1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Then, Saul, who also is called Paul, 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes upon him. 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 1: Acts thirteen nine. Dear Lord, as I speak, I thank 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: you that you are transforming me from a lamb into 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: a lion in the same way that you promoted Paul 6 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: with a name change. To day, I receive my new 7 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: name because of jesus sacrifice. I was once called fearful, 8 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: but now I am called courageous. When I was once 9 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: called doubtful, I am now called faithful. And when I 10 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: was once called invisible, I am now seen. When I 11 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: was once ignored, I am now heard. At every new 12 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: season in my life, I will now level up and 13 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: step into a new dimension of who I am with 14 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: an even greater influence and understanding. I declare that any 15 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: and all old names that have ever limited my life 16 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: are gone and done away with. Behold, I stand as 17 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: a new creation, ready to proclaim the works of Jesus. 18 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name. Amen, thanks for making prayer a priority 19 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: in your life. To hear the Bible come to life. 20 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for the Bible in a Year, brought to 21 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot Com. 22 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 2: Saul to Paul, In our last story, we witnessed the 23 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: tragic yet noble death of James. He would be the 24 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: first apostle to be martyred, and he would not be 25 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 2: the last. As persecution of the Church increased, so did 26 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: the risk of imprisonment. Yet death was no match for Jesus, 27 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 2: nor is it a threat to those who believe in him, 28 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: so Peter pressed onward. Now we focus on the ministry 29 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: of Saul, who learns how to protect the sheep of 30 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: God with his words and thus transitions into the ministry 31 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: of apostleship inspired by the Book of Acts. 32 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 3: Hello, once again, this is Jack Graham and the Bible 33 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. Our goal in the Bible in 34 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 3: the Year podcast is to encourage you in God's word 35 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 3: the scriptures, so that we could not only know what 36 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 3: the Bible says, but live out the truth of the scriptures. 37 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 3: So welcome. In our last episode, we heard how Herod 38 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 3: put James to death and imprisoned Peter. It seemed that 39 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 3: the enemy he had gained an upper hand, but the 40 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 3: Church gathered in fervent prayer and God delivered Peter from 41 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: his chains and dealt with Herod, also striking him down 42 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 3: for seeking glory over God. The Church continued to grow 43 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 3: and multiplied, powered by the work of the Holy Spirit. 44 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 3: These prayerful, faithful Christians shared courageously the good news of 45 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 3: Jesus Christ to the world. And today we'll hear how 46 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 3: Saul grows into his own ministry and stands firm in 47 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 3: the truth. Saul, who was dramatically and dynamically converted on 48 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 3: the road to Damascus, is about to defend the flock 49 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 3: against false teachers who try to lead them astray. So 50 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 3: let's listen now to God's holy word. 51 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: The Church and Antioch continued to strengthen day by day 52 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 2: through the teaching and leading of Barnabas and Saul. As 53 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: the leaders of the church prayed with one another, the 54 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit tugged on their hearts to depart from Antioch 55 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: towards Cyprus. Barnabas and Saul listened and set sail for 56 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: the island of Cyprus. They were filled with hope that 57 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: the Lord would move, but there was no telling what 58 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: dangers dwelled in the middle of the island. Barnabas and 59 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: Saul stepped foot onto the shores of Cyprus. The peaceful 60 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 2: port country was filled with sailors fishermen and synagogues. However, 61 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: underneath the quaint exterior was a lingering evil, a presence 62 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: that slowly poisoned the people without knowledge. Saul sensed it 63 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 2: and kept alert as he met the people of Cyprus. 64 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: The two men ventured to Paphos, which was at the 65 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: end of the island. Saul sensed a shift in the 66 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: air as they walked. Something was not right, something was unsettling. 