Gladly Acts

The Word of God is Powerful

Acts 13:5
And when they were at Salamus, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

Paul and Barnabas began immediately to hold forth the Word of God. Barnabas' nephew *John Mark went with them to carry their bags and care for their physical needs. As they held forth God's Word the power of God was manifest.

Acts 13:6-12
    And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus;
   Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
    But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
    Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
    And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
    And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
    Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

The Word of God is alive and powerful. When spoken on the lips of believers, God's Word produces the same results today as it did when Paul spoke it to the deputy. Sergius Paulus was astonished at the Word and he believed concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this record Paul, Barnabas and John Mark went through the whole isle of Cyprus preaching the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and yet the Word only records that this one man believed. God is willing to show forth His great power and give His Word if just one person desires to hear and believe. He will do the same for you today!

Acts 13:13
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

*John Mark left the work and returned to Jerusalem after having seen the great power of God in action. Although his leaving later contributes to a split between Paul and Barnabas, John Mark will return to the ministry of God's Word, work with Paul, and become the author of the gospel of Mark in which Jesus Christ is made known as a servant of God. Meanwhile, Paul and Barnabas continue their ministry of the Word in Antioch in Pisidia.

Gladly Acts

Chapters 13 &14

Antioch in Syria

NEXT - Antioch in Pisidia

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