It would be harder to find a clearer contrast. On the one hand, we have the selfless church at Antioch, earnestly seeking God’s will through worship and prayer and fasting (13:2-3). And when the Holy Spirit spoke to them, they were willing to share some of the gifted leaders that God had provided for them, sending Barnabas and Saul off on a missionary journey. And of course, Barnabas and Saul were willing to go to new places and meet new people, regardless of whatever discomforts or difficulties might come their way. In short, the Christians’ primary focus was on the expansion of the Kingdom of God, no matter what it might cost any of them.

And then there’s Elymas the magician. He was called Bar-Jesus, which means the Son of Jesus, but nothing could have been further from the truth. For instead of seeking God’s will, he was a false prophet, saying whatever would earn him fortune or favor. And because he was hanging out with the proconsul, the Roman official in charge of the area, it’s obvious that he was more interested in the power of Caesar than in the power of God.

So, what happened when the selfless servants of Christ ran into the grasping greed of the world? There was really no contest. Elymas was rendered as blind physically as he already was spiritually. And even the proconsul could understand real power when he saw it – for he too became a believer. And why? Because what he really found astonishing was the teaching of the Lord (13:12).

And that teaching is just as astonishing today, as Christ continues to call all people to holiness and righteousness, to selfless service and unconditional love. May we heed His call, making the claims of Christ clear in both our words and deeds today – and may His truth and love continue to astonish the world.

Acts 12:25-13:12 (ESV)

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 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.”
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
6 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.
7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
10 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?
11 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.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.