Sunday Oct 26 Acts 13

Acts_13
10/26/08

Announce Gianna’s Birth
Pastor Pats Granddaughter
Gianna Verona Spousta
Born Oct 23, 2008
at 632pm
6lbs 7ozs
18 1/2 inches

Acts_13
I. Intro Statement
A. Saul and Barnabas had delivered the collection taken up for the church in Jerusalem, and they returned to Antioch and brought John Mark the cousin of Barnabas with them.
1. And we will see God has a new work in mind for them.
II. As we come to chapter-13 we come to a major shift in the book.
Acts 13:1-3 (NKJV)
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.
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. We shift from the leading role of Peter, to the leading role of Paul.
B. We also see coming to pass the final phase of Jesus' commission to the disciples
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1. First the early believers were accused of filling all Jerusalem with their doctrine (Acts 5:28).
Acts 5:28 (NKJV)
28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
2. Then persecution scattered the church throughout Judea (Acts 8:1)
Acts 8:1 (NKJV)
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
3. We see revival broke out in Samaria, after Phillip preached Christ to them (Acts 8:8)
Acts 8:8 (NKJV)
8 And there was great joy in that city.
4. Now Paul is about ready to embark on a missionary journey to the uttermost parts of the earth.
a. I like what Jon Courson says, this not only gives a basic feel for the book of Acts, but it reminds us that throughout scripture, the commands of the Lord are not heavy exhortations - they are glorious expectations.

(1) For that reason reading instead of reading Acts 1:8 like this: "You shall be witnesses unto Me, so get out there and pass out tracts. Be my witnesses. That is my command - it should read like this: "You shall be witnesses unto me. It's going to happen!"
C. We see that at the church in Antioch there were both Prophets and teachers.
1. Prophets are those who under inspiration of the Holy Spirit guide the church through edification, exhortation, and comfort.
2. Teachers are those who ground the Church as they point out the ways and mind of God revealed through the Word.
3. Many teach that they are one in the same but we see clearly in Acts 13:1 there is a distinction.
D. Several men mentioned, they are the leaders in the church at Antioch:
1. Barnabas - "Son of consolation"
a. We saw how he took Saul under his wing when no one else in the Jerusalem church would believe that Saul was born again.
b. Later we will see him take young John Mark under his wing and walk him through a season of failure.
2. Simeon who was called Niger (Strong's - Neeger) a nick name (Simon the black)
a. Simon was probably from present day North Africa
(1) Many feel he was probably Simon the Cyrene who carried the cross to Golgotha for Christ.
(2) His nick name comes from the Latin and probably indicates he probably had moved in Roman circles.
3. Lucius of Cyrene
a. Possibly saved through Simeon taking the gospel back home?
4. Manean
a. He was a foster brother of Herod Antipas, who is the Herod that cut off the head of John the Baptist.
(1) Manean grew up in the vile and polluted family of the Herod's, but God rescued him and saved him for ministry.
5. Saul
a. Saul means "requested one" later we will see he changed his name to Paul which means "little".

(1) Early in his ministry Paul said "I am the least of the apostles" (1Cor. 15:9)
(2) Midway through his ministry he said "I am the least of all the saints" (Eph. 3:8)
(3) At the end of his life, he said "I am the chief of sinners" (1Tim. 1:15)
b. The longer Paul walked with God the more he realized how far short of God he was…
6. What a contrast in people and a testimony to the grace and sovereignty of God.
E. They ministered to the Lord and fasted…
1. Not for the Lord, which is probably indicating of their faithfulness.
Ezekiel 44:10-11 (NKJV)
10 "And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.
11 Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house; they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them.

