Thursday, June 13, 2024

Today's Scripture
Acts 13:1–12

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, also known as 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 listen — the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. (NRSV)

Reflection

Whom do you follow?

As a public health advocate for heart disease prevention, I am frequently challenged by “false prophets.” I say eat fruit and vegetables, exercise 150 minutes per week, and know your numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar. They say, “Don’t worry. Nothing works. Here’s my number — let’s go grab a beer, cheese nachos, and a deep-dish pizza.” Whom do you believe? Beware the nachos. Don’t perseverate — choose kale.

In today’s scripture, we see the fascinating beginning of gospel — as in “to teach, to deliver the good message.” I come from teachers; this is my DNA. Of the five best teachers at the Church of Antioch (including Simeon Niger, one of the few references to a Black man in the Bible), two were chosen to go forward and teach the gospel, one of whom was Saul, aka “Paul.” Yes, that Paul, and this is the beginning of Paul’s journey. He begins that journey in a hedonistic community — Paphos (think early version of Vegas). So not only is the first audience the most difficult, but immediately Paul confronts a false prophet, a sorcerer, full of deception and duplicity, who tries to discredit Paul and the gospel. (Think of today’s sorcerers — who or what is working in your life against the gospel?)

Now it’s crunch time. Accountability. Conviction. Character. Faith. Who holds the truth — the teacher from Antioch or the false prophet who incredulously carries a name meaning the brother of Jesus?

Isn’t there just a moment of unrestrained glee when Paul, using a powerful crescendo voice, calls out the false prophet? The sorcerer is blind to the truth. The movie hits its peak. The good guy wins, we discern the truth, we know to believe Paul and the denouement that follows. Proclaiming the gospel is established and beautifully endures now through millenniums. We can go forth; we can proclaim; we can mute the sorcerers; and we become custodians of, and emboldened by, the truth — the gospel.

Then we too are astonished by the doctrine of the Lord.

And we rejoice.

Prayer
“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”’ Amen.
(John 8:31–32)

Reflection written by Clyde Yancy, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church