67 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: Emerging from a home nestled on the shores of Paphos 68 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 2: was a man by the name of bar Jesus. He 69 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: emerged from his home with staff in hand, glaring at 70 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 2: the two travelers. The second so Paul's eyes met his. 71 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: He knew that this man was the source of the evil. 72 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: This man had a mind held by the enemy. Bar 73 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 2: Jesus was a man of dark arts. He dabbled in 74 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 2: things better left alone, and sacrificed to them for power. 75 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: Not only this, but he was also a man of 76 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 2: great influence and intelligence. It made him dangerous. Saul and 77 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 2: Barnabas went to preach in the city, but bar Jesus 78 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: would whisper lies into their ears and spin tales about them. Saul, 79 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: filled with the spirit of God, confronted him. You are 80 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: a son of the enemy himself, Saul said, with commanding force. 81 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 2: He took a step forward, causing bar Jesus to step back. 82 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 2: You are an enemy of righteousness and filled with corruption. 83 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: Look me in the eyes and hear what I am saying. 84 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: Stop muddying the pure waters of God. Saul paused to 85 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: look at bar Jesus. There was no sign of remorse 86 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 2: in his eyes. Saul pointed to him and said, the 87 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: Lord's hand is upon you. For a time. Your eyes 88 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: will be dimmed to the light of the sun. Blindness 89 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 2: will overtake you, as it once did to me. Every 90 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 2: person watching saw bar Jesus' eyes fade into darkness, as 91 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 2: if he was caught in a dark cloud. Bar Jesus 92 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: stumbled blindly onto the floor. This was the moment Saul 93 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: had truly felt the spirit of God move through him. 94 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 2: Bar Jesus was leading the sheep of God astray, and 95 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: as Saul spoke, he felt the shepherding heart of God. 96 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: He spoke in boldness and stepped forward in authority. This 97 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 2: was the moment Saul of Tarsus ceased to exist. Now 98 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 2: there was only Paul the apostle, so Paul and Barnabas 99 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: ventured forth to preach in Pomphilia. They sat in the 100 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 2: synagogues and proclaimed the word of the Lord. Paul was 101 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 2: able to take what he had learned as a child 102 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 2: and weaved the story of Israel and the story of 103 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: Jesus to get other into a beautiful tapestry. At first 104 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 2: they preached to the Jews, and then droves of Jews 105 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: and Gentiles alike gathered together to hear Paul speak. The 106 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: Jews became jealous that the Gentiles were allowed to enter 107 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: into Paul's presence and hear his teaching. They spat and 108 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 2: reviled them, But Paul would not stand for it. The 109 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: word of God was given to you first, yet you 110 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: treat it like trash and toss it aside. So behold, 111 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: we preach to those who have been far off. We 112 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 2: preach to those who would listen. We preach to those 113 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 2: who have not grown complacent in their hearing of truth. 114 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: So the Gentiles rejoiced that they were able to enter 115 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 2: into God's presence. They looked to Jesus and believed. Yet 116 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 2: some of the Antioch Jews were not without their bitterness. 117 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 2: They plotted against the disciples and sought to destroy them 118 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 2: as they once did Jesus. 119 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 3: In God's Word today we read that Barnabas and Saul 120 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 3: are ministering in Antioch. Under their guidance, the church there 121 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 3: had grown in numbers and in strength, with other leaders 122 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 3: emerging to guide the body of Christ in that city. 123 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 3: And so as Saul and Barnabas prayed and fasted, the 124 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 3: Holy Spirit spoke to them, saying they were to leave. 125 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 3: There was work to be done in other places, brand 126 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 3: new places. So the Christians in Antioch laid hands on 127 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 3: them and sent them off to pursue God's calling. With 128 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 3: them was John Mark, a young believer from Jerusalem. They 129 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 3: set sail and arrived on the island of Cyprus, where 130 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 3: they began proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogues. These missionaries 131 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 3: traveled across the island, telling all who would listen about Jesus, 132 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 3: the Son of God, who had come, lived and died, 133 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 3: rose again in order that they might know eternal life. 134 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 3: When they reached the far end of the island, they 135 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 3: encountered a man named bar Jesus. He was called a 136 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 3: magician and was a false prophet who led many astray 137 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 