Lesson #18

• MEMORY VERSE: ROM 5:2

• UP TO THIS POINT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS PREDOMINATELY JEWISH AND CENTERED IN JERUSALEM. HOWEVER, THE JERUSALEM CHURCH HAS BIG PROBLEMS:
• MUCH OF THE PERSECUTION AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS AND A RESISTANCE TO THE GOSPEL COMES FROM THE ORTHODOX JEWISH LEADERS IN JERUSALEM.
• AS A RESULT, THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS IN JERUSALEM ARE POOR BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION AND FAMINE.
• THE JERUSALEM CHURCH BECOMES INCREASINGLY INGROWN AND DOES NOT MAINTAIN A VISION FOR OUTREACH.
• THEY RESIST THE INCLUSION OF GENTILES AS PART OF THE CHURCH BODY.
• WITHIN THE JERUSALEM CHURCH A GROUP CALLED “THE JUDAIZERS” DEVELOPS.
• THE JUDAIZERS WERE JEWISH CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVED THAT THE CHURCH SHOULD REMAIN JEWISH, STEEPED IN JEWISH TRADITION AND PRACTICE.
• THE JUDAIZERS BELIEVED THAT ALL GENTILES WHO WERE SAVED SHOULD FIRST BE CIRCUMCISED AND BECOME “JEWISH” BEFORE THEY COULD BE ACCEPTED AS CHRISTIANS.
• THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THE JUDAIZERS STIFLES THE MOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THE JUDAIZERS EVENTUALLY THREATENS TO SPLIT THE CHURCH BODY. (MORE ON THIS LATER IN OUR STUDY)
• ACTS 13 BEGINS THE NEW THRUST FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL – 45 AD
• THE NEW CONCENTRATION ON REACHING THE GENTILES WITH THE GOSPEL SHIFTS THE FOCUS OF THE BOOK OF ACTS:
• THE FOCUS OF THE BOOK SHIFTS AWAY FROM PETER WHO MINISTERED TO THE JEWS TO PAUL WHO MINISTERED TO THE GENTILES.
• THE FOCUS OF THE BOOK SHIFTS AWAY FROM THE JEWISH JERUSALEM CHURCH TO THE GENTILE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH.

• READ ACT 13:1-3 THE LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH
• BARNABAS IS THE PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH.
• PROPHETS AND TEACHERS WERE:
• SIMEON, THE BLACK.
• THIS MAN MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONE WHO HELPED JESUS CARRY THE CROSS ON HIS WAY TO CRUCIFIXION.
• LUCIUS FROM CYRENE.
• SOME SPECULATE THAT THIS IS DR. LUKE WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF ACTS, BUT IT IS NOT LIKELY.
• MANAEN FROM THE ROMAN COURT.
• HE WAS THE FOSTER BROTHER OF HEROD ANTIPAS, WHO KILLED JOHN THE BAPTIST.
• SAUL (PAUL)
• PAUL HAD BEEN MINISTERING WITH BARNABAS IN ANTIOCH FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
• 12 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE PAUL’S CONVERSION ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
• THE FIRST MISSIONARIES ARE CALLED TO THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY.
• UNLIKE THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, THIS CHURCH HAD A VISION FOR OUTREACH. THEY TOOK SERIOUSLY THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH.
• WHERE THERE IS A VISION FOR WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO TO FULFILL HIS PLAN, THERE IS ALSO THE MOVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• NOTICE THAT THE MISSIONARY JOURNEY IS INITIATED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT BY THE LEADERSHIP IN JERUSALEM. (2)
• THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SETTING ASIDE THE INGROWN JERUSALEM LEADERSHIP AND MOVING THE CENTER OF CHRISTIANITY TO ANTIOCH.
• THIS IS WHY THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH BECOMES PREDOMINATELY GENTILE AND LOSES ITS JEWISHNESS.
• BARNABAS, THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH, AND SAUL (PAUL) ARE THE FIRST MISSIONARIES. THEY ALSO TAKE JOHN MARK. (THIS IS THE YOUNG MARK WHO WROTE THE GOSPEL OF MARK.)
• THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THE MESSAGE CONCERNING THIS MISSION TRIP THROUGH A WORD OF PROPHECY BY ONE OF THESE LEADERS IN A CHURCH SERVICE.
• THE CHURCH CONFIRMS THE PROPHETIC WORD BY PRAYER AND FASTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A MOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• THE CHURCH LAYS HANDS ON BARNABAS AND PAUL TO COMMISSION THEM TO THE TASK.
• NOTICE THAT BARNABAS IS LISTED FIRST THEN SAUL (PAUL).
• LATER, WE WILL SEE PAUL LISTED FIRST AND THEN BARNABAS.
• THE PERSON IN AUTHORITY WAS ALWAYS LISTED FIRST.

