The Acts of the Apostles 13:1-52
13:1-3 The apostles are together expressing and sustaining their focus on God's plan for humanity. It is healthy for them to take moments to center themselves in prayer; their lives were busy and their work was significant. Their prayer and fasting helped them to maintain their humble intent, to not drift off or lose the significance of what they were doing. Meanwhile, God is still implementing His plan; He's great at multitasking. In this particular instance, God has a mission for Barnabas and Saul.
13:4-5 They begin travelling through and toward the places God wishes for them to bring the message. As official spokespersons, the apostles could ensure that God's message reached places where it might not have been heard or might have been tainted or changed because of the inefficiency of a worldwide-version of the game "telephone."
13:6-7 Bar-Jesus is explained to us as a sorcerer and false prophet. This word "sorcerer" describes Bar-Jesus as not only a sort of magician, but a man who uses substances to induce trances or alter states of mind. Essentially he's involved in drugs. Bar-Jesus's co-counsel, described as an intelligent man, requests to hear from Saul and Barnabas. Here is the identifying trait of intelligent people: open-minded curiosity. They listen to everything and then decide with perceptive what is truth.
13:8 Bar-Jesus, translated Elymas, did not want Sergius Paulus to interact with the apostles. Here is the identifying trait of controlling, unintelligent people: they limit the environment and opportunities of their victims and avoid diversity of thought.
13:9 The apostles live, travel and speak with the life and wisdom of God. This is especially apparent when they are defending a person from an enemy. Saul looked intently on Elymas; when God (in this case through an apostle) looks at us, it is with intent, complete familiarity. Our creator does not look at us like a species of strangers because He knows us, deeply, intently. Just as when a parent looks at a child with deep disappointment, God is looking at Elymas.
Side note: not to miss, sometimes Saul is called Paul.
13:10 Elymas' corrupt actions extracted him from God's family and established him as a product of everything "the devil" represents. Do not let this, or any word frighten you. No matter what we call or label as "evil" or "devil", "satan" or "beast," none of it has any control or power over us. However, we are dirtied when we associate with such qualities as deceit, violence, hatred, greed and Elymas has. Such qualities go against everything God is trying to promote and inspire among humanity.
13:11 Rather symbolically, Elymas loses his sight. Elymas can no longer see the sun, the light. This is symbol because indeed Elymas could not see the light. Elymas's eyes were closed to compassion; he was blinded by corruption and he certainly needed someone to led him out of it. A tough-love lesson, a symbolic admonishment and sometimes (usually) this is the only way we learn.
13:12 Meanwhile, Sergius received what he hoped for: to see and hear the message of God the apostles were bringing and teaching. Immediately he recognizes the truth and omnipotence of our creator and it astonishes him. Sergius believes because he was intelligent enough to inquire and his perception allowed him to see the truth of what he was taught.
13:13-16 Saul (Paul) and Barnabas continue along. Paul stands and begins God's ministry.
13:17 Paul begins a full, historical account of God's presence with humanity (covered in the Old Testament). As we can see, specifically from this book of Acts of the Apostles, the Old and New testaments are interwoven.
13:18-19 Indeed God led His children from their enemies despite the fact that they continued to forget His presence and His compassionate law.
13:23 Paul acknowledges the many "judges," faithful men of God, who were sent and guided on earth by Him in order to bring His message to the world. The method was not entirely effective and therefore God eventually sent Jesus, recall the Parable of the Vine-dressers, Matthew 21:33-36.
13:24-25 Paul's testimony enters the account of the New Testament, where we were introduced to John the Baptist who foretold and laid the groundwork of Jesus' coming.
13:26 The word of salvation has been sent to whoever reveres our creator for all of the life and compassion He freely and abundantly gives to us, to whoever promotes kindness in the world.
13:27-29 We remember very well the account of Jesus' life on earth as well as His death on earth, rendered imminent by those who refused to hear compassion and truth.
13:30-32 Paul's testimony reaches the point of Jesus rise in the spirit, the moment when the apostles (and much of the world through generation) would be taught that we are more than human-beings on earth, that our lives have an eternity with God to look forward to if we choose it.
13:33-35 Paul's account of God's intervention on earth is directed toward Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 55:3 were he explains that scripture which foretold of Jesus' coming had been fulfilled and that he was a witness of it. The apostles did not bring or teach a new message, they brought all the parts of the same message together.
Indeed Jesus did not allowed corruption against God. He was the pure embodiment and manifestation of compassion, humility and truth.
13:36-37 Although prophets before Jesus had fulfilled their purposes on the earth, they still passed into the spirit through death. Jesus, however, was so purely kind and humble, He bypassed earthly death and transfigured directly into the spirit. It's not surprising, look at all He was able to accomplish! Jesus' purity allowed God's love and wisdom to flow powerfully through Him, reaching all region and generation of the world.
