13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers,... "We know already that prophets had come from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 11:27). Whether they all returned there we do not know. One or other of these prophets described here may well have been a part of that group, and have remained here when the others returned." (Peter Pett's Commentary) And Paul was a teacher of God. The names of these were—-> FIRST, Barnabas is named. He believed in Paul's sincerity when no one else did and defended and encouraged him in the Lord… SECOND, Simeon who was called Niger… THIRD, Lucius of Cyrene… FOURTH, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch... who had beheaded John the Baptist. "Learn thence that God is pleased to manifest the freeness of his grace, in effectually calling some of all sorts and ranks of men, to the knowledge and obedience of the gospel, and to a participation of the benefit offered in and by the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Burkitt) And FIFTH, Saul, who is called Paul. "The order observed in the list is a little window which shows a great deal. The first and last names all the world knows; the other three are never heard of again. Immortality falls on the two, oblivion swallows up the three. But it matters little whether our names are sounded in men’s ears, if they are in the Lamb’s book of life." (Alexander MacLaren's Expositions)
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
"A clear distinction is drawn between the action of the Church and that of the Spirit, which constituted Paul’s real commission as an Apostle. He himself says that he was an Apostle, ‘not from men, neither through man.’" (Alexander McLaren's Expositions)
They practiced the means of grace. And then: "We do not know just how the Holy Spirit revealed His will: whether it was a deep impression made on the hearts of Saul and Barnabas, or whether, on the other hand, it was a deep impression on the members of the church. But certainly they began to talk about it and said, 'These men ought to reach out and go to the regions beyond. God has given us abundant witness here, and now we should think of those who have never heard the gospel story.' In either event, the Spirit of God revealed His mind...
He still speaks to men [with a still small voice- 1 Kings 19:11], impressing them with the deep need of a lost world. The history of missions is a story of the miraculous working of the Spirit of God down through the centuries. One can think of many whose names will shine brightly before the judgment seat of Christ because they were aroused by the Spirit of God and obeyed the call to carry the message of Christ to the lost, both at home and abroad. These spiritually impressed men and women felt they could not go on in the ordinary walk of life but must give their talents to reach those who had never heard the name of Christ."
(Ironside's Notes on Selected Books)
After the voice of God spoke to them, they did not stop these disciplines. They fasted more and prayed. In Matthew 17:21, Jesus attests that some Kingdom works, being spiritual warfare, are only accomplished thus.
And the church members laid their hands on them, "as they did of old the beast for sacrifice, by laying their hands thereon." (Trapp)
"In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the offerer, recognizing his need of atonement and feeling oppressed by his sinfulness, placed his hand on the head of the offering. In this way he identified himself with the offering… So today when a poor sinner reaches out the hand of faith and places it, as it were, on the head of the Lord Jesus Christ and says, 'I recognize that the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me; I am identified with Him in His sacrifice'-then his soul is saved.
[BUT HERE] As the brethren in Antioch laid their hands on Saul and Barnabas, they identified themselves with their missionary efforts. They said in effect: 'Brethren, we are one with you in this missionary enterprise. You go out into the regions beyond, and we shall stay by you here at home. You go down into the dark caverns of the earth, and seek to find the gold and precious things that shall adorn the crown of the Lord Jesus Christ in the ages to come, and we will hold the ropes and look after your temporal needs and pray.' This should always be the attitude of those at home toward those who carry the message to the uttermost parts." (Ironside's Notes)
Acts 13 The Roman Proconsul Desired to Hear the Word of God
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit,… and anchored by the very souls of the home church.... They went down to Seleucia of Pieria,… ”the first city on the coast of Syria, coming from Cilicia; near the place where the river Orontes pours itself into the sea." (Clarke) And from there they sailed to Cyprus,… ”an island country in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea, "with a large infusion of Jews, overlaid with a Greek civilization, and overruled by Roman power.” (Whedon) And when they arrived in Salamis... "the capital of the island of Cyprus; afterwards called Constantia, and now Salina, situated on the eastern part of the island." (Clarke)
THROUGHOUT CYPRUS, THEY PREACHED THE WORD OF GOD IN THE SYNAGOGUES OF THE JEWS. At first it did not seem that they had an audience with ears to hear, yet the Word of God does not return to God empty, but it accomplishes that which He pleases (Isaiah 55:11) And "when they had gone through the [whole] island to Paphos” - "whole” “is added here by ... the Syrian, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and Itala; and also by several of the Greek fathers; and this must be the true reading, for it is evident they ran through the whole island from east to west..." (Clarke) "going from town to town and synagogue to synagogue." (Dunagan)
