Today’s passage: Acts 13:1-12
Helpful thoughts:
- Chapter 13 begins a new section in the Book of Acts. The gospel is now going toward the ends of the earth. The narrative will follow Paul’s ministry more closely from this point on.
- John, their assistant (Verse 5), is John Mark. He is the writer of the Gospel of Mark. John Mark at different times served alongside Paul, Barnabas, and the Apostle Peter.
- Bar-Jesus’ name means “Son of Jesus.” Paul calls him instead, a son of the devil.
- Jesus Christ obviously didn’t have any biological sons. But, there were many men with this name at that time.
- Bar-Jesus and Elymas are the same man.
- Bar-Jesus, as a false prophet, did not cease speaking the name of God. Instead, he “did not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord.”
- Satan is a liar and deceiver. Some of his best deceptions are those labeled as “Christian.”
- “Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance of God’s Word.” – A.W. Tozer
Questions to consider:
- What was different about this moment of the Holy Spirit speaking to these leaders and what we might see from someone writing a book about God talking to them today? How many people were present and involved in hearing this instruction? What was the point of God’s message? Was it to reassure their felt worth and value or to accomplish His will?
- What truly astonished the proconsul? Not what do we assume astonished him…what does this passage tell us truly astonished him (Verse 12)?
- How important is the truth we find in 2 Timothy 3:16-17? When we might be tempted to hope for a special revelation from God, what do we want Him to tell us? What has He already given us through the completed, authoritative Word of God? If we want something more than what God calls “complete” or to be equipped for more than “everything,” what are we revealing about our view of Scripture?
- What was most important about these men, that they heard this call or that they were ready and willing to obey it?