Commentary on Acts 13:11-13

By Bob Myhan

¹¹And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

J.W. McGarvey observes, “This is the only miracle wrought by an apostle to the injury of anyone’s person.” Well, that is so, if one does not count the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira at the feet of the apostle Peter (Acts 5). However, divine power was wrought to the injury of many throughout the Bible. Nadab and Abihu—sons of Aaron—offered strange fire before the Lord and were killed by fire from heaven; many who rebelled against God in the wilderness were swallowed up by the earth; Uzzah died for touching the ark of the covenant; and Elijah called down fire from heaven on those who were sent by the king to apprehend him. During the various ages of miracles, some who opposed the truth had to be dealt with in such a manner that others would be impressed with the power of God and convinced that the ones who wielded such power were the servants of God. If Elymas had been obstinate only, things might have turned out differently; but it must be remembered that he was not merely a magician but a false prophet, as well. As such, he claimed to speak the words of God. How ineffectual it would have been for Paul to have debated Elymas on which of them was a true prophet! Many today claim to possess miraculous power, including the ability to perform the signs of an apostle. Some of them are willing to debate such. But none of them can demonstrate the truth of their claims. Without a powerful demonstration, Sergius Paulus would be in a dilemma not knowing whom to believe. As the “magic” of Pharaoh’s wise men had to be exposed as a sham, so also did the “magic” of Elymas. And, as the “gods” of Egypt were exposed as powerless against the True and Living God of Israel, so Elymas was powerless against a prophet and apostle of Jesus Christ. And, how better to manifest that infinite power than to strike him blind, leaving him helpless?

¹²Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Lest some should say, “Sure, the proconsul believed; he saw a miracle. But I have not seen one,” there were many who saw miracles performed by apostles and others, but nevertheless did not believe. One must be willing to believe that which has been demonstrated to be the truth. Sergius Paulus was willing.

¹³Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 

Previous to this event, Luke has consistently referred to them as “Barnabas and Saul” and rightly so for Barnabas was the senior of the two, at least to the extent that time in service is concerned. But Paul seems now to have entered a new ministry—that of “the apostle to the Gentiles.” Jesus had already appointed him to the apostleship, but there is no record of any miracle performed by Paul prior to this. He received the command to be baptized from a man but the fullness of the gospel he preached was not from man.

But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. (Gal. 1:11-19)

There was no need for Jesus or Ananias to tell Saul to believe for he believed as soon as Jesus identified Himself to him on the road to Damascus. There was no need for them to tell him to repent for he repented as soon as he believed. There was no need for them to tell him to confess his faith for he implicitly confessed when he asked Jesus, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:6) Thus, the only thing remaining for him to do, as an alien sinner, was to be baptized and such was the only thing Ananias said he “must do.” (Acts 22:12-16) There is no indication that he ever heard a gospel sermon other than the one Stephen preached, recorded in Acts chapter seven. But soon after he was baptized he began preaching the gospel convincing many that Jesus was the Messiah. Thus, he was an inspired man for three years before the first miracle he is said to have performed. If he had power to perform the signs of an apostle, he had not manifested such as far as we can know from the inspired word. As an apostle, he now takes the lead in the comings and goings of the two men and their party. He is always named first after this. 

(To be continued)

A Study of the Holy Spirit (Part 8)

By Bob Myhan 

The Bible was not written in the format of an Encyclopedia. It is not a compilation of articles on religious subjects. Most of it, rather, was written as narrative. Some of it was written as epistles or letters. Within this narrative and these epistles, statements are made from which we must deduce the truths contained therein.

Take the subject of inspiration, for example. As He sent them out on the limited commission, Jesus gave the apostles the following encouragement.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matt. 10:16-20)

He later made the following promises.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26) 

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:12-14)

In defense of his apostleship, the apostle Paul explained to some extent the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit that he, the other apostles, the prophets and certain evangelists received in their preaching and teaching.

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:6-16)

When one studies the sermons that were preached and the epistles that were written by the apostles and others, one sees the personal and individual styles of the various writers and speakers. When we combine this information with the above statements we conclude that the Holy Spirit used the styles and vocabularies of the men involved to deliver the message God wanted to convey.

Consider also the following.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (1 Cor. 14:29-32)

The apostles could not be everywhere at once so certain individuals were given miraculous spiritual gift in order that they might “take up the slack,” so to speak. All of those who had the gift of prophecy were to be used but not all at once.

In stressing the temporary nature of these spiritual gifts, Paul explained that they would cease when all of the partial revelations had come together in one complete whole. When that which is complete—the whole revelation of God—came, that which was in part—the various partial revelations of God’s will passed away. (1 Cor. 13:8-13)

 (To be continued)