Acts Chapter 13

In this chapter we see the sending of Barnabas and Saul (Paul).  

One thing that I think is interesting is watching the growth and development of Saul (Paul) throughout the book of Acts.  At this point, Saul is the helper to Barnabas as they are sent out.  When they are listed together, Barnabas is listed first and Saul is still Saul (as opposed to Paul).  We'll begin to see the name Paul used more than Saul and his name will start to be mentioned before Barnabas (and then later he leads as he goes out with Silas).

This is somewhat similar to what we see in the gospels in the growth of Peter.  He started out as Simon and then Jesus called him Peter.  We see through the gospels as the use of Simon gets less and he is referred to as Peter more except for when he has some lapses.

Again we see the importance of prayer as Barnabas and Saul were sent out.  The church prayed and fasted and then laid their hands on them and sent them off.  This must have been over at least a day's time and likely longer since you can't really fast and pray for much less than a day.

I think that the encounter with Elymas is somewhat interesting.  Here they are opposed by this person, but the key part that God isn't happy with is that Elymas is preventing others from hearing and receiving the gospel.  So the Holy Spirit caused Elymas to temporarily lose his sight.  Usually there isn't direct action against those who are opposed to gospel preaching, but when they are keeping others from the gospel, sometimes God intervenes and takes them out of the way - at least temporarily - so others can hear and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Here we have another long sermon included, and as most others that are spoken to Jewish people, Paul begins with a Biblical context and background and shows that Jesus comes through the promise to David.  The statement "everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses" is very interesting to me.  Under the Mosaic law there were things, such as intentional sins, that could not be forgiven.  It must be that the people were aware that there were such things that they couldn't be forgiven of and this was good news to them.  Otherwise the response would be very negative against Saul and they would say that Moses law did all that they needed.

We also see that as the Jewish leaders begin to oppose the good news, Paul says that they needed to speak to the Jews first but since they rejected the message, they are now going to the Gentiles.  This caused great rejoicing on the part of the Gentiles that they could be forgiven and saved.  

Paul is doing two things of interest 1) speaking and bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to each group of people in terms that they understand and have background in and 2) going to those people who are receptive to the good news.