Acts Chapter 13
This chapter is about Paul and Barnabas being sent out to preach the gospel, and records two specific instances where they did so, as well as the challenges they faced.
Preparation
Verse 2 tells us that it was while they were worshipping the Lord and fasting that the Holy Spirit instructed Barnabas and Saul to be set apart. What were they fasting for before the Holy Spirit spoke to them?
It seems from the text that that they were fasting as part of their worship of God, and this made me think – how often do we fast as part of our worship of God? We usually fast because there is a “work” to be done. We fast for evangelistic services, we fast that the spiritual meetings will be conducted smoothly.
How about fasting for our own spiritual cultivation? The worship of God requires our full submission to God’s will and very often we fall short of God’s requirements and standards. Would God be pleased with our service if we as vessels are not cleansed thoroughly from within?
For Barnabas and Saul, they were fasting as part of their worship, even before they knew that they would be sent out by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it was because of their focus on cleansing themselves that they were deemed to be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work (2 Tim 2:21). And, the Holy Spirit, testifying of this, indeed set them apart for the works they were called to.
Facing Opposition
We next see two incidents of Paul and Barnabas facing opposition when preaching the word of God. The first incident appears to be a triumphant one. When Elymas opposed Paul, Paul being filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked and blinded Elymas, causing the Proconsul to believe. Everything seems to be going well. Enemies are subdued, and people have come to believe!
The results of the second incident did not have such unequivocal success. Although some Gentiles did believe, this time, there was no special miracle from God to “triumph” over the opposition. Furthermore, Paul and Barnabas were thrown out of the city, thus preventing them from continuing their work there.
If we were in Paul’s shoes, having experienced previous successes in our work, would we now be sorely disappointed or discouraged that our efforts appear to be hindered a great deal more, and God seems to be doing nothing? Would we then give up in our service to God? Or having experienced the power of God in the first instance, would we then start to doubt and question God? Would we ask God in our prayers why He didn’t strike those who opposed the gospel, just like Elymas, so that those who wanted to listen would believe?
Paul and Barnabas show us the way here. They were not discouraged when their subsequent efforts were in vain. Instead they got up, shook the dust from their feet against the city, and moved on, ready to start preaching again in a different city, knowing well that the increase and results comes from God.
