1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Then, Saul, who also is called Paul, 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes upon him. 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: Acts thirteen nine. Dear Lord, as I speak, I thank 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: you that you are transforming me from a lamb into 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: a lion in the same way that you promoted Paul 6 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: with a name change. To day, I receive my new 7 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: name because of jesus sacrifice. I was once called fearful, 8 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,840 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 --> 00:00:52,239 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 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: season in my life, I will now level up and 13 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: step into a new dimension of who I am with 14 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: an even greater influence and understanding. I declare that any 15 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: and all old names that have ever limited my life 16 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: are gone and done away with. Behold, I stand as 17 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: a new creation, ready to proclaim the works of Jesus. 18 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name. Amen, thanks for making prayer a priority 19 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,399 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 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot Com. 22 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 2: Saul to Paul, In our last story, we witnessed the 23 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: tragic yet noble death of James. He would be the 24 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 2: first apostle to be martyred, and he would not be 25 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,959 Speaker 2: the last. As persecution of the church increased, so did 26 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: the risk of imprisonment. Yet death was no match for Jesus, 27 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: nor is it a threat to those who believe in him. 28 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 2: So Peter pressed onward. Now we focus on the ministry 29 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 2: of Saul, who learns how to protect the sheep of 30 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: God with his words and thus transitions into the ministry 31 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: of apostleship inspired by the Book of Acts. 32 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 3: I'm so glad you've joined us on the Bible in 33 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 3: a Year podcast today, But before we get to today's episode, 34 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love 35 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you 36 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day from the moment 37 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits 38 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 3: the pillow. There are thousands of things demanding our attention. 39 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 3: But it's in the midst of all this crush and 40 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and 41 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help 42 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life giving, 43 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 3: life changing word by sending you my free daily email 44 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 3: devotional PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot org to sign 45 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 3: up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jagraham dot org 46 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,679 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. In our last episode, we heard 47 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 3: how Herod put James to death and imprisoned Peter. It 48 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 3: seemed that the enemy had gained an upper hand, but 49 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 3: the Church gathered in fervent prayer, and God delivered Peter 50 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 3: from his chains and dealt with Herod, also striking him 51 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 3: down for seeking glory over God. The church continued to 52 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 3: grow and multiplied, powered by the work of the Holy Spirit. 53 00:03:55,400 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 3: These prayerful, faithful Christians shared courageously the good news of 54 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 3: Jesus Christ to the world. And today we'll hear how 55 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 3: Saul grows into his own ministry and stands firm in 56 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 3: the truth. Saul, who was dramatically and dynamically converted on 57 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 3: the road to Damascus, is about to defend the flock 58 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 3: against false teachers who try to lead them astray. So 59 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 3: let's listen now to God's Holy Word. 60 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 2: The Church and Antioch continued to strengthen day by day 61 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: through the teaching and leading of Barnabas and Saul. As 62 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: the leaders of the church prayed with one another, the 63 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit tugged on their hearts to depart from Antioch 64 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: towards Cypress. Barnabas and Saul listened and set sail for 65 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: the island of Cyprus. They were filled with hope that 66 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 2: the Lord would move, but there was no telling what 67 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 2: dangers dwelled in the middle of the island. Barnabas and 68 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: Saul stepped foot onto the shores of Cyprus. The peaceful 69 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: port country was filled with sailors, fishermen, and synagogues. However, 70 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: underneath the quaint exterior was a lingering evil, a presence 71 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: that slowly poisoned the people without knowledge. Saul sensed it 72 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 2: and kept alert as he met the people of Cyprus. 73 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: The two men ventured to Paphos, which was at the 74 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 2: end of the island. Saul sensed a shift in the 75 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: air as they walked. Something was not right, something was unsettling. 76 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 2: Emerging from a home nestled on the shores of Paphos 77 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: was a man by the name of bar Jesus. He 78 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: emerged from his home with staff in hand, glaring at 79 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: the two travelers. The second Saul's eyes met his, he 80 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: knew that this man was the source of the evil. 81 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: This man had a mind held by the enemy. Bar 82 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: Jesus was a man of dark arts. He dabbled in 83 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 2: things better left alone, and sacrificed to them for power. 84 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: Not only this, but he was also a man of 85 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: great influence and intelligence. It made him dangerous. Saul and 86 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 2: Barnabas went to preach in the city, but bar Jesus 87 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: would whisper lies into their ears and spin tales about them. Saul, 88 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: filled with the spirit of God, confronted him. You are 89 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 2: a son of the enemy himself. Saul said, with commanding force. 90 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: He took a step forward, causing bar Jesus to step back. 91 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: You are an enemy of righteousness and filled with corruption. 92 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 2: Look me in the eyes and hear what I am saying. 