And finally, they came to the city of Paphos and ”a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose [proper name was Elymas but nickname] Bar-Jesus.’ As bar means ‘son,’ his name really meant ‘Son of Jesus.’... he undoubtedly had heard of the Lord Jesus Christ and His miracles. That name had been mentioned here and there throughout the world. He said in effect, ‘I am the son of Jesus and I am able to work wonders, even as He did.’” (Ironside)-- thus bringing His miracles into contempt. As the magicians and sorcerers of Egypt, by their enchantments, for a while did seem to do such wonders as Moses had wrought by the finger of God, Exodus 7:11." (Poole)
"The Roman aristocracy were peculiarly under the influence of astrologers and magicians, some of whom were Jews. We read of such in connexion with Marius, Pompey, Crassus, Cæsar,—and later with Tiberius: and the complaints of Horace and Juvenal shew how completely, and for how long a time, Rome was inundated with Oriental impostors of every description. See Hor. Sat. i. 2.1; Juv. Sat. iii. 13–16; vi. 542–546; x. 93, and C. and H. pp. 177 ff." (Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary)
As thus, this miracle-working, spiritual advisor was there with the "proconsul," Sergius Paulus... "the deputy of the country... Rosenmuller and others remark, that in those days the Romans sent two different kinds of governors into the provinces. Some of the provinces were Caesarean or imperial, and into those they sent proprietors; OTHERS belonged to the senate and people of Rome, and into those they sent proconsuls. Cyprus had formerly been an imperial province; but Augustus, who made the distinction, had given it to the people, whence it was governed by a proconsul. See Dion Cass. Hist. Rom. lib. iv. p. 523...Leunclav.)" (Clarke)
The Roman mentee was “an intelligent man”- a Jew by association- who by the same Spirit desired to hear the Word of God. He had obviously heard some version of the Christian religion, and thus he sent for Paul, Barnabas and John Mark, "and desired that they would give him an account of the Christian doctrine.” (Coke)
So, they shared the faith with this man but the false prophet withstood them attempting to turn him from the faith.
9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord." 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Then Saul, who also is called Paul... ”From this point on Saul is called Paul. In those days nearly all Jews had two names. One was a Jewish name, by which they were known in their own circle; the other was a Greek name, by which they were known in the wider world." (Barclay) "Sergius Paulus,” this seeker, has exactly the same Greek name as the apostle to the Gentiles, Saul, and "it is as though Paul took the name of his first illustrious convert.” (Ironside) And we hear of the name "Saul" for him no more.
Full of the Holy spirit, it was as though Jesus controlled Paul. He looked intently at Elymas and rebuked him, calling a son of the devil, in contrast what he called himself-- “son of Jesus.” And his opposition to this child of God "is at once a decisive proof of the different kingdoms to which they belonged…. But the Reader will not have drawn all the improvements from this scripture history, which it is designed to bring, if he doth not learn under the Holy Ghost's teaching, that the same is going on every day throughout the world, and must go on to the end, in the holy war, between the seed of Christ, and the seed of the serpent."
(Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary)
You enemy of all righteousness. "He tried to keep the Word from the Roman Sergius Paulus.” (Gaebelein) So too had Saul, also known as Paul, been prior to his conversion. But now, he listed all of his accomplishments in the synagogue of Satan and concluded: “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:8-11)
And Paul continues: "This was not all, however. Paul tells him what is proven true immediately, that ‘the hand of the Lord upon him would blind him for a period of time (v.11)’. Similarly, because of Israel's resistance to the truth as it is in Jesus, 'blindness in part is happened to Israel' (Romans 11:25). Since that time, wandering in darkness, they have sought direction from any source but the Lord, looking for someone to lead them by the hand." (L. M. Grant) “But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor 3:15-16), as Sergius Paulus. As a result of hearing and seeing, this man believed in the Lord Jesus, being astonished at His teachings, as explained; "not merely the doctrine, but the divine power accompanying it. Compare Mark 1:27…” (Justin Edwards), and he had “his name written in the book of life, and, probably on that very account, blotted out of the Fasti Consulares." (Clarke)
Acts 13: John Mark Quits
13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
Perga in Pamphylia, a “coastal region on the southern shore of Asia Minor (Turkey) stretching 80 miles (128.7 kilometers) from Lycia on the west to Cilicia on the east, and about 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) wide from the seacoast to the Taurus Mountains…” (Tyndale) “Perga was the metropolis of Pamphylia, and was situated, not on the seacoast, but on the river Cestus, at some distance from its mouth.” (Barnes)
“There was evidently a Jewish population in the province because Luke names Pamphylia among 15 countries from which Jews came to Jerusalem to the feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:10)…” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary) Yet, no missionary work is mentioned here. It was only said that John [Mark] departed from them here and returned to Jerusalem. Later we learn it was a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas. For whatever reason, he went home. And for Paul, the reason was not sufficient. He called him unprofitable to him and the work at hand. Paul saw it as a failure, but Barnabas— the encourager— better understood and was willing to allow him back into the company in another season.