13:38 Through Jesus we receive forgiveness because His compassionate message enables and inspires us to be more compassionate, more humble, focused, and determined in purpose. Through Him we are even able to forgive ourselves for our mistakes or our short-comings; we develop self-value and love for our fellow humans. As Jesus is the manifestation of compassion, any compassionate act or way of life is therefore completed through Him, regardless of if a person knows or believes in Jesus at all. Jesus is compassion, if you know compassion, you know Jesus, regardless of religion or culture.
13:18-19 Indeed God led His children from their enemies despite the fact that they continued to forget His presence and His compassionate law.
13:23 Paul acknowledges the many "judges," faithful men of God, who were sent and guided on earth by Him in order to bring His message to the world. The method was not entirely effective and therefore God eventually sent Jesus, recall the Parable of the Vine-dressers, Matthew 21:33-36.
13:24-25 Paul's testimony enters the account of the New Testament, where we were introduced to John the Baptist who foretold and laid the groundwork of Jesus' coming.
13:26 The word of salvation has been sent to whoever reveres our creator for all of the life and compassion He freely and abundantly gives to us, to whoever promotes kindness in the world.
13:27-29 We remember very well the account of Jesus' life on earth as well as His death on earth, rendered imminent by those who refused to hear compassion and truth.
13:30-32 Paul's testimony reaches the point of Jesus rise in the spirit, the moment when the apostles (and much of the world through generation) would be taught that we are more than human-beings on earth, that our lives have an eternity with God to look forward to if we choose it.
13:33-35 Paul's account of God's intervention on earth is directed toward Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 55:3 were he explains that scripture which foretold of Jesus' coming had been fulfilled and that he was a witness of it. The apostles did not bring or teach a new message, they brought all the parts of the same message together.
Indeed Jesus did not allowed corruption against God. He was the pure embodiment and manifestation of compassion, humility and truth.
13:36-37 Although prophets before Jesus had fulfilled their purposes on the earth, they still passed into the spirit through death. Jesus, however, was so purely kind and humble, He bypassed earthly death and transfigured directly into the spirit. It's not surprising, look at all He was able to accomplish! Jesus' purity allowed God's love and wisdom to flow powerfully through Him, reaching all region and generation of the world.
13:38 Through Jesus we receive forgiveness because His compassionate message enables and inspires us to be more compassionate, more humble, focused, and determined in purpose. Through Him we are even able to forgive ourselves for our mistakes or our short-comings; we develop self-value and love for our fellow humans. As Jesus is the manifestation of compassion, any compassionate act or way of life is therefore completed through Him, regardless of if a person knows or believes in Jesus at all. Jesus is compassion, if you know compassion, you know Jesus, regardless of religion or culture.
13:39 Jesus' message enabled humans more than did solely the law in the Old Testament; He enhanced it. He gave us further direction. He gave us purpose. The New Testament animates us, reveals us as fellow-workers of God and integral parts of His family. Rather than aimless human-beings, we are spirits alive in eternity, contributors to life and love.
13:40-41 Of the Minor Prophets, Habakkuk 1:5 declares to those who refuse truth and compassion that they will have to account for their rejection. It announces God's acknowledgement that on earth, all people are confronted with the good and evil and are therefore informed and responsible for whichever they choose.
13:42-44 This multitude, like many before them, absorbed this complete and compassionate message. At their request, Paul and Barnabas stayed with them and continued to give their testimony and thereby deliver God's ministry to as many who would hear. The whole city gathered; God's word unites.
13:45 Anyone contradicting a message of compassion is not a kind or logical person. These men were angered that so many had abandoned their corrupt law and had turned faithfully toward God. They wanted their authority back, are you noticing a theme? Evil and greed will always contradict logic in order to maintain their wealth and authority. Paul and Barnabas are quick to remind these men that this message was also offered to them but they refused and rejected it.
13:46 A particular phrase in this verse "judge yourselves unworthy." So often people believe that God's family is an exclusive family and that He dictates who enters and who does not. The actuality of it is that we, ourselves, choose if we are worthy of being part of His family. Our actions are our decisions: do we act (work, do,) and therefore decide to be good? Or are our actions evil, deceitful or selfish? If so, it is our own decision to reject our place in God's family.
God says to us: If you want to be with Me, here is the path. If you want to be with Him, walk the path, it is open and available to everyone.
13:47 God and the apostles first preached to those who knew and believed the Old Testament, essentially part 1 of God's message. When many "believers" rejected Him, God sent His disciples toward the people who had no foundation or previous understanding of His message.
