Paul’s persecution of believers in Jerusalem caused numerous Christians to flee after Stephen was killed. Many moved north to Antioch, a Gentile city which had a very large Jewish population. There they could worship in safety. As a result, the church in Antioch grew quickly and it became the leading church of its day (Acts 13:1-12). When God’s light enters a culture or community, the forces of darkness that have kept it in bondage fight back. That’s what happened in Antioch. For more information on Antioch see my book, “What God Expects of Churches,” https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/wp-content/uploads/What-God-Expects-of-Churches-1.pdf
As we look at how the church in Antioch responded we can learn lessons that apply to us today. The church at Antioch was seeking God through prayer and fasting when the Holy Spirit revealed that Paul and Barnabas should be sent out on a mission trip (Acts 13:1-3), the first to the Gentiles. God will guide and direct us individually and as a church when we seek His will and listen to His guidance. This happens when we pray. They also fasted, and there is certainly a place for that in the church today. The idea of a mission trip came from God. It wasn’t an idea they had on their own or something they copied from someone else.
We know this church was multiethnic and had diverse cultural backgrounds and races of people. The leaders are listed in Acts 13:1. Simon called Niger was dark-skinned. Manaen had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch (a high-ranking political leader), and so was in the upper ruling class. They were from various social and cultural backgrounds. Although diverse, they united in mission and sent out Paul and Barnabas (see Galatians 3:26-28). When Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark (their helper) embarked on their mission, they had the wisdom and prayer support of their church behind them. They were led by the Holy Spirit to go to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyrus and eventually to Salamis, where they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues (Acts 13:4-5). They had a deep desire to take God’s truth to places where it wasn’t known or followed. They moved out against false teachings which were present in their day. Everyone did their part. Barnabas and Paul led the journey; Mark went along to help and the people at home continued the work of the church while supporting them by prayer and financial giving.
It wasn’t long before they came face to face with a demonized servant of Satan at Pathos. Sergius Paulus, a Roman official, asked to see them because “he wanted to hear the word of God.” He is called “an intelligent man,” and likely needed the kind of apologetic arguments that Paul could present. But Elymas the sorcerer (also called Bar-Jesus) “opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith” (Acts 13:7-8). It was then common for political leaders to enlist occult assistance; and this was part of the demonic work that Jesus came to destroy. This set up a power encounter between light and darkness.
Paul, filled with the Spirit, courageously sprang into spiritual action. He wasn’t afraid of this representative of Satan. He challenged him in Jesus’ name. He stared him down and condemned him as a “child of the devil” hell bent on “perverting the right ways of the Lord” (Acts 13:10). Paul then pronounced that he would be shut up by being blinded for a time. And he was. At this, the proconsul “believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord” (Acts 13:12).
God’s work in God’s way finds power over error, but this does not eliminate hardships and setbacks in our mission (Acts 14:22). Getting this far was not easy for the team, but they prevailed and won a convert. This was only the beginning of what God had for them.
Clearly Paul and the others knew how to identify and deal with demonic forces that opposed them. That is an important skill that is much needed in the church today. Foreign missionaries learn this by experience but the church in the USA often ignores or denies Satan’s work here. This makes his job much easier and weakens individuals and the church Body as a whole. (November 9, 2026 Doylestown, PA)
Luke 9:1; 10:17 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons. … The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
Do you and your church seek God’s guidance in how to move against error and unbelief in your area?
Do God’s people in your community work together in unity and courage to take the truth to places in darkness?
Are you able to discern the work of demons? Are you able to challenge and overcome that work?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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