Two very important changes appear in this verse.
1. ”‘Barnabas and Saul,’ which until this point had been the designation of this missionary team, abruptly in this place gave way to ‘Paul and his company,’ or ‘Paul and Barnabas’ as used generally in Acts afterward.” (Coffman Commentary)
2. And "where John Mark leaves Paul for Jerusalem, he is simply 'John,' his Jewish name; in Acts 15:39 he goes with Barnabas to Cyprus, and on that occasion only he is described by his Gentile name 'Mark' alone." (Expositor's Greek Testament)
God possibly used this incident to turn the reigns of the missionary trip to Paul and to help John Mark get over some biases against the Gentiles. Satan perhaps was the agent, but maybe not. It was yet another example of everything working out for the good of those who love God and are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
God calls people individually. And we are required only to listen to Him. Read in the Old Testament about the man of God from Judah in 1 Kings 13 to attest to this precept. This is a primary reason that we are not to judge others. Many people in my church likely see me as unprofitable. But that still small Voice, which I hear most clearly in the early morning hours, speaks otherwise. So I will continue to listen to Him of whom Moses and the prophets spoke only... and strive to do only His will, even if everyone else sees me as a useless fool for hours spent rightly dividing the word of truth.
There is a restoration which takes place in 2 Timothy 4:11, but it is not a question of John Mark’s faithfulness to God, but rather his perceived usefulness to Paul. “’It is plain from Acts 15:37-39 that Mark’s reason for returning to Jerusalem was something that Paul deemed unworthy - enough so that Paul was unwilling to have him as a companion on another journey’ (Reese pp. 467-468). The good news is that John Mark will prove himself in the years to come to be a valuable coworker (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11).” (Mark Dunagan) And this Mark is “ the one who wrote the Gospel of the obedient servant, the Gospel of Mark.” (Arno Gaebelein)
Acts 13: Antioch in Pisidia- Message 1 of 2
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.
20 “After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David [Psalm 89:20] the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ [1 Samuel 13:14] 23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for salvation a Savior—Jesus— 24 after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’
26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Himdown from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ [Psalm 2:7]
34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’[Isaiah 55:3]
35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’[ Psalm 16:10]
36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 'Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”[Habakkuk 1:5]
42 And when the Jews went out of the synagogue, they begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
They next stopped in Antioch in Pisidia- “thus to distinguish it from Antioch in Syria”… (Clarke), where followers of the Way were first called Christians. This was “a city in Asia Minor between the districts of Phrygia and Pisidia to which the apostle Paul [and Barnabus] traveled to introduce the gospel.” (Tyndale) They "do not importunately and impudently thrust themselves into the pulpit, nor do they cry out (after the manner of some...), 'Hear the word of the Lord, repent of your sins, etc.' but they wait in silence for a fit opportunity, and till they are called to speak." (Trapp)
And they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” "The order of the Sabbath lessons was fixed as by a kind of calendar, the Law—i.e., the Pentateuch—being divided into fifty-three or fifty-four paraschioth, or sections. These, probably, came into use soon after the return from Babylon. To these were afterwards added special lessons, known technically as the Haphtaroth, from the prophets. We are enabled, by two curious coincidences, to fix, with very little uncertainty, the precise Sabbath on which the mission-work at Antioch in Pisidia opened. The opening words of St. Paul refer to Deuteronomy 1:31... and this was the lesson for the forty-fourth Sabbath in the year, which fell in July or August; the corresponding second lesson from the prophets being Isaiah 1:1-27, from which he also quotes. He starts, as was natural, from what the people had just been listening to, as the text of his discourse.” (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers)
“It was the custom in the Synagogue, after the reading of the law, and the Prophets; for holy men to expound to the people, as they felt their minds disposed, the word of God. And as Barnabas and Paul had the reputation of being sacred characters, the chief ruler of the Synagogue invited them to speak, if they had anything particularly to say." (Hawker’s Commentary)
Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God... "This is the proper character of an Israelite indeed." (Trapp) To you the word of this salvation has been sent...
