The Holy Spirit in Acts
Day 20 — First Mission Trip—Called by the Holy Spirit
Acts 13
1. In Antioch the prophets and teachers were ministering to the Lord and fasting
2. During this, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which
I have called them.
3. They prayed and fasted further and laid hands on them and sent them away.
4. Being sent out by the Holy Spirit they went to Cyprus and Salamis. [note that Cyprus is
where the people who first taught the Greeks in Antioch the gospel]
5. Elymas the magician
a. was opposing Saul and Barnabas
b. tried to turn the proconsul against them
c. But Saul filled with the Holy Spirit:
i. fixed his gaze on him
ii. said you are full of deceit and fraud
iii. you are the son of the devil
iv. you enemy of all righteousness
v. you make the straight way of the Lord crooked.
vi. The hand of the Lord is upon you and you will be blind for a while.
vii. The proconsul saw him blind, he believed, amazed at the teaching of the Lord
6. Sailed on to Pisidian Antioch
a. asked by the synagogue officials for a word of exhortation
b. Paul recounts the prophecies concerning Jesus
i. Savior from David’s line v 23
ii. Rejection by the leaders v 27-29
iii. Raised from the dead v 30-37
iv. Forgiveness of sins v 38
v. New covenant vs Law v 39
c. The people kept begging that they speak these things to them next Sabbath
d. The next Sabbath the Jews, being jealous, contradicted and blasphemed
i. Paul and Barnabas pointed out that the Jews were rejecting as foretold
ii. Therefore we are turning to the Gentiles.
iii. Gentiles rejoice, glorify the Word of the Lord
iv. Those appointed to eternal life believed. (those who believed appointed to eternal life?)
e. Jews incited the devout women of prominence and leading men to persecute Paul and Barnabas, driving them out, so they went on to Iconium
7. And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Observations on the Holy Spirit’s presence
1. Spoke during a time of ministering to the Lord and fasting
2. The Holy Spirit gave specific instructions.
3. The Holy Spirit called 2 men for a specific work
4. The Holy Spirit led them to a location
5. The Holy Spirit filled Paul which led to confrontation of opposition to gospel
6. The Holy Spirit gave discernment of the spirit behind the magician
7. The Holy Spirit allowed Paul to see the blindness coming for a while for the magician
8. The work of the Holy Spirit caused belief
9. In spite of persecution, the disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit
Questions:
1. What does “ministering to the Lord” mean?
Is the Spirit limited to speak only during times of spiritual activity?
Is it possible that we are more apt to hear during these times?
2. The term “called by the Holy Spirit for a work” is used frequently in modern contexts.
How can we know when it’s a calling from the Spirit or just a good idea that I had?
Is it our job to sort out the difference?
3. “Filled with the Holy Spirit” can lead to:
– specific changes of plans and location
– confrontation with opposition
– discerning motivations and outcomes
– belief
– joy in persecution
How does one get filled with the Holy Spirit?
– Luke 11:13– Ask the Father f.
– Acts 5:32– g.
– John 14:28–
– Galatians 3:5–
– Ephesians 1:13–
4. Are there things in your life that are hindering the filling with the Holy Spirit?
Have you asked the Holy Spirit to reveal those things?
John 16:8 says He convicts concerning righteousness. It may be that they are already
revealed, but we might not be listening.
The Holy Spirit in Acts
Day 21 Manifestations of The Holy Spirit in the Joyful Believers. Acts 14
Reflection, Notes and Prayer