Acts 13-14: What Amazes You about the Bible?

Paul and Barnabas set sail for the island of Cyprus. It was their first big journey as world-traveling missionaries. Perhaps they chose Cyprus first because it was Barnabas' home country (Acts 4:36).

The proconsul of the city of Paphos, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, summoned Paul and Barnabas to hear the word of God (Acts 13:7). A Jewish false-prophet and sorcerer (magician) evidently enjoyed some control over Sergius Paulus because he quickly tried to step between Paul and Paulus.

[SIDE NOTE: Incidentally, it was at this point that Saul's name was changed to Paul. Saul was a Jewish name, but it was laid aside in favor of the Greek name "Paul." This was appropriate because Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles.]

Did Jesus every do a miracle to strike someone blind? Did Jesus ever exert Spiritual power to hurt someone? Wasn't every miracle of our Lord for the purpose of healing, saving, and helping? But Peter was instrumental in the death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), and now Paul is instrumental in striking this magician blind - both by the power of the Holy Spirit. I don't think we have the same authority to get in someone's face and say, "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?" (Acts 13:10). We can't see men's hearts today, but Paul could, directed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Would you have believed if you saw Paul work this miracle? Sergius Paulus saw it, and he believed. But the wording of Acts 13:12 is interesting: "Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord." I would have expected it to say he was "amazed at the power of the Lord" or "amazed at the working of the miracle." But he was AMAZED at the TEACHING of the Lord!

We can get all bent out of shape wondering why we can't have the privilege of SEEING a miracle with our own eyes. If God would give us a miracle, then we'd believe. The fact is, we are saved the SAME WAY as those who saw the miracles. It wasn't the miracle that saved. It wasn't the miracle that had the saving power. It was God's word! It was only those men and women who were amazed by the WORD who were saved. We have the same power today - the power of the Holy Spirit through the revealed will of God.

AMAZING!

God bless,
Nathan