The only qualifier to receive this message was the fear of the Yahweh. It seems that Paul was not sticking to the Gentiles, but news traveled slow in those days without newspapers, TVs and internet. And a good place to find devout men and woman who desired to know the truth was the synagogues of the lands. So, the apostle Paul took the message of Christ to this synagogue in Asia Minor, where there remained a remanent within Israel which needed to hear the Good News and have a chance to respond in faith. And when given the platform, Paul preaches Jesus to them.
”Paul based his apology on the model of Stephen. We cannot tell of what elements our life is made up. It is no one shower of rain that makes the summer green. We are gathering from every point all day long. Paul was no student of rhetoric when he listened to Stephen; but Stephen’s speech, like all vital speech, got into the man, and became part of his intellectual and spiritual life." (J. Parker, D. D.)
Moreover, this type of Jewish history rehearsal "makes clear that God had given a progressive revelation to Israel, which manifestly had the person of Jesus the Messiah in view. He presses upon them as children of the stock of Abraham, that the word of this salvation was sent to them. Though the word of God's salvation was sent in great grace to Israel, yet Paul declares plainly to the Jews that the rulers in Jerusalem, refusing to recognize Jesus or to bow to the truth of their own scriptures that were read every sabbath day in their services, had actually fulfilled their scriptures in condemning the Lord Jesus…” (L. M. Grant)
And in their rejection of Jesus , they also condemned themselves. Yet, Paul ’s word included a risen Messiah, according to the Scriptures, who offers justification unto life to all those who believe. And the Jews- those born Jewish, as well as other “devout proselytes”- “begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” And afterwards, many hearers of the words became doers of it. They followed Paul and Barnabas. And they were further exhorted to continue in the grace of God.
Acts 13 The Second Message at Antioch in Pisidia- 2 of 2
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” [Isaiah 49:6]
On the next Sabbath, the word was nigh unto them- in their mouths and in their hearts. Yet, even before the second sermon, the leaders saw the multitude gathered and envy took hold of their hearts and they resorted to contradicting the words of Paul and Barnabas, and speaking blasphemous words against Jesus. The dynamic duo sensed the turn of affections and offered a biting rebuke in unison.
By rejecting the word, "they did, in fact, pass sentence on themselves, and show that they were unworthy of eternal life, and of having the offer of salvation any further made to them....They had deliberately and solemnly rejected the gospel, and thus shown that they were not suited to enter into everlasting life." (Albert Barnes) The Jewish leaders thought that they were the light of the world… and perhaps until they came into knowledge of the truth and rejected it, they were small lights. But here is presented the priesthood of the believer in Jesus. Now God has set His apostles, to be that very light and salvation. Yea, even all "messengers and ministers, who are labourers together with Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:9, and are in Scripture called both lights and saviours, Matthew 5:14; Obadiah 1:21, 1 Timothy 4:16." (John Trapp)
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed
“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48) It was ordained by God that salvation was through preaching. “‘As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.' [Note] τεταγμενοι is never used for eternal preördination… the margin reads, power — ordered of God.” (Joseph Sutcliffe) "He is not speaking of what was done from eternity, but of what was then done, through the preaching of the Gospel." (John Wesley) "The sum is, all those, and those only, who were now ordained or disposed, now believed, not that God rejected the rest: it was his will that they also should be saved, but they thrust salvation from them: nor were they who then believed, constrained to believe; but grace was then first copiously offered them, and they, being well inclined, embraced and improved it thankfully. In a word, the expression properly implies a present operation of divine grace, working faith in well-disposed hearts." (Thomas Coke)
Yet the Jews raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, as well as those who followed them, enlisting the help of prominent women and chief men- the magistrates- of the city. And thus, they expelled them from the city and chased them onward to Lysrtra (Acts 14:19)
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
But they shook the dust from their feet. “The act was one of literal obedience to our Lord’s commands..., It was in itself, however, the language of a natural symbolism which every Jew would understand, a declaration that not the heathen, but the unbelieving and malignant Jews, were those who made the very dust on which they trod common and unclean.” (C. J. Elliott) -- And came to Iconium; “a city of Lycaonia, a province north-east of Pisidia.” (Justin Edwards)
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
They first entered not the synagogue. And yet they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. “'There must needs be music in the Spirit’s temple, and at that continual feast: its deserts are the assurance of heaven', as Father Latimer phraseth it. 2 Thess 3:1; Prov 15:15.” (Trapp)
May we, likewise, not take it to heart when the word of grace is not received by those with a works-based theology, but rather let us, like the apostles and disciples move on to our own Iconium. Rather than allowing wrath or depression to settle into our hearts, let us find a spiritual refuge in the Word where we are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.