Acts: The Expansion of the Church
Session 7
Estimated reading time: 24 minutes
Strategy of the Spirit
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren
I have entitled this chapter of Acts: The Expansion of the Church, “Strategy of the Spirit.” It will focus on the first missionary journey in the Book of Acts. We will open up in
2 Corinthians chapter 10 and in verse 4. The King James Version says:
2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
However the Aramaic puts it this way:
2 Corinthians 10:4 APNT
For the equipment of our service is not of the flesh, but of the power of God and by it, we overcome rebellious strongholds.
In the phrase; “the weapons of our warfare,” the word “warfare” is the Greek word “strateia,” and it means “the warfare or the work.” It could also be translated “fight.” In
1 Timothy 1:18 it says; “Fight the good fight or war a good warfare.” The warfare part of it is the “strateia.” There are spiritual weapons to accomplish the work that is set before us. We will see this in the example of Paul and Barnabas. We also get the word “strategy” from this word “strateia.” A strategy is something that is a “strateia” or a “stratos” plus another Greek word, “a-g-o,” which means “to lead.” A strategy describes how the goals will be achieved in the warfare. It could also refer to the office or command of a general. A “stratego” would be a general who was in charge of leading the people to accomplish a goal; whether it was to win the battle or win the war or do something.
In business today we talk about strategic planning or strategic thinking. The emphasis is not so much on the tactics but on the goals and how they can be accomplished. For example, if a company has a brainstorming meeting in a business situation; the people are thinking of the strategy that will accomplish whatever the goal for which the business is designed. If I had to put one word in place of “strategy” of the spirit, I would say the “leading” of the spirit. Because if you say “strategy of the spirit” then you are saying that God, who is spirit, is the general. He is the one who lays out the strategy and that is what we will see in this section. So let’s turn to Acts chapter 13.
I have included a map of the first missionary journey for your reference, to which we will be referring for this chapter. I just want to review briefly what we have seen up until this point. Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Saul, after he had spent a number of years there. He then brings him to Antioch.
They minister together to the people in Antioch for over a year. Then during that time or at the end of that time, they are sent to Jerusalem to bring relief for the famine that is in Jerusalem. While they are in Jerusalem they bring a young man named John Mark back with them. John Mark is either a nephew or a cousin of Barnabas. This time period is around 46 A.D. when this happens. We are opening Acts chapter, 13 and verse 1 around 46 A.D. We will begin our journey in Acts 13, starting in verse 1.
Acts 13:1 APNT
And there were in the church of Antioch, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Simon, who was called Niger, and Lucius who was from the city [of] Cyrene, and Manaen, a foster-brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.
Some of these men we do not know very much about. Simeon, who was called Niger, which means “black.” So it is very possible that he could have been from Africa. Lucius was from the city of Cyrene; that definitely is Africa. That is where the country known today as Libya.
This man Lucius is referred to in Acts 11-20; where there were men that came from Cyprus and Cyrene. These men were some of the first people that were very excited after the Gentiles had first heard the Word under Cornelius. They were very excited to go and speak the Word to the Gentiles. These men from Cyrene and Cyprus ended up in Antioch. Lucius was probably one of those men. He is also in Corinth later on, if you recall, and mentioned in Romans 16.
Manaen is an interesting person because Acts tells us that he was a foster brother of Herod the Tetrarch. This is the same Herod that killed John the Baptist. Here you have a man named Manaen growing up together with Herod in the same household. Yet one ends up being a very horrible dictator type of leader, and the other one ends up being a wonderful prophet or teacher in Antioch. It is a great example of how people have a choice in what they want to do.
Acts 13:2 APNT
And while they were fasting and making intercession to God, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Appoint to me Saul and Barnabas for the work [to] which I have called them.”
The King James for “making intersession” says, “they ministered to the Lord.” That word “minister” is the normal word that we would translate as “worship.” They were worshiping the Lord. I do like how the Aramaic says, “they were making intercession,” because it shows they were together and were praying just like it was in Acts 4, when the people gathered together after the apostles were thrown in prison. They were praying and the whole place was shaken. What they were praying for was more boldness. It does not say what they were praying for, but we could superimpose here that perhaps they were saying, “Where do we go from here? What is happening now? What direction should we go in?” The prayer and fasting was really seeking what God’s will was.