93 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: Stop muddying the pure waters of God. Saul paused to 94 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 2: look at bar Jesus. There was no sign of remorse 95 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 2: in his eyes. Saul pointed to him and said, the 96 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 2: Lord's hand is upon you. For a time, your eyes 97 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 2: will be dimmed to the light of the sun. Blindness 98 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,679 Speaker 2: will overtake you, as it once did to me. Every 99 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: person watching saw bar Jesus's eyes fade into darkness, as 100 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: if he was caught in a dark cloud. Bar Jesus 101 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: stumbled blindly onto the floor. This was the moment Saul 102 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: had truly felt the spirit of God move through him. 103 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: Bar Jesus was leading the sheep of God astray, and 104 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: as Saul spoke, he felt the shepherding heart of God. 105 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 2: He spoke in boldness and stepped forward in authority. This 106 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: was the moment Saul of Tarsus ceased to exist. Now 107 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 2: there was only Paul the Apostle. So Paul and Barnabas 108 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: ventured forth to preach in Pomphylia. They sat in the 109 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: synagogues and proclaimed the word of the Lord. Paul was 110 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: able to take what he had learned as a child 111 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: and weave the story of Israel and the story of 112 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 2: Jesus together into a beautiful tapestry. At first they preached 113 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: to the Jews, and then droves of Jews and Gentiles 114 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: alike gathered together to hear Paul speak. The Jews became 115 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 2: jealous that the Gentiles were allowed to enter into Paul's 116 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: presence and hear his teaching. They spat and reviled them, 117 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: but Paul would not stand for it. The word of 118 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: God was given to you first, yet you treated like 119 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 2: trash and toss it aside. So behold, we preach to 120 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 2: those who have been far off. We preach to those 121 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: who would listen. We preach to those who have not 122 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 2: grown complacent in their hearing of truth. So the Gentiles 123 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: rejoiced that they were able to enter into God's presence. 124 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: They looked to Jesus and believed. Yet some of the 125 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: Antioch Jews were not without their bitterness. They plotted against 126 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 2: the disciples and sought to destroy them, as they once 127 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 2: did Jesus. 128 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 3: In God's Word today we read that Barnabas and Saul 129 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 3: are ministering in Antioch. Under their guidance, the church there 130 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 3: had grown in numbers and in strength, with other leaders 131 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 3: emerging to guide the body of Christ in that city. 132 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 3: And so as Saul and Barnabas prayed and fasted, the 133 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 3: Holy Spirit spoke to them, saying they were to leave. 134 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 3: There was work to be done in other places, brand 135 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 3: new places. So the Christians and Antioch laid hands on 136 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: them and sent them off to pursue God's calling. With 137 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 3: them was John Mark, a young believer from Jerusalem, they 138 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 3: set sail and arrived on the island of Cyprus, where 139 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:20,079 Speaker 3: they began proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogues. These missionaries 140 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 3: traveled across the island, telling all who would listen about Jesus, 141 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 3: the Son of God, who had come, lived and died, 142 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,839 Speaker 3: rose again in order that they might know eternal life. 143 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 3: When they reached the far end of the island, they 144 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 3: encountered a man named bar Jesus. He was called a 145 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 3: magician and was a false prophet who led many astray 146 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 3: with his considerable influence. Persecution was not the only threat 147 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 3: to the church and the work of spreading the good news. 148 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 3: Satan does not employ one single tactic to lead people 149 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 3: away from God and his truth. This false prophet worked 150 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 3: to undermine Saul and Barnabas's preaching and turned people away 151 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 3: from the one True God. He saw the danger of 152 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 3: this false teacher, Bar Jesus, and so he says in 153 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 3: Acts thirteen verses ten through eleven, You, son of the devil, 154 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 3: you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, 155 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 3: Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of 156 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 3: the Lord. And now behold the hand of the Lord 157 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 3: is upon you, and you will be blind and unable 158 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,199 Speaker 3: to see the sun for a time. As Paul spoke 159 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 3: these words to bar Jesus, the man became blind, dependent 160 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 3: upon others to lead him around. This man, whose name 161 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 3: literally meant son of Jesus, was anything but the son 162 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 3: of Jesus. He was the son of the enemy, and 163 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 3: Saul was not going to allow him to lead others 164 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 3: away from the Lord. Here we see the zeal of Saul. 165 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 3: Now Paul the missionary. Paul was defending the truth with 166 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:52,199 Speaker 3: passion and conviction, and this was his calling, his high 167 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 3: calling is a missionary of the good News of Jesus. 168 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,439 Speaker 3: From this point on into the scriptures, Saul is referred 169 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 3: to as Paul. This was not a new name. Rather, 170 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: it was his Roman name, whereas Saul was his Jewish name. 171 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 3: It is symbolic as Paul has now become a minister 172 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 3: not only to the Jews, but to the Romans, to 173 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 3: the gentiles everywhere. And so Paul and Barnabas continued to 174 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 3: travel around the region, speaking not only in synagogues, but 175 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,839 Speaker 3: to the Jews in the town squares, to gentiles who 176 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 3: came to hear the word of God. This was God's 177 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,959 Speaker 3: plan all along that everyone would hear the good news 178 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 3: of Jesus Christ and experience his grace. Many Jewish people, however, 179 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 3: were angry and still felt that salvation was not for 180 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 3: the gentiles. But Paul stood against this false teaching, rebuking 181 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 3: those who tried to turn the Gentiles away from God's 182 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 3: grace and mercy. The Gentiles rejoiced and received the Gospel gladly, 183 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 3: but the Jews in Antioch grew angrier and stirred up 184 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 3: persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who now had to run 185 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 3: to a new place, Iconium. The Gospel was still on 186 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 3: the move and those whom God was working through were 187 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 3: filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit as they 188 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 3: courageously took the message of Christ to as many people 189 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 3: as they could. Paul and barnabas ministry would bear great fruit, 190 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 3: but it would not be without challenges, and the next 191 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 3: time we'll hear as Paul experiences the pain of persecution firsthand. 192 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 3: Let's pray. God, we thank you for your word. Thank 193 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 3: you for reminding us to stand firm on the truth 194 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 3: and to be watchful of false teachers who would undermine 195 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 3: the message of Jesus and the Gospel give us the 196 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 3: boldness to take the good news not only to the nations, 197 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 3: but to our neighbors as we share the love of 198 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 3: Christ and his power to save. In Jesus's name, Amen, 199 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 3: thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 200 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, and before we go, 201 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would love to 202 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 3: send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement 203 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 3: every single day. So visit Jack Graham dot org to 204 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 3: sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jack Graham 205 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 3: dot org.