- Covered In His Dust
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- Acts Chapter 13 (part 2)
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
👉🏽 Read Chapter 13 HERE before reading my notes. If you don’t, my notes won’t make sense.
Good afternoon Saints! ☀️
I’m just gonna say it…
I
love
Chapter
13!
We’re taking this chapter slowly, but I assure you… it’s worth it. Let’s get into it.
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Barnabas grew up in Cyprus, so it made sense for it to be their first stop. He knew the people, the culture, and the area well, which made it easier to start their work. Being a busy island for trade, it was also a great place to share the gospel and have it spread to other regions.
“Sent by the Holy Spirit,” but how?
"Sent by the Holy Spirit" probably didn’t mean they heard an audible voice. It likely meant they were guided through prayer, the confirmation of the church, and a strong sense of God’s leading in their hearts.
I want that more in my life!
We can follow their example by seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance through prayer, studying the Bible (like you’re doing now), and surrounding ourselves with godly people.
Barnabas and Paul were fasting, praying, and worshiping when they were sent, making time to hear God’s direction.
Slow
down
and
be
intentional.
In Chapter 9, Paul has his life-changing encounter on the Damascus Road, where he comes to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the Son of God. By Chapter 13, he’s sent out on his first missionary journey.
I’ve read these chapters dozens of times—maybe 50 or more—and it’s always felt like it all happened in just a few months.
But the reality? There’s a 10-year span between Chapter 9 and Chapter 13—God spent a decade refining Paul for his future ministry.
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.
In ancient Jewish synagogues, there was a tradition known as the "courtesy of the synagogue." After the Scriptures were read aloud, the leaders of the synagogue would often invite a guest or a respected teacher to share a message with the congregation.
This custom was a way to welcome visitors and hear fresh insights, especially from traveling rabbis or knowledgeable individuals. It wasn’t uncommon for someone passing through to be given the opportunity to speak.
This tradition gave Paul a chance to preach the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. While some accepted his message, others opposed it, but the synagogue often became a key place for Paul to share about Jesus.
Read Chapter 13:5 again. What’s missing?
Sometimes, what we don’t read is just as important as what we do.
In Acts 13:5, it says, “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.”
But notice what’s missing…
It doesn’t say, “And 100 believed” or “thousands came to faith.”
More often than not, that’s exactly how ministry goes. You pray and share the gospel over and over again, day after day, and no one gives their life to Jesus.
We need to remember,
The harvest belongs to Jesus.
He
alone
saves.
Our role is to faithfully share the gospel.
As a missionary, coming to that realization was like laying down a thousand-pound burden.
When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.
The name Bar-Jesus literally means "son of Jesus" or "son of Joshua," but in this case, it doesn’t refer to Jesus Christ.
The name Jesus (Greek: Iēsous) comes from the Hebrew name Yeshua or Joshua, which was very common in the first century. It was a popular name among Jews and means "Yahweh is salvation."
In the era of the New Testament, a magician wasn’t someone who performed sleight-of-hand tricks like we see today. Instead, it referred to people who practiced astrology, interpreted signs, or performed rituals to try to control events or uncover hidden knowledge.
Magicians were more like what we might think of today as palm readers, fortune tellers, or spiritual advisors.
He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
A proconsul was a high-ranking Roman official who governed a province on behalf of the Roman Senate. Similar to a governor, they had the power to oversee administration and enforce laws in their region. Their term usually lasted one year.
“A man of intelligence hungry for the Lord.” Would the people closest to you describe you that way? Hungry for the Lord? I crave that hunger.
But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
You know what I love about this verse? Again, it’s a small detail, but I love that Luke doesn’t call him Bar-Jesus. It’s as if to say, ‘This man doesn’t deserve to bear a name that means “son of Jesus.”’ Instead, Luke uses Elymas, a name more fitting for someone who opposes the work of God.
But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.”
“You’re no son of Jesus; you’re the son of the devil!”
This moment in Acts 13:11 can be seen as both punishment and compassion.
Why it was punishment:
Elymas was actively opposing the gospel and trying to turn the proconsul away from faith. His actions deserved consequences.
The blindness was a clear sign of God's authority and a warning to stop his rebellion.
Why it was compassionate:
Paul said the blindness would last "for a time," showing it was temporary and giving Elymas a chance to repent.
Paul himself was blinded on the road to Damascus, which led to his conversion. He may have hoped this would have the same effect on Elymas.
The balance:
God’s actions were just, but they also left room for grace. The blindness could have been both a consequence and an opportunity for Elymas to change.
Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
I love this so much.
When you read that scripture,
in your head it might have said,
“Then the proconsul believed when he saw the miracle.”
But it actually says something different.
Acts 13:12 tells us, “Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”
The miracle caught his attention, but it was the power of the message—the truth of God’s Word—that truly amazed him.
It was the gospel that transformed his heart.
for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
The book of Acts reminds us again and again: it’s not the miracles that change hearts; it’s the message of Jesus.
One Minute Inspiration
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
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George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 26 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
In 2024, George and his wife expanded to Cuba, joining forces with nine pastors committed to transforming lives through the gospel.