This is the first weapon of the strategy that we see: that prayer, specifically, focused prayer is what allows God to start working in prophets or in teachers or in direct revelation to a person of what to do. The way in which it is described here; it says that “the Holy Spirit said to them, “Appoint to me Saul and Barnabas for the work to which I have called them.” It is like God is speaking. The word “appoint” there is in Aramaic is the word “perash.” We actually get our English word “pharisee” from this Aramaic word. In essence, because Saul was a pharisee, remember? Barnabas was a Levite. So God is saying, “I want to make Saul my pharisee. He is going to be my pharisee. I am going to separate him out to the work that I have called him to; and Barnabas as well.” The works He is talking about are similar to what is described in Ephesians chapter 2, where God ordains the works that we should walk in. He had a pharisee type of work ready for Saul and Barnabas to do together; and it was an appointment to a specific work. Verse 3 goes on and explains a little bit more.
Acts 13:3–4 APNT
And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid a hand on them and sent them.
And being sent by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there journeyed by sea up to Cyprus.
They had hands laid on them, but this was not like a formal ordination as we would describe it today. It was more of a commissioning and a blessing where the congregation got together, especially the other teachers and prophets, laid hands on them and commissioned them. We are going to see later on, what they really did was they commended them to the grace of God: that God would lead them, that God would show them where to go. They did not have a committee meeting to decide: “Oh well now we are going to Cyprus and then we are going here.” They were really seeking the direction from God. This is another key we see as part of the warfare. The Holy Spirit energizes the spirit in each person who is commissioned, for them to know where to go and what to do when they get there.
It was not surprising that they started in the direction of Cyprus, although, because Barnabas was from Cyprus. However, I do see this was not a senses decision they made as to where they should go. It was really God energizing in them the direction in which they should go from there. One of the most interesting things about walking by the Spirit, and when you talk about revelation, in 1 Corinthians 12, it lists all the manifestations. It lists word of wisdom first. Word of wisdom is the overall picture of what is going on, and then word of knowledge is the details of how to carry that out.
As we read on here, it says they journeyed to Cyprus.
Acts 13:5–6 APNT
And after they entered the city [of] Salamis, they were preaching the word of our Lord in the synagogues of the Judeans. And John was ministering to them. (John Mark actually went with Saul and Barnabas and was ministering to them).
And when they had traveled around all the island as far as the city [of] Paphos, they found a certain man, a Judean sorcerer, who was a false prophet, whose name was Barshuma.
Now we get into a really interesting incident; one of the very first things that takes place on the Island of Paphos. Paphos was a city known for the worship of Venus, the goddess of love. Basically, the entire city was dedicated to a deification of lust, for which there was a continual celebration of love, love, love. This man, Barshuma, is described here as a sorcerer. He was a Judean sorcerer, and he was a false prophet. He was also the advisor to the proconsul. A proconsul is the one who is responsible for the entire Roman province. So he was a very important man in the Roman government at this location.
You see how God starts orchestrating a connection, a God connection, where this man was a Jew, his name is “Barjesus” or “Barshuma.” He was advisor to the proconsul. Since Saul and Barnabas were only going to the Judeans, it was not likely that they had entree to the Roman governor. However, because this man that they met; Barjesus or Barshuma, had entree to the Roman governor, Saul and Barnabas were able to meet him. God made this connection.
Acts 13:7 APNT
This [man] attended a wise man, who was the proconsul and was called Sergius Paulus. And the proconsul called for Saul and Barnabas and asked to hear the word of God from them.
All of a sudden there is an opening to speak to the highest Roman official of that city and of that province. However, Barshuma or Barjesus, did not like this at all! So what happens next? We’ll read it here.
Acts 13:8 APNT
And this sorcerer, Barshuma, whose name is interpreted Elymas, was standing against them, because he wanted to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
The word “Elymus” simply means a “wise man.” He could have been similar to Simon Magus, the sorcerer. He could have been a magi; but it really describes him as a false prophet. He was using his influence with the governor to attempt to manipulate him. There must have been most likely, some financial remuneration involved. Barshuma was very unhappy when Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the Word of God. What does Saul do? What does Barnabas do? They do not get impatient and rush in to take care of this man. They had patience. They asked God what to do. So there is another key right here. Patience and waiting to hear the word of God. “What should we do about this?” We find out beginning in verse 9.
