Having delivered the gift from the church at Antioch to the believers in Jerusalem, Barnabus and Saul make their way back to Antioch in 12:25, taking with them John Mark. What follows is commonly known as 'Paul's first missionary journey', ending at 14:28, and is of great interest and significance.
1. God-directed mission
The first thing to notice regarding the whole work of mission is that it is God-directed. That point is made very plain in these verses - "the Holy Spirit said" (v.2); "set apart for me" (v.2); "the work to which I have called them" (v.2); "sent on their way by the Holy Spirit" (v.4).
This is something we've seen before in Acts. The church's mission is not man-made; it is the expression of the heart and purpose of God, the reason for which he sent his Son and now acts in power by his Spirit.
Although this is the first time workers are sent out, it's not the first time the Lord has acted to further his purposes in mission. We have seen him doing so in 8:4ff and 11:19ff through those who were scattered and also through Philip, one of the seven. The work of mission is a whole church affair.
But it is clear here that the Lord also chooses for his work to be done by those specifically called by him and set apart for this work. Mission is not the sole preserve of the "full-time worker" but such people are used by the Lord in taking the work forward.
So God is in control of mission and exercises that control through his Spirit. He calls and equips, he directs his people and calls the shots.
This is both humbling and tremendously encouraging. It keeps us in our place, in case we deem ourselves to be the ones by whom mission stands or falls. And it also gives us great heart as we face our limitations, in terms of resources, power and wisdom. Where we feel stretched, weak and baffled, how good to remember that the work of mission, which is a whole-church calling, is the Lord's work and is under his control!
2. Our part
But that is not to say that we do not have a part to play. Again, these verses show us, in principle if not in terms of details, what that part is.
i) Seriously Seeking - The first thing to notice about the church at Antioch, certainly its leaders, is that they were seriously seeking the Lord. It was while they were worshipping him and fasting that he spoke to them about this matter.
The word for 'worshipping' implies the idea of priestly service and seems to indicate that they were seeking God regarding the work of mission. Because his work was high on their hearts, it was a major item in their prayers. They set aside time for it and denied themselves food in order to do so and to show just how serious they were about this. It wasn't a passing fad but a passionate aim.
Their example is a real challenge, not only to church leaders but to the whole church. Would we deny ourselves for the sake of the gospel? Are we burdened for those who haven't heard but who need to? Is God's glory in saving his people a major item in our prayers because it's high on our hearts?
ii) Obediently Sending - Then notice that the church that was seriously seeking was also obedient in sending those the Lord had called to the work. They acted at once to send them out. This is not an incidental point. The Lord had called two of their most gifted leaders. How would they cope without them? They'd certainly miss them - which church wouldn't? But they didn't argue with the Lord's clear direction; instead, they took what he had said and ran with it.
Now, the way it was made clear to them is not made clear to us! More than likely it was through on the prophets in the church. But however the Lord makes his will plain to us, our duty is not to limit what he says or try to put it off; our clear duty is to act with swift obedience.
iii) Thoughtfully Proceeding - Having been sent out by the Holy Spirit and let go of by the church, Barnabus and Saul proceed to engage in the work of mission. How they do so is again of great importance to us.
The Lord's call was quite general ("the work to which I have called them"). Clearly, that is the work of preaching the gospel. But where do they start? What is the plan? That seems to have been left to them to decide, perhaps in consultation with the church.
They began by going to Seleucia and then on to Cyprus, which is where Barnabas was from, and went through the island. Maybe they went to Cyprus for supplies or because Barnabus knew the people and was more comfortable there.
The point that seems to be made is that they had a plan and stuck with it. They would go to major population centres, places of strategic importance. The Lord had called them and they responded by engaging in the work thoughtfully.
Mission is in God's control but we must play our part: seriously seek him, obediently respond to him and then thoughtfully proceed with the work, trusting in his overruling providence.
3. The Work Itself
But what about the work itself? What is going to be involved in that? The account of their time on Cyprus gives us a cameo of what all gospel ministry is about, whoever we are.
i) Proclaiming the gospel - In v.5 we're told they "proclaimed the word of God", beginning in the Jewish synagogues. The mission they were sent on, and that we as a church share, is to tell the good news about the Lord Jesus. The telling must be married to right living but telling is always essential and indispensable.
ii) Opposition from sinners & Satan - Telling will always be opposed, by sinners and by Satan. In this incident, the two workers are troubled by a sorcerer, Elymas. Here is evil trying to do its worst, Satan using a person steeped in sin to try to hinder the work of God and keep others in the darkness.
Whatever form it takes, such opposition is to be expected; this isn't going to be an isolated incident in the life of these early workers. We too must expect to be opposed and hindered in the same work.
iii) Success - But opposition will not ultimately be able to hinder the work of the gospel. Elymas does his worst but God is at work and, as Saul deals with him, Sergius the Proconsul is converted. Now, notice what we're told about him: when he saw what happened, he believed. Why? Was he amazed that Saul could call down such judgement? No; we're told that "he believed for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord". It was the gospel that made the deepest impression on him.
The work goes on today. The Lord is in control of the mission, calling out workers, seeking churches to be partners in the work. And as we engage in the work, faithfully telling the gospel, although opposition will come, we can be sure that the Lord will prevail. May he help us to seek him and obey him.
