“Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 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? 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.” (Acts 13:9-11)
This is the first miracle the Holy Spirit worked through Paul, but when did this take place? “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:3) After being set apart by the Holy Spirit, who confirmed it through the others in Antioch, and they followed the pattern the Lord gave for the sending out of those He calls!
Yet this first miracle wasn’t someone being healed, delivered or resurrected. They encountered the Lords judgement through what Paul spoke! Sound familiar?
“And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.” (Revelation 11:5-6)
As Paul spoke the word of Truth this sorcerer who stood in direct opposition was hardened further. To the point he was blinded! You see sometimes in life there are those whose hearts are not willing to let the truth penetrate them, and bring repentance. In these cases they grow harder and experience the condemnation that is already upon them in a greater measure (John 3:36).
Stephen encountered the same when he presented truth. “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” (Acts 7:54); “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;” (Acts 7:57)
Just like we see with the Lord Jesus, the same is for those who walk with Him, they will provoke one of two responses as their lives witness of His glory.
“We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God —a perfume of life to those being saved and the odor of death to those who are perishing. The unbelievers smell a deadly stench that leads to death, but believers smell the life-giving aroma that leads to abundant life. And who of us can rise to this challenge? For unlike so many, we are not peddlers of God’s Word who water down the message. We are those sent from God with pure motives, who speak in the sight of God from our union with Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-17)