lord be merciful to me the sinner." "Lord I have wandered to and fro on this earth and have not found peace. I seek it now in Thee. I come to you by faith a sinner with no goodness to offer. Lord Jesus save me for your sake, save me."

Let me share another mans description of the gospel with you. "The master theme of the Christian gospel is salvation. Salvation is a picture-word of wide application that expresses the idea of rescue from jeopardy and misery into a state of safety. The gospel proclaims that the God who saved Israel from Egypt, Jonah from the fish’s belly, the psalmist from death, and the soldiers from drowning (Exod. 15:2; Jon. 2:9; Ps. 116:6; Acts 27:31), SAVES ALL WHO TRUST CHRIST FROM SIN AND SIN’S CONSEQUENCES!

As these earthly deliverances were wholly God’s work, and not instances of people saving themselves with God’s help, so it is with salvation from sin and death. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it [either faith as such or salvation and faith together] is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). "Salvation comes from the LORD" (Jon. 2:9).

What are believing sinners saved from? From their former position under the wrath of God, the dominion of sin, and the power of death (Rom. 1:18; 3:9; 5:21); from their natural condition of being mastered by the world, the flesh, and the devil (John 8:23-24; Rom. 8:7-8; 1 John 5:19); from the fears that a sinful life engenders (Rom. 8:15; 2 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 2:14-15), and from the many vicious habits that were part of it (Eph. 4:17-24; 1 Thess. 4:3-8; Titus 2:11-3:6).

Our salvation involves, first, Christ dying for us and, second, Christ living in us (John 15:4; 17:26; Col. 1:27) and we living in Christ, united with him in his death and risen life (Rom. 6:3-10; Col. 2:12, 20; 3:1). Jesus was foreordained to be our representative head and substitutionary sin-bearer (1 Pet. 1:18-20; cf. Matt. 1:21), and we were chosen to be effectually called, conformed to his image, and glorified by the Spirit’s power (Rom. 8:11, 29-30).

Believing sinners are saved from sin and death through faith in Jesus, but what are they saved for? They are saved to live, for time and eternity, in love to God—Father, Son, and Spirit—and to their neighbors. The source of love for God is knowledge of God’s redeeming love for us, and the evidence of love for God is neighbor-love (1 John 4:19-21). God’s purpose, here and hereafter, is to keep expressing his love in Christ to us, and our goal must be to keep expressing our love to the three Persons of the one God by worship and service in Christ." (End Quote)

May we who are saved help others find hope and life in Christ by loving them and God with all our hearts. May we never despair because the one we love is a stubborn son of the devil. Folks all men and women are the children of the devil living in the bonds of iniquity. But when God the Holy Spirit is sent to deal with them they are changed in a moment. Whether king or magician, in the blink of an eye the sinner is translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. In the span of a breath the rebel enemy of God is turned to seek forgiveness by faith in Christ. And we know that all who seek are promised they will find.