Acts 13

There’s an interesting contrast in this chapter between an unlikely pair of characters:

First, there is Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. Why did the author choose to describe him as “an intelligent man?” Without any detailed study of the passage, I think that he was distinguishing him from a religious man. The author was trying to let us know that this guy was smart, but that he didn’t know much about God and religion.

On the other hand, there are the synagogue rulers in Pisidian Antioch. These men are definitely religious and intelligent. They know much of God, the prophets, and scriptures, but they don’t really “know” God.

To both of these characters, Paul and Barnabas speak. They tell them all about the Christ, they tell them all that the prophecies have been fulfilled, and they tell them all about God’s plan of salvation. Only one hears the truth and believes, though.

If you didn’t read this chapter directly, you might be inclined to think that the synagogue rulers would be the most likely to understand what Paul and Barnabas are talking about, they would be the most likely to see the fulfillment of the prophecy, and they would be the most likely to believe. But they don’t believe. Only Sergius Paulus believes. And that’s in spite of the fact that he’s got a false prophet, Bar-Jesus, whispering lies in his ear. The religious leaders, who are already supposed to know God and are supposed to be on the lookout for the Messiah, run Paul and Barnabas out of town.

The choice for us is to be either like the religious leaders holding tightly to our traditions, temporal popularity with man, and intellectual superiority or to be like Sergius Paulus, truly seeking a meaningful relationship with God so that you can recognize Him when He appears. Be careful to not substitute religion for relationship.