Acts 13:9–10 APNT
But Saul, who was called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit and looked at him (And it was as if God just said; “Okay, this is what you say. He opened his mouth.)
and said, “Oh full of all treacheries and all evil [things], son of the Accuser (son of the devil, that is the word “accuser”) and enemy of all uprightness, will you not cease to pervert the straight ways of the LORD?”
He confronts him with exactly what he is about. The word “accuser” in Aramaic means “eater of pieces of bread.” It is like when you take pieces of bread and pull them apart and then you eat it. So an accuser is a very, very specific word. It is at this point here in verse 9, it says, “but Saul, who was called Paul.” This is where Saul’s name is changed so that from this point on he is known as Paul. We will soon see why. This is what Paul continues to say to the sorcerer in verse 11.
Acts 13:11–12 APNT
“And now the hand of the LORD [is] on you and you will be blind and you will not see the sun for a time. And immediately a thick darkness and blindness fell on him and he wandered around and looked for one who would take [him] by his hand.
And when the proconsul saw what had happened, he was amazed (He was astonished!) and believed in the teaching of the LORD.
He was astonished not only by the miracle or the sign of this man immediately becoming blind when Paul spoke. He was also astonished at the authority with which Paul and Barnabas were speaking. What they said and when they said it; it absolutely came to pass! Here is another key that we see: when we truly do speak what God wants us to speak of the Word, then it has authority and it has power and it accomplishes what God wants it to accomplish. It is not our job to figure out what is supposed to be accomplished by that. It is God’s job. He is the one who opened Sergius Paulus’ heart. The miracle was really more of a side note to that. That is what happened on the island of Cyprus in a city named Paphos.
You can see from the map, they went from the island of Cyprus and traveled by boat up to the coastline of the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea to a town called Perga.
Acts 13:13–14a APNT
And Paul and Barnabas traveled by sea from the city [of] Paphos and came to Perga, a city of Pamphylia. And John separated from them and went to Jerusalem
And they went away from Perga and came to Antioch, a city of Pisidia.
It does not really say what they did in Perga. Nor does not say why John Mark left. All we know is that he did. He left them at that point. Now it goes on. They did not stay very long in Perga; then they travel about another 135 miles north through the mountains, to a place called Antioch in Pisidia. To clarify, this is Pisidian Antioch. It is not the same as the Antioch where they came from in Syria. This is another Antioch, which is part of Galatia. When we read about Galatians and read the book of Galatians; this is the first time that any of the Galatians heard the Word of God, which is really exciting. The rest of Verse 14 says:
Acts 13:14b–15 APNT
…And they entered the synagogue on a Sabbath day and sat down.
And after the law and the prophets were read, the elders of the synagogue sent for them and said, “Men, our brothers, if you have a word of comfort, speak with the people.”
They went into the synagogue and were able to start speaking from that point. From verse 16 to 41, we have a long sermon that Paul gives, which has the same elements as Peter’s sermon. He preaches about repentance. He preaches about the resurrection. He preaches about forgiveness of sins. People are very excited, and there is a huge response. Some good, and some not so good. Now we will look at verse 42.
Acts 13:42 APNT
And while they were leaving their presence, they begged them (the Gentiles begged them) that on the next Sabbath they would speak to them these words.
We begin to see a shift here from, yes, they were speaking in the synagogue, but then, all of a sudden, the Gentiles who lived in the city of Antioch became interested also. They heard about what was going on. “Well, we want you to speak to us too.” We see a rise of the interest coming from the Gentiles. However, the response from many of the Judeans was really negative.
Acts 13:43–46 APNT
And after the synagogue was dismissed, many Judeans followed them and also proselytes who feared God. And they were speaking and persuading them to be follower[s] of the grace of God.
And on the next Sabbath [day], the whole city was gathered to hear the word of God.
And when the Judeans saw the large crowd, they were filled with envy and stood against the words that Paul spoke and they were blaspheming.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but because you have pushed it away from you and have decided about yourselves that you are not worthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles”.
God is working in them to confirm those original prophecies that were made over Saul, that he would speak to the Gentiles, and he would be a light to the Gentiles. The Paul quotes this wonderful verse here in verse 47.