Common logic would lead us to believe that people familiar and proclaimed believers of God would be more receptive to hearing an enhancement, a reiteration of His compassionate word through Jesus. However, that turned out not to be the case. Meanwhile, God wanted to offer all of His love and guidance to everyone -- it had never been an exclusive message but He had hoped that His children who had already been supposedly-established in His message would help share it; many chose not to and therefore God worked through the apostles to bring a massive message into the world.
"Jews": people of Judea at the time. Many of them refused to accept the link between the Old and New Testament, even though much evidence and testimony was given to support the relation. Why? Well, the corrupt ones had more selfish fun hypocritically enforcing laws and rules rather than absorbing the actually message beneath God's (not rules necessarily but,) guidelines of happiness and purpose.
13:48-49 The word of God continued to spread throughout region after region. These multitudes were receptive to the word and they wholeheartedly absorbed it.
13:50 Their adversaries wanted them out.
13:51 This was no trouble for Paul and Barnabas for two specific reasons 1) they had fulfilled their purpose of bringing this word to these people. They had heard it, absorbed it and therefore had been loved and guided by it. 2) In Luke 9:5, Jesus taught them (and us) to depart from our enemies without frustration or anxiety. Whoever won't have you (as a friend or a guide or anything) has rejected and therefore lost the privileged of having you. But you have not lost anything: you are still loved and made strong by God. Blessings flow abundantly to and through you.
Do not waste your time or your health or your effort on someone or something which has rejected you. You never need to be angry or frustrated or dejected because you are alive and prospering under God's wing. He will lead you to where you are loved and accepted if you let Him and during your journey, you will bring light to so much of the world.
13:52 Therefore the disciples were filled with joy and with the divine spirit of our creator. They were established in His love and guidance and also in their compassionate purpose. They were contented and joyful at having been purposeful and compassionate and productive in and through Him.
Continue along your journey with the same joy, the same God loves and leads you.
13:45 Anyone contradicting a message of compassion is not a kind or logical person. These men were angered that so many had abandoned their corrupt law and had turned faithfully toward God. They wanted their authority back, are you noticing a theme? Evil and greed will always contradict logic in order to maintain their wealth and authority. Paul and Barnabas are quick to remind these men that this message was also offered to them but they refused and rejected it.
13:46 A particular phrase in this verse "judge yourselves unworthy." So often people believe that God's family is an exclusive family and that He dictates who enters and who does not. The actuality of it is that we, ourselves, choose if we are worthy of being part of His family. Our actions are our decisions: do we act (work, do,) and therefore decide to be good? Or are our actions evil, deceitful or selfish? If so, it is our own decision to reject our place in God's family.
God says to us: If you want to be with Me, here is the path. If you want to be with Him, walk the path, it is open and available to everyone.
13:47 God and the apostles first preached to those who knew and believed the Old Testament, essentially part 1 of God's message. When many "believers" rejected Him, God sent His disciples toward the people who had no foundation or previous understanding of His message.
Common logic would lead us to believe that people familiar and proclaimed believers of God would be more receptive to hearing an enhancement, a reiteration of His compassionate word through Jesus. However, that turned out not to be the case. Meanwhile, God wanted to offer all of His love and guidance to everyone -- it had never been an exclusive message but He had hoped that His children who had already been supposedly-established in His message would help share it; many chose not to and therefore God worked through the apostles to bring a massive message into the world.
"Jews": people of Judea at the time. Many of them refused to accept the link between the Old and New Testament, even though much evidence and testimony was given to support the relation. Why? Well, the corrupt ones had more selfish fun hypocritically enforcing laws and rules rather than absorbing the actually message beneath God's (not rules necessarily but,) guidelines of happiness and purpose.
13:48-49 The word of God continued to spread throughout region after region. These multitudes were receptive to the word and they wholeheartedly absorbed it.
13:50 Their adversaries wanted them out.
13:51 This was no trouble for Paul and Barnabas for two specific reasons 1) they had fulfilled their purpose of bringing this word to these people. They had heard it, absorbed it and therefore had been loved and guided by it. 2) In Luke 9:5, Jesus taught them (and us) to depart from our enemies without frustration or anxiety. Whoever won't have you (as a friend or a guide or anything) has rejected and therefore lost the privileged of having you. But you have not lost anything: you are still loved and made strong by God. Blessings flow abundantly to and through you.
Do not waste your time or your health or your effort on someone or something which has rejected you. You never need to be angry or frustrated or dejected because you are alive and prospering under God's wing. He will lead you to where you are loved and accepted if you let Him and during your journey, you will bring light to so much of the world.
13:52 Therefore the disciples were filled with joy and with the divine spirit of our creator. They were established in His love and guidance and also in their compassionate purpose. They were contented and joyful at having been purposeful and compassionate and productive in and through Him.
Continue along your journey with the same joy, the same God loves and leads you.
