Sergius Paulus An Intelligent Man Sergius Paulus Sergius

Sergius Paulus An Intelligent Man

Sergius Paulus • Sergius Paulus was the Roman Proconsul on the Island of Cyprus. • He was without a doubt a real historical character. • Inscriptions with his name have been found on Cyprus, in Rome and in Antioch of Pisidia. • The story of his conversion is recorded in Acts 13: 4 -12. • We may wonder why God wanted this short clip of the Apostle Paul’s 1 st missionary journey recorded in the Bible for all time.

Sergius Paulus • I believe there are important lessons that can be learned from him and from those associated with him in this story. • Before we read the story lets look at the Characters involved. • Hopefully this will help understand the story as we read thru it. • Apostle Paul also known as Saul of Tarsus: – He was a true Apostle of the Lord – He had the supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit like the other Apostles and could give this to others by laying his hands on them.

Sergius Paulus • Barnabas: – He was a Jewish Christian from the tribe of Levi – His original name was Joses. – The Apostles named him Barnabas which means son of encouragement. – He was not an Apostle like Paul, Peter, James, John and the others. – He was from Cyprus.

Sergius Paulus • Sergius Paulus: – He was a Roman – He was the Roman in charge of the Island of Cyprus – Bible says he was an intelligent (Prudent) man.

Sergius Paulus • Elymas: – Was also known as Bar-Jesus which means son of Jesus or Joshua – He was a sorcerer and a false prophet – Evidently he was an advisor to Sergius Paulus – He was a Jew. • When Paul began his first missionary journey one of the first places they went was the island of Cyprus • This story begins in Acts 13

Sergius Paulus • Ac 13: 4 ¶ So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. • 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. • 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

Sergius Paulus • Ac 13: 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. • 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. • 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Sergius Paulus • Ac 13: 10 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? • 11 "And 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. • 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Sergius Paulus • When we are introduced the Sergius Paulus in vs 7 we learn two very good things about him – He was intelligent – Most importantly, he had a desire to hear the Word of God. • What a different world this would be if all men had a desire to know the will of God. • Up until this point his knowledge of God probably had been limited to what he was taught by Elymas. • Elymas was a man much like Simon the Sorcerer was before he became a Christian.

Sergius Paulus • Ac 8: 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: • 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. • 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. • Men like Simon and Elymas could be very convincing.

Sergius Paulus • This Elymas no doubt claimed to have the power of God. • He claimed to work miracles, He claimed to speak for God • But, Luke says he was a false prophet! – Ac 13: 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: • Sounds familiar doesn’t it? • How many do we see on tv and hear on the radio who claim to speak for God and claim to work miracles in His name but in reality they are simply false prophets?

Sergius Paulus • It may just be coincidence that he calls himself Bar-Jesus which means son of Jesus. • He may have been trying to capitalize on some of the fame of Jesus by telling others that he was a follower of or had some type of relationship to Jesus of Nazareth. • That is just speculation. • He could have actually been the son of a man named Jesus or Joshua. These were not uncommon names. • He certainly was not the physical son of Jesus Christ.

Sergius Paulus • Elymas was able to deceive many of the people and even Sergius Paulus • But, he was not able to fool or deceive the Holy Spirit. • When Elymas began to oppose things spoken by Paul then the Holy Spirit revealed to him and all who were listening just exactly what Elymas was. • Ac 13: 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul, ) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Sergius Paulus • Ac 13: 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? • I wonder what Sergius Paulus thought when he heard someone say this about his preacher? • He may have had the same type of reaction many do today when they hear Billy Graham or Oral Roberts is a false teacher. • How could my preacher be a deceiver, a child of the Devil and an enemy of righteousness?

Sergius Paulus • That may have been what Sergius Paulus thought initially but remember he was an intelligent man. • When he was shown the proof that Elymas was all of these things he rejected his teachings and accepted the Truth! • The Holy Spirit revealed what Elymas was through Paul and then proved what Paul said about Elymas was the Truth by performing a miracle thru the Apostle Paul.

Sergius Paulus • Ac 13: 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. • Elymas was rebuked for his wickedness and then struck blind in front of Sergius Paulus by the power of the Holy Spirit. • Being a man of intelligence, this is all the proof that Sergius Paulus needed.

Sergius Paulus • Ac 13: 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. • Why is it today that people will not believe someone is a false teacher when it is pointed out and proven by the Holy Spirit? • You may be thinking “wait a minute, I haven’t heard of any false teachers being struck blind today” • “How is the Holy Spirit proving who is and who isn’t a false teacher today? ”

Sergius Paulus • He is doing it thru the revealed Word of God! • The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Bible telling them what to write. • 2 Ti 3: 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, • 2 Pe 1: 20 -21 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, • 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Sergius Paulus • Since that is the case, when we read the Bible we are reading what the Holy Spirit revealed. • When the Bible says someone is a false teacher then the Holy Spirit is saying they are a false teacher. • When a preacher tells us that we are saved by faith alone but the Holy Spirit says we are not. – Jas 2: 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. • Will we be an intelligent person like Sergius Paulus and believe the Holy Spirit or will we believe Elymas?

Sergius Paulus • When the preacher says we are guilty of Adam’s sin but the Holy Spirit says we are not. – Eze 18: 20 "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. • Will we be an intelligent person like Sergius Paulus and believe the Holy Spirit or will we believe Elymas?

Sergius Paulus • When the preacher says infants should be baptized but the Holy Spirit says they should not. – Ac 8: 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? " – 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may. " And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. “ • Will we be an intelligent person like Sergius Paulus and believe the Holy Spirit or will we believe Elymas?

Sergius Paulus • When the preacher says to call him “father or reverend” but the Holy Spirit says not to. – Mt 23: 8 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. – 9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. – 10 "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.

Sergius Paulus – Mt 23: 11 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. – 12 "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. • Will we be an intelligent person like Sergius Paulus and believe the Holy Spirit or will we believe Elymas? • When the preacher tells us we don’t need to be baptized to be saved but the Holy Spirit says we do.

Sergius Paulus – Mr 16: 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. – 1 Pe 3: 21 ¶ There is also an antitype which now saves us-baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, • Will we be an intelligent person like Sergius Paulus and believe the Holy Spirit or will we believe Elymas?

Sergius Paulus • When the preacher says he is performing miracles but the Holy Spirit says he isn’t – 1 Co 13: 8 ¶ Love never fails. But whethere are prophecies, they will fail; whethere are tongues, they will cease; whethere is knowledge, it will vanish away. – 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. – 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. • Will we be an intelligent person like Sergius Paulus and believe the Holy Spirit or will we believe Elymas?

Sergius Paulus • When the Holy Spirit tells us what to do in order to be saved, will we be an intelligent person and believe Him or will we believe what someone like Elymas says? – Hear: Ro 10: 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Believe: Mr 16: 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. – Repent: Lu 13: 3 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Conclusion – Confess: Ro 10: 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. – Baptized: Ac 2: 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. • Have we taken these steps laid out by the Holy Spirit in order to be saved?

Conclusion • Remember what Jesus said? • Mt 7: 21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, ' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.