Acts 13:47 APNT
For so our Lord commanded us, as it is written: (That means it is written somewhere in the Old Testament.) I HAVE SET YOU [AS] A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES THAT YOU WOULD BE FOR LIFE (or salvation) TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
We will now read the verse from which this quoted; Isaiah 49, verse 6.
Isaiah 49:6 KJV
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee (This verse is talking about how God was going to give Israel,) for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
That word “salvation” is the related word to the Hebrew word “Yeshua,” which is Jesus’ name. It is a play on words that Jesus’ name means salvation or God is salvation. God’s original heart had been that the tribes of Israel were supposed to have been a light to the Gentiles and to bring them Yeshua, because Yeshua, Jesus Christ, came from Israel. So what Jesus did was he brought salvation. Now this salvation is being made available to the Gentiles. The Gentiles’ response is in Acts 13, verse 48.
Acts 13:48 APNT
And when the Gentiles heard, they rejoiced and praised God and those who were ordained to eternal life believed.
They were rejoicing over the fact that there was this incredible light by which they could have forgiveness of sins, and they could have salvation that God had promised, which always before the Jews had kept to themselves. Now this was going to be available to the Gentiles. So there was great joy. Verse 49 goes on.
Acts 13:49–51 APNT
And the word of the LORD was spoken in that whole place.
But the Judeans stirred up the rulers of the city and the rich women, those who feared God with them and they instigated a persecution against Paul and against Barnabas. And they expelled them from their borders.
And after they had gone out, they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came to the city [of] Iconium.
Iconium is little bit farther inland: this is in the province of Lycaonia. Acts 14, verse 3 shows that they were a long time in the city of Iconium.
Acts 13:52 APNT
And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
As the strategy of the Spirit was being unfolded, Paul and Barnabas were simply walking up the steps. “Okay, we are going here. This is what we are doing. We are speaking.” It just brought great joy. So I think that this a real key to look for also when the Word is being spoken. Are the people responding with joy? Because there will be great joy. There was joy in Samaria. There was joy when the first Gentiles, the household of Cornelius, believed. There was joy when Peter was released from prison, which we did not look at that whole section in Acts 12. There is joy when people believe and see the grace of God.
We will now take a brief look at chapter 14; what continues to happen.
Acts 14:3–5 APNT
And they were there (in Iconium) a long time and were boldly speaking about the LORD. And he gave witness concerning the word of his grace by the signs and by the wonders that he was doing by their hands.
And all the multitude of the city was divided. (There is sometimes a division that happens. Some people believe and some do not.)
Some of them were with the Judeans and some of them were following the apostles.
And there was an assault against them by the Gentiles and by the Judeans and their rulers to disgrace them and to stone them with rocks.
Oh my goodness! They were being stoned for what they were preaching. Now we know that they were a long time in Iconium, probably it was a year to a year and a half. As a result, Iconium became the center in that area where they were preaching the Word. It then as it unfolded over time there was division among the people; some were hardened into being against them and some were really believing and trusting God. Those people who had become hardened attempted to stone them there. At that point, they move on to other cities called Lystra and Derbe. These two cities are on that same road. Derbe is actually fairly close to Tarsus. We read that they were preaching there.
Acts 14:8–10 APNT
And a certain man was sitting in the city [of] Lystra, who was hurt in his feet, lame from the womb of his mother, who had never walked. (This man had never walked!)
This [man] heard Paul speak. And when Paul saw him and knew that he had faith to have life, (or salvation)
he said to him in a loud voice, “To you, I say in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, stand up on your feet.” And he leaped up, stood, and walked.
Can you imagine the crowd of people around seeing this? How excited they must have been to see a man who had never walked in his whole life just get up, leap up, and his ankles, his feet, everything just became strong and he started walking. It reminds you of the man at the Temple Gate Beautiful. What happened because of that?
Acts 14:11 APNT
And the crowd of people, when they saw what Paul had done, raised up their voice[s] in the language of the country and were saying, “The gods have put on the likeness of men and come down to us.”
The people tried to do was worship them as gods because of this great miracle that had happened. You can read the story about what transpired and what God showed Paul to say. The main point that I want establish is; as they went along, God unfolded the revelation of what to do, where to go, who to talk to, and what to say. They were walking the path as God was laying out the strategy. He was confirming to them, “Yes, go to the Gentiles because they are going to believe.” Now look at verse 18.