3: with his considerable influence. Persecution was not the only threat 138 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 3: to the church and the work of spreading the good news. 139 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 3: Satan does not employ one single tactic to lead people 140 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 3: away from God and his truth. This false prophet worked 141 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 3: to undermine Saul and Barnabas's preaching and turned people away 142 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 3: from the one true God. Saul saw the danger of 143 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 3: this false teacher Bar Jesus, and so he says in 144 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 3: Acts thirteen, verses ten through eleven, you son of the devil, 145 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 3: you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, 146 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 3: Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of 147 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 3: the Lord. And now behold, the hand of the Lord 148 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,439 Speaker 3: is upon you, and you will be blind and unable 149 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 3: to see the sun for a time. As Paul spoke 150 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 3: these words to bar Jesus, the man became blind, dependent 151 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 3: upon others to lead him around. This man, whose name 152 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 3: literally meant son of Jesus, was anything but the son 153 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 3: of Jesus. He was the son of the enemy, and 154 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 3: Saul was not going to allow him to lead others 155 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 3: away from the Lord. Here we see the zeal of Saul. 156 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 3: Now Paul the missionary. Paul was defending the truth with 157 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 3: passion and conviction, and this was his calling, his high 158 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: calling as a missionary of the good news of Jesus. 159 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 3: From this point on in the scriptures, Saul is referred 160 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 3: to as Paul. This was not a new name. Rather, 161 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 3: it was his Roman name, whereas Saul was his Jewish name. 162 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 3: It is symbolic as Paul has now become a minister 163 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 3: not only to the Jews, but to the Romans, to 164 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 3: the Gentiles everywhere. And so Paul and Barnabas continued to 165 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 3: travel around the region, speaking not only in synagogues, but 166 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 3: to the Jews in the town squares, to gentiles who 167 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 3: came to hear the word of God. This was God's 168 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 3: plan all along, that everyone would hear the good news 169 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 3: of Jesus Christ and experience his grace. Many Jewish people, however, 170 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 3: were angry and still felt that salvation was not for 171 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 3: the gentiles. But Paul stood again. It's this false teaching, 172 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 3: rebuking those who tried to turn the Gentiles away from 173 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 3: God's grace and mercy. The Gentiles rejoiced and received the 174 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 3: Gospel gladly, but the Jews in Antioch grew angrier and 175 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 3: stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who now had 176 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 3: to run to a new place, Yconium. The Gospel was 177 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 3: still on the move and those whom God was working 178 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,199 Speaker 3: through were filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit 179 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 3: as they courageously took the message of Christ to as 180 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 3: many people as they could. Paul and barnabas ministry would 181 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 3: bear great fruit, but it would not be without challenges. 182 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 3: And the next time we'll hear as Paul experiences the 183 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 3: pain of persecution firsthand. Let's pray, God, we thank you 184 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 3: for your word. Thank you for reminding us to stand 185 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 3: firm on the truth and to be watchful of false 186 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 3: teachers who would undermine the message of Jesus and the Gospel. 187 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 3: Give us the boldness to take the good news not 188 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 3: only to the nations, but to our neighbors as we 189 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 3: share the love of Christ and his power to save. 190 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 3: In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you for listening to today's 191 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. Again, this is Jack Graham 192 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas. I would encourage you to download Theprey 193 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 3: dot com app and make Bible study in prayer the 194 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 3: priority of your life. And if you are enjoying this podcast, 195 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 3: let someone else know pass the good news around to others. 196 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 3: And if you want to know more about the Bible 197 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 3: and how to live God's truth in your life, go 198 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 3: to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack Graham dot org. 199 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 3: There are resources and Bible studies there available for you 200 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 3: that you may know and grow in your faith. We 201 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 3: want to equip you and encourage you in the Word 202 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 3: of God. God bless you. Thank you for joining us today.