Barnabas and Saul’s first stop.

This was Barnabas’ home island. Perhaps he had special connections that enabled them to meet the Proconsul. In any case, they had their first opportunity for a power encounter.

#1 The Charge   (Acts 13:10)

 “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?”

Was Paul Loving? We must distinguish  acts of revenge and selfishness from ministry.  Revenge is the getting back out of hate for what others have done to you. Selfishness consists of acts motivated to serving one’s own wants and desires.  Ministry however focuses on the needs of others even if sometimes it compels one to constrain one person in order to set another free.

#2 The Curse   (Acts 13:11)

 “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.”

#3 The Results (Acts 13:11b-12)

“And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand.”

“Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.”

Summary

We should not be surprised by power encounters. They are fairly routine when invasions take place. If a person would try to go into your house, you would probably challenge him on his purpose. When Paul and Barnabas went to Cyprus, the evil domain of darkness was challenged and displaced.

Go to the Next Stop!

Acts: Other BFF Articles

Acts                Introduction and Outlines Acts Map:       Paul's 1-2 Journeys Acts Map:       Paul's 3 & Rome Journeys Acts_07_        Stephen's Defense Acts_8.2-25    Persecution & Evangelism Acts_8.14-24  Simon & Gnosticism Acts_8.25-40  Ethiopean Eunuch Acts_9:1-22   Saul the Terrorist Acts_8-9        Perspectives on Conversion

Acts_10:1-48:       Intersecting in Time: Vision #1 Acts_10:9-16        Vision #2 Peter Acts_10:17-48      The Meeting that Changed History Acts_10:34-44      The Christian Historical Message Acts_13-14           Paul's First Missionary Journey Acts_13:1-3          Sending Out Missionary Church Acts_13:4-12        Power Encounter in Cyprus Acts_13:13-50      Gospel Message in Antioch Acts_13:51-14:28 Other Missionary Stops Acts 20:28-30       Detecting Error in the Church

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Biblical Foundations for Freedom

Paul J. Bucknell