"THE BOOK OF ACTS" The Call Of Barnabas And Saul (13:1-3) INTRODUCTION 1. In Acts 1:8, Luke described the commission Jesus gave to His apostles... a. To be witnesses to Him b. In Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth 2. Thus far in his historical account, Luke has described how the commission was fulfilled... a. In Jerusalem - Ac 1:1-8:3 b. In all Judea and Samaria - Ac 8:4-12:25 3. The rest of Luke's account focuses on the ministry of the apostle Paul... a. Saul of Tarsus, former persecutor of the church, now apostle to the Gentiles b. Whose missionary journeys illustrated how the gospel was taken "to the end of the earth" [His first journey began soon after returning to Antioch of Syria with Barnabas and John Mark (Ac 12:25), with a special call by the Holy Spirit...] I. THE CALL OF BARNABAS AND SAUL A. THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH... 1. Started by men from Cyprus and Cyrene, by way of Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21 2. Strengthened by Barnabas, then later together with Paul - Ac 11:22-26 3. Blessed with a number of prophets and teachers - Ac 13:1 a. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus - Ac 4:36 b. Simeon called Niger ("black"), presumably a black African, possibly Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus' cross - cf. Lk 23:26; Mk 15:21 c. Lucius of Cyrene, also from North Africa - cf. Ro 16:21 d. Manaen, brought up with Herod the tetrarch (Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist and tried Jesus) - Mt 14:1-10; Lk 23:7-11 e. Saul, from Tarsus in Cilicia - Ac 11:25; 22:3 B. THE CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT... 1. As they ministered (worshiped) to the Lord and fasted - Ac 13:2 2. The Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work He had for them - Ac 13:2 3. With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands, they are sent on their way - Ac 13:3 [And so Barnabas and Saul are "sent out by the Holy Spirit" (Ac 13:4). Our next study will follow them as they make their way to the island of Cyprus. But for the rest of this study, allow me to share...] II. SOME OBSERVATIONS A. THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHURCH... 1. Note the racial, cultural and social diversity of the five prophets and teachers 2. Two from North Africa, one from Cyprus, one from Cilicia, one from Palestine 3. One was raised with royalty, another was wealthy, another a rabbi 4. Isn't this the way churches should be? - cf. Ro 10:12; Ga 3:26-28; Col 3:11 5. Churches should reflect our oneness in Christ, not our society's divisions (e.g., white churches, black churches, Hispanic churches); unless language differences are too great B. THE PRINCIPLE OF SYNERGY... 1. Synergy: the working together of two things to produce a result greater than the sum of their individual effects 2. Two (or more) working together can accomplish more than their working separately 3. Jesus believed in the principle of synergy - Mk 6:7; Lk 10:1 4. Barnabas believed in the principle of synergy - Ac 11:25-26 5. The Holy Spirit believed in the principle of synergy - Ac 13:2,4 6. We do well to support teams of two or more, not just individuals working alone C. THE PRACTICE OF FASTING... 1. Jesus said His disciples would fast, and taught them how to fast - Mt 9:14-17; 6:16-18 2. The church at Antioch fasted - Ac 13:2-3 3. Elders were appointed with prayer and fasting - Ac 14:21-23 4. Paul wrote of spouses fasting and prayer during periods of separation - 1Co 7:5 5. Fasting in conjunction with prayer is suitable in the life of the Christian and the church D. THE LAYING ON OF HANDS... 1. Used often in the appointment or dedication of service - Ac 6:6; 13:3 2. Indicating acceptance and approval of those who have been selected by the congregation - cf. Ac 6:1-6; 1Ti 5:22; He 6:2 3. Beseeching God's blessing and protection on those who serve - e.g., Ac 13:1-3 4. "...the imposition of hands, accompanied by fasting and prayer, was, in this case, as in that of the seven deacons [Ac 6:6], merely their formal separation to the special work to which they had been called. This, indeed, is sufficiently evident from the context. What they did was doubtless what they had been told to do by the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit simply said to them, 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul to the work to which I have called them.' The fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands was, then, merely their separation to this work." - J. W. McGarvey, Commentary on Acts, commenting on Ac 13:1-3 5. "It was a ceremony deemed by infinite wisdom suitable to such a purpose; and, therefore, whenever a congregation has a similar purpose to accomplish, they have, in this case, the judgments and will of God, which should be their guide." - J.W. McGarvey, ibid. CONCLUSION 1. Thus Barnabas and Saul are sent out on their missionary journey... a. Separated and sent out by the Holy Spirit Himself to the task before them b. With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands by those left behind 2. Barnabas and Saul will return to the church of Antioch of Syria... a. It will serve as the point of departure for Paul's three missionary journeys b. As Saul, soon to be called Paul (Ac 13:9), does his part in fulfilling the Great Commission Thousands of years later and thousands of miles away, we benefit from the work of those willing to go (and willing to send). May their example encourage us to do our part today in spreading the Gospel...Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012
