Paul Gives A Word of Encouragement
Introduction:
After their work on the isle of
Cyprus, Barnabas and Saul sail northwest to Perga, the capital city
of Pamphylia [which is in modern-day Turkey].
Acts 13:13
“Now when Paul
and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia
and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.”
NKJV
From now on, Paul is mentioned first in Scripture possible to show
that he is taking the lead. For some reason, John Mark leaves their
company and returns to Jerusalem. Whatever the reason was, Paul did
not think it was a good one. See
Acts 15:37-39.
“Now
Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But
Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had
departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the
work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one
another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
NKJV
From Perga they travel north to Antioch of Pisidia, which involved a
difficult climb over the Tarsus Mountains.
Acts 13:14
“But when they
departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into
the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.”
NKJV
Since
there was a synagogue in Antioch, they went there first. The
synagogue officials invited Paul to give a word of encouragement.
Acts
13:15
“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.’ ”
NKJV
They might have heard he was a former student of Gamaliel. So Paul
stands up and motions to the audience to get their attention. He
instructs them to listen!
Acts 13:16
“Then
Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, ‘Men of Israel, and
you who fear God, listen:’ ”
NKJV
Text:
Acts
13:13-52
Body:
I.
Paul’s Sermon
Acts 13:17-41
Acts 13:17-22
“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. Now for a time of about forty years He put
up with their ways in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed
seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to
them by allotment. After that He gave them judges for about four
hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 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. And when He had removed
him, He raised up for them David a 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.’ ”
NKJV
·
Verses 17-22
emphasize God’s mercy in the provision for His chosen people
Israel. He multiplied their numbers while in Egyptian bondage and
miraculously brought them out of this slavery. He put up with their
murmuring and complaining for forty years in the wilderness. He
destroyed seven nations so they could receive their inheritance in
the Promised Land. (Joshua
4:1-2)
“And it
came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the
Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: ‘Take for yourselves
twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe.’ ”
NKJV
The four hundred fifty years covers the period from Israel’s time in
Egypt [400 years] through the wilderness [40 years] and conquest of
Canaan [10 years]. God then gave them judges and a king [Saul] when
they asked for one. God removed Saul because he rebelled and
replaced him with David, a man after God’s own heart. (I
Samuel 13:14)
“But now your
kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man
after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander
over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded
you.” NKJV
Acts 13:23-37
“From this man’s
seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior –
after John had first preached before His coming, the baptism of
repentance to all the people of Israel. 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.’ 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. 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. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked
Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled
all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the
tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He
was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to
Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to
you glad tidings – that promise which was made to the fathers. God
has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up
Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘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.’
Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your
Holly One to see corruption.’ For David, after he had served his
own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his
fathers, and saw corruption; But He whom God raised up saw no
corruption.”
NKJV
·
Verses 23-37
describe how God provided for man’s salvation through a descendant
of David, Jesus Christ. This Jesus was the promised Messiah of the
Old Testament Scriptures. (Psalm
132:11)
“The Lord
has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: ‘I will set
upon your throne the fruit of your body.”
NKJV
John the Baptist, a forerunner of Christ, was not the Messiah.
(John
1:19-20)
“Now this
is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites
from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not
deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ”
NKJV
The
prophecies concerning the Messiah were ignored by the Jewish rulers
and by condemning Him, they fulfilled those very prophecies! (Luke
24:25-27, 44)
“Then He said to
them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the
prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these
things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all
the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself.
44
Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you
while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which
were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
concerning me.’ ”
NKJV
God then raised Jesus from the dead which was the fulfillment of a
promise given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
(Genesis
12:1-3)
“Now the
Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, From your family
And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I
will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name
great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless
you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the
families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ”
NKJV
Paul then quotes several Old Testament passages concerning Jesus. (Psalm
2:7)
“I will
declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son. Today
I have begotten You.”
(Isaiah
55:3)
“Incline
your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I
will make an everlasting covenant with you – The sure mercies of
David.”
(Psalm
16:10)
“For You
will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to
see corruption.”
NKJV
Paul
ends this section by contrasting David and Christ. David’s reign
and work was for a specific time and purpose. Christ’s reign was to
last until the end of time.
Acts 13:38-41
“Therefore let it
be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you
the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is
justified from all things from which you could not be justified by
the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in
the prophets come upon you: ‘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.’ ”
NKJV
·
Verses 38-41
constitute an invitation to Paul’s listeners in the synagogue.
Forgiveness of sins in only through Jesus Christ. (Acts
4:12)
“Nor is
there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
NKJV
It’s only in Christ that one can be freed, justified, declared
innocent. It’s clear that the Law of Moses was no longer in
effect. Paul then quotes
Habakkuk 1:5
“Look
among the nations and watch – Be utterly astounded! For I will work
a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told
you.”
to remind his listeners that those who scoff and reject Christ will
indeed perish. This will happen whether people believe it will
happen or not.
II.
The People’s Response
Acts
13:42-52 Acts 13:42-43 “So when the Jews went out
of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be
preached to them the next Sabbath. 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.”
NKJV
·
Many of the
listeners begged Paul to come on the next Sabbath to preach again.
Paul and Barnabas urged them to continue in God’s grace – to listen
and believe.
Acts 13:44-45
“On the
next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of
God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with
envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things
spoken by Paul.”
NKJV
·
On the next Sabbath
a very large crowd shows up to hear the Word of the Lord. The Jews
were envious because large crowds never came to hear them teach.
They try to undermine Paul’s preaching by contradicting what Paul
had been saying.
Acts 13:46-47
“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’; 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.’ ”
NKJV
·
The Jews had the
privilege of hearing the gospel first. (Romans
1:16)
“For I am
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for
the Greek.”
NKJV
By their stubborn resistance to the gospel message, they were
declaring by their lack of obedience that they were unworthy of the
gospel. Paul cites
Isaiah 49:6
“Indeed He
says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To
raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of
Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You
should be My salvation to the ends of the earth’ ” to prove that salvation was to
come to the Gentiles also. The aged Simeon had also quoted this
verse in
Luke 2:32
while holding the baby Jesus.
“A light to bring
revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
NKJV
Acts 13:48-49
“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. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all
the region.”
NKJV
·
The Gentiles were
ecstatic at the good news! In God’s plan of redemption, He
determined that only obedient believers would be saved. This is how
He “appointed” [ordained – disposed] people. (John
5:39-40)
“You
search the Scriptures, for to them you think you have eternal life;
and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to
come to Me that you may have life.”
NKJV
Acts 13:50-52
“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. But they shook off the dust from their feet
against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled
with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
NKJV
·
Not everybody
thought Paul’s sermon was good news. The Jews stirred up some of
the prominent men and women of the city against Paul and Barnabas.
They were expelled from the city, shook the dust off their feet, and
went ninety miles south east to Iconium.
Conclusion:
How would you have responded to
the gospel message that Paul presented?
·
With joy and
obedience?
OR
·
With anger and
rebellion?
Bobby Stafford
January 3, 2016 [Evening}
Acts: Lesson 30
Acts 13:13-52