Acts 14:18–19 APNT
And while they were saying these [things], (While they were responding to the people about not worshipping them.) with difficulty did they restrain the people, so that no one sacrificed to them.
But the Judeans from Iconium and from Antioch came there and stirred up the people against them (Now this is just amazing!) and they stoned Paul and dragged him outside of the city, because they supposed that he was dead.
The persecution became so intensified that they actually were able to stone Paul and simply drag him out of the city and dump him there.
Acts 14:20 APNT
And the disciples gathered about him and he rose up [and] entered the city. And on the next day, he went away from there with Barnabas and they went to the city [of] Derbe.
So matter of fact! This is sad. The man was stoned and simply left for dead; but what happened again? See! The disciples rally around Paul, and they immediately seek: “What should we do? How should we lay hands on him?” It does not describe what they did. It just says they gathered around him and Paul got up as though nothing had happened. Not being sick for a week, not having to rest, not to needing to take a vacation! Nothing! He simply goes on; “Okay, well now we are going to Derbe.”
Acts 14:21 APNT
And while they were preaching to the citizens, they made many disciples. And they returned [and] came to the city [of] Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
They actually made a reverse journey from Derbe. Then they went back to Lystra, then back to Iconium, then they went back to Antioch. Then they went down to the coast again to Attalia or near where Perga was. Then they took a ship back to home, to Antioch. Again, as verse 21 states, “while they were preaching to the citizens, they made many disciples.” They made many disciples, not just a few, not just one or two, but many disciples, because of the great response from the Gentiles to the Word being preached to them, and what they were doing.
Acts 14:22–23 APNT
establishing the lives of the disciples and begging them to remain in the faith and telling them that it is necessary to enter the kingdom of God with much trial
And they ordained elders for them in every church, (They appointed elders in every area.) while they fasted with them and prayed and commended them to our Lord in whom they believed.
This word “commended”, I want to elaborate more about, because it means “to entrust.” They entrusted the believers to the Lord. They committed them to the charge of the Lord Jesus Christ; because even at this point they knew that Jesus Christ was the head of the body. Wherever they went and all the disciples they made, they were bringing them into the family, into their faith. “Begging them to remain in the faith;” to remain in the family, minister to each other, take care of each other. Then they ordained elders and those who had risen up to be leaders to help take care of the people. This word “commended them” again, means “to entrust them.” We can now read until the end.
Acts 14:24–26 APNT
And after they had traveled around in the region of Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
And after they had spoken the word of the LORD in the city [of] Perga, they went down to Attalia.
And from there they journeyed by sea and came to Antioch, because from there they had been commended to the grace of the LORD for the work that they had accomplished.
Remember, where we saw, at the very beginning, Acts 13:2, when they had laid hands on them and commissioned them for this work and God had said “separate me, Saul and Barnabas for the work to which I have called them.” What the believers did was they “commended” them to the grace of God. In King James or in Greek these are two different words, as in verse 23 about “commending” them to the Lord. However, in Aramaic they are the same word. When it says that Paul and Barnabas “commended” the believers to our Lord; they went back and explained to the people in Antioch that had sent them out; this is what they also had done. The same thing that the believers in Antioch had done for them; they in turn, did for all the new believers they had met in their travels. They commended them to the grace of God and to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 14:27–28 APNT
And after they had gathered the whole church, they were narrating everything that God had done with them and that he (Who is he? God!) had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
And they were there a long time with the disciples.
God is the one that opened the door of faith. Finally, we see the last strategy, so to speak, that we have been looking at: Walking by the Spirit! The weapons of our strategy, of our warfare, are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. You see, because when people walked by the Spirit, when they had patience, they listened, they waited for the word of knowledge and word of wisdom, they walked out and operated the manifestations of healing and miracles: people got up from the dead, lame men started walking, sorcerers got blinded. Things happened! The overarching theme we see in the strategies is that we simply keep speaking the Word. Speaking the Word, speaking the Word. Talking about grace, talking about the resurrection, talking about forgiveness, and talking about the Yeshua, the salvation that God had sent. Not only to Israel, but to the Gentiles.
Related YouTube Video:
Bookstore Suggestions:
