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Paul and Barnabas Part 1
 Separated for the Work of the Gospel and their Journey to Paphos
Acts 13:1-13

(no coloring page for this story)

There were in the church at Antioch, prophets and teachers who were Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul (who is also called Paul).  And as they were gathered together ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said "separate Barnabas and Saul to me for the work which I have called them to do."  And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands upon them, they sent Barnabas and Saul away and John Mark was with them too.  So they, having been sent forth by the Holy Ghost, journeyed to Seleucia and from there they went to Cyprus.

Now when they were at a place called Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.  And when they reached a place called Paphos, they met a certain sorcerer who was a false prophet (that means he foretold things that were not true) who was a man named Barjesus who was also a Jew.  This man Barjesus (who was also known as Elymas)  was with the deputy of the country.  His name was Sergius Paulus and he was a wise man who had called for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 

But the sorcerer stood against them because he wanted to turn the deputy away from the faith (by hearing the word of God).  Then Saul (Paul), being filled with the Holy Ghost, looked at the sorcerer and said "you child of the devil, you who are an enemy to righteous things, will you stop trying to turn away the truth of the right ways of the Lord?  The hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time."  And immediately a mist and a darkness came upon the sorcerer and he needed someone to lead him by the hand.  Then the deputy, when he saw what had happened, believed, being amazed at the doctrine (truths) of the Lord.

And after that, when Paul and those that were with him left Paphos, they came to Perga and John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

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Memory Verse: Acts 13:12 "Than the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord." (King James Version)

Questions:
1 What were the prophets and teachers in the church of Antioch doing when Barnabas and Saul were separated by the Holy Ghost?  Why were they separated from the others?
2  In Paphos, Why did Barnabas and Saul (Paul) go to see the deputy?
3  Who tried to stop Barnabas and Saul from seeing the deputy?  why did he try to stop them?
4  What happened to the sorcerer because of his wicked ways?
5  What happed to the deputy when he saw what had happened?

Answers:
1 They were praying and fasting.. they were separated to do the work which the Holy Ghost had called them to do.
2 Because he was a wise man who had sent for them because he wanted to hear the word of God.
3 A sorcerer named Barjesus..  he wanted to turn the deputy away from the faith.
4 The Lord caused him to be blind.
5 He believed, being amazed at the doctrine (truths) of the Lord.

Vicki C. Gross/Mar'05