Ezekiel 44:15 (NKJV)
15 "But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord God.
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."
a. This message probably came through the prophets mentioned in vv-1.
(1) Paul later writes to young Timothy-
1 Timothy 4:14 (NKJV)
14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership
F. Notice in vv-3 it says they were sent, it is not just that they were emotionally impacted by a great missionary presentation and went, but they were sent.
1. What a wonderful thing when the church can get behind someone and send them out into ministry, confirming the call of God on the lives of those being sent.
a. Today so many go out on their own volition, often moved in emotion rather than the call of God.
III. Paul's first missionary journey.
Acts 13:4-12 (NKJV)
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.
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.
A. Note that being sent they departed, we are to seek the will of God, and wait for Him to speak, but there comes a point where once He has spoken we need to act and take that first step.
B. They went down to Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus
1. Why Cyprus? Probably because it was the homeland of Barnabas.
a. And so God probably directed them in a supernaturally natural way. Hey I know where they really need the Gospel!
b. There indeed was a great need in Cyprus.
(1) Center of the worship of Venus ( Greek; Aphrodite) the Love Goddess.
(a) Every woman on Cyprus was required to serve at least once in her lifetime as a temple prostitute.
(2) The history of Cyprus is filled with a lot of debauchery, disease, and tragedy.
(a) Sin always takes a toll.
2. Salamis was on the east side of the island and we see young John Mark is there with them as they minister.
C. Then to Paphos on the west side of the island where they meet this sorcerer (Bar-Jesus).
1. He was the deputy of the pro-consul Sergius Paulus who was a prudent man, and desired to hear the word of God.
a. But the sorcerer Elymas resisted it, and began to speak against Paul and Barnabas to Sergius Paulus.
(1) With the aim of turning him away from the faith.
(a) The personal threat to his influence if his boss gets saved is obvious.
b. It is here that Saul's name is changed to Paul.
c. Paul is given discernment to see through this man and see that something is not right about him and Paul goes into battle.
(1) But note it is not Lord destroy him it is probably Lord save him.
(a) Remember what happened to Paul when he was struck with blindness.
d. This event is noteworthy in three ways.
(1) It is the beginning of Paul's leadership (up to this point Barnabas appears to have been in charge).
(2) From this point on the ministry takes a decidedly more Gentile slant.
(3) And there are some interesting nuances here.
(a) A gentile with the name Paul accepts the message, while a Jew opposed it.
i) The Jew struck with blindness, is a picture of the judicial blindness that struck Israel
Acts 28:26-27 (NKJV)
26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’

Romans 11:25 (NKJV)
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
e. And the pro-consul was astonished not at the miracle but at the doctrine or teaching of the Lord.
(1) "You Mean God loves me, I can be forgiven?"
D. Before it had always read Barnabas and Saul, but now as we move on we read of Paul and his party.
Acts 13:13-15 (NKJV)
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.
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.”
1. Paul evidently was originally following Barnabas, but Paul has been thrust to the forefront and is now the leader.
Psalm 75:7 (NKJV)
7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another
a. Many speculate this is why young Mark left.
b. Oh how important it is to be able to submit to the one God raises up.
(1) We are to follow the Lord and learn to be committed to where and what He calls us to.
(a) Illustration about me and Dave.
2. Antioch in Pisidia is a different Antioch than they had departed from.
3. And we see Paul's pattern for ministry, first in the synagogue they had knowledge of the O.T. and thus some preparation, they also had the promise of the Messiah, but then he would go to the gentiles.
IV. Paul's first sermon.
Acts 13:16-41 (NKJV)
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 Israel 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 the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel 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 Him down 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.’
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.’
35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
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.’ ”
A. Paul's sermon is remarkably similar to that of Stephens which Paul had listened to some 14 years earlier.
1. We worry sometimes because we don't see the result as we share God's word with others, but we are told-
Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it
B. Paul starts by reminding them of their history.
1. Captivity in Egypt and being brought out by the power of God.
2. Forty years in the wilderness where God both "put up with them" and "fed them".
3. He gave them land and gave them Samuel the prophet (Samuel was preparatory to David as John
the Baptist was preparatory to Jesus Christ).
4. They wanted a king, he gave them Saul, who started humble but became proud.
5. And when God had removed him…
a) Why because of the Amalekites and his disobedience concerning them.
6. And he gave them David who like Saul was a sinner, but he was real with God and had a heart for
God and to do what was right before God.
C. Next Paul turns the attention to Jesus beginning in vv23.
1. Hey pay attention, all of history lead to the moment when the Son of David the Promised seed,
Messiah came on the scene.
a) And the fact that you neither recognized nor received Him fulfills prophecy (vv23-27)
2. Why didn't they stone Him as they stoned Stephen and would stone Paul, but asked Pilate a
Roman to put Him to death?
a) Because the scriptures pointed to crucifixion.
b) And thus they were moved by forces they didn't understand.
3. Imagine what they are thinking as this visiting Rabbi relates their history to them then he concludes
with this, And then he hits them with the resurrection and that there are witness to this end
(1 Corinthians says as many as 500 witnesses at one time).
a) The evidence is overwhelming.
4. Begotten Him (from the tomb like from a virgin womb).
a) Never to die again.
5. You can receive forgiveness for your sin through this Man, but you can never be justified by the
law.
V. The text goes on:
Acts 13:42-52 (NKJV)
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles 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.
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.’”
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.
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.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
A. The gentiles hearing it said come tell us more
1. And in verse 43 Paul exhorts those who followed Him and believed to continue in grace (which many of this same crowd did not which is why Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians).
2. Now when the Jews grew contentious and rejected the message we read
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.’”
a. Expending energy to where it can be most fruitful (vv47).