Preaching Christ in Spite of Opposition

His name was Elymas bar-Jesus or son of Jesus. He practiced sorcery and was a false prophet. The consequences of his bad choices caught up with him on the day that he tried to prevent Paul and Barnabas from sharing the Word of God with the Roman proconsul on the island of Paphos. Paphos is a city on the southwest coastline of the Island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, near to modern day Syria and Turkey.

The Roman proconsul of Paphos, Sergius Paulus, is declared an intelligent man. “He called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.” [1]

I wonder how many intelligent mayors, parliamentarians, legislators, senators, judges, governors, prime ministers, presidents, and kings today have someone like Elymas whispering in their ears to reject Christ and Christ’s servants?

“Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [Elymas] and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” [2]

The Holy Spirit empowered Paul to boldly and publicly rebuke Elymas. The man was a deceiver, fraudster, son of the devil, and an enemy of righteousness. “Holy Spirit, please rebuke the men and women today who are negatively influencing our leaders and authority figures. Please thwart their efforts to pervert the ways of the Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.”

Elymas earned more than a rebuke. He needed a consequence. So, Paul declared… “’Now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.” [3]

The Lord was gracious to limit the season of this false prophet’s blindness. He had been a blind guide leading blind followers. Now, he needed a trustworthy seeing-guide who would not take advantage of his plight.

Earlier, the apostles had prayed thus, “Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered against the Lord and against His Christ. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” [4]

Rather than pray for protection, they prayed for boldness and miracles to happen in the Name of Jesus. Recently, I have been praying in accordance with Psalm 2. The Lord says, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” [5] I pray that the Lord will dash the unbelief that overshadows so many kings, leaders and people, and grant them salvation so that they kiss (worship) the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

The good news about the Roman Proconsul Sergius Paulus is, “Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” [6]

Paul went on from there to preach to a gathering of Jews and God-fearers. He addressed them thus, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God…” “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the Word of this salvation has been sent.” [7] What a blessing it is for a preacher to find a group of people who fear God. They want someone to share with them what God has to say about saving their souls.

Paul spoke the truth when He told his listeners that “through this Man [referring to Jesus Christ] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.” In fact, “By Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” [8]

God’s forgiveness of our sins is the most important issue for humanity, not what political pundits preach. To get one’s name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, one must accept and profess the blood of the Lamb as the only efficacious atoning sacrifice to cleanse sins away.

Paul warned deniers and rejectors of this truth, saying, “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you.” [9]

“The Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” [10]

Obviously, the aforementioned devout and prominent women and chief men of the city were deceived by the devil to persecute Paul and Barnabas. They had their own sort of Elymas speaking in their ears to influence them to make bad choices. They rejected the servants of the Lord who came with the good news of salvation. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit kept Paul and Barnabas from bitterness and sadness. He filled them with Himself and with great joy.

[1] Acts 13:6-8
[2] Acts 13:9-10
[3] Acts 13:1
[4] Acts 4:25-26, 29-30
[5] Psalm 2:8-12
[6] Acts 13:12
[7] Acts 13:16, 26
[8] Acts 13:38-39
[9] Acts 13:40
[10] Acts 13:49-52