• READ ACT 13:4-12 PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY BEGINS (45-47 AD)
• FROM ANTIOCH IT IS 15 MILES TO SELEUCIA. THEN THEY SAILED 60 MILES TO THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS.
• BECAUSE CYPRUS WAS THE HOME OF BARNABAS, HE KNEW THE PEOPLE AND THE PLACE.
• ALSO, SOME CYPRIAN JEWS HAD FLED FROM PERSECUTION TO CYPRUS. (ACT 8:4 ACT 11:19)
• THESE WERE BROTHERS IN CHRIST WHO WOULD HELP THE MISSIONARIES WITH FOOD AND LODGING.
• THE MISSIONARIES LAND AT SALAMIS, A LARGE COMMERCIAL CITY ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS.
• THE CITY HAD SEVERAL SYNAGOGUES WHERE VISITING RABBIS WERE ASKED TO SPEAK. PAUL WAS A RABBI.
• THEY PREACH THEIR WAY ACROSS THE ISLAND (400 MILES) TO THE CITY OF PAPHOS, THE CAPITOL OF CYPRUS.
• BY THE TIME THE MISSIONARY TEAM GETS TO PAPHOS, BARNABAS IS NO LONGER IN CHARGE OF THE TEAM. PAUL ASSUMES LEADERSHIP AND IS CALLED ONLY BY HIS GREEK NAME, PAUL, (WHICH MEANS = SMALL OR LITTLE) FROM THIS POINT ON.
• SERGIUS PAULUS, THE ROMAN PROCONSUL OR GOVERNOR OF THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS, LIVED IN THE CAPITOL CITY. HE WAS INTERESTED IN THE GOSPEL PREACHED BY PAUL.
• HE WAS HINDERED BY THE GOVERNOR’S AIDE, ELYMAS (BAR-JESUS), WHO WAS A FALSE PROPHET.
• IT WAS VERY COMMON FOR A SORCERER TO BE ATTACHED TO THE ROMAN COURT TO HELP MAKE DECISIONS BY DELVING INTO THE BLACK ARTS OF SORCERY.
• BAR-JESUS, THE JEWISH FALSE PROPHET.
• THE NAME, BAR-JESUS, IS A HEBREW NAME AND MEANS = SON OF JOSHUA.
• THE NAME, ELYMAS, IS A SEMITIC WORD THAT MEANS = SORCERER.
• PAUL’S CURSE ON BAR-JESUS.
• LUKE SPECIFICALLY TELLS US THAT PAUL CURSED THIS SORCERY WHEN HE WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. (9)
• HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE CURSE ON BAR-JESUS WHEN JESUS CHRIST PRONOUNCED NO CURSE ON ANY PERSON DURING HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH?
• THE SORCERER WAS A JEW. SORCERY WAS SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN TO JEWS IN LEV 20:27.
• THE SORCERER WAS HINDERING THE MOVE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN.
• THE SOURCE OF THE SPIRIT OF SORCERY CAME DIRECTLY FROM SATAN.
• THE MOVE OF THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH PAUL IN CURSING THE SORCERER CAUSED SERGIUS PAULUS TO BELIEVE
• THIS IS THE INCIDENT THAT CAUSED SERGIUS PAULUS TO BELIEVE IN THE LORD.

• READ ACT 13:13-15
• FROM PAPHOS TO PERGA IN PAMPHYLIA (13)
• PERGA IS ON THE MAINLAND OF TURKEY, 12 MILES INLAND FROM THE COAST.
• PERGA IS IN A LOW-LYING MARSHLAND WITH MANY MOSQUITOES.
• MANY BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN THIS LOCATION THAT PAUL CONTRACTS MALARIA.
• PERGA WAS NOTED FOR ITS ANCIENT TEMPLE TO THE PAGAN GOD, DIANA.
• IT IS AT THIS POINT IN THEIR JOURNEY THAT JOHN MARK LEAVES THE TEAM AND RETURNS HOME TO JERUSALEM, MUCH TO PAUL’S DISMAY AND DISAPPROVAL.
• THE CAUSE FOR THE BREACH BETWEEN PAUL AND JOHN MARK:
• THE BIBLE DOES NOT SPECIFY THE REASON FOR THE BREACH BUT SPECULATION GIVES US TWO CAUSES:
• THE PLAN TO LEAVE CYPRUS FOR THE MAINLAND OF TURKEY MEANT A VERY DIFFICULT TRIP ON FOOT.
• MOST LIKELY, THE REASON WAS PAUL’S ASSUMING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TEAM REPLACING JOHN MARK’S UNCLE, BARNABAS.
• LATER WE WILL SEE JOHN MARK TEAM UP WITH BARNABAS AGAIN AS A TRAVELLING MISSIONARY
• FROM PERGA THE MISSIONARY TEAM MOVED NORTH 90 MILES TO ANTIOCH PISIDIA.
• THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY CLIMBING THE TAURUS MOUNTAINS THROUGH A TERRITORY INFESTED WITH BANDITS.
• ANTIOCH PISIDIA WAS A CIVIL AND MILITARY CENTER FOR THAT PART OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
• WHAT WAS THE SITUATION THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR PAUL TO PREACH? (13-15)
• BECAUSE PAUL WAS A RABBI, HE WOULD HAVE ACCEPTANCE IN ALL THE SYNAGOGUES ALONG THE WAY. ANY RABBI WHO WISHED TO SPEAK IN A SYNAGOGUE MEETING WAS FREELY WELCOMED.
• THIS WAS AN ACCESS BARNABAS DID NOT HAVE, AND IT MAY EXPLAIN WHY PAUL BECAME THE LEADER OF THE TEAM.

• READ ACT 13:16-41 PAUL’S FIRST RECORDED SERMON
• PAUL’S AUDIENCE:
• JEWS (“MEN OF ISRAEL”)
• GENTILE PROSELYTES CONVERTED TO JUDAISM (“ALL YE THAT FEAR GOD”)
• CONSIDER THE OPENING VERSES OF EACH OF THE THREE SEGMENTS OF PAUL’S SERMON AS TO HOW HE INVOLVES HIS HEARERS IN HIS SERMON:
• SEGMENT #1 (26) “MEN AND BRETHREN”
• SEGMENT #2 (32) “WE DECLARE UNTO YOU”
• SEGMENT #3 (38) “MEN AND BRETHREN”
• THE MAIN POINTS OF PAUL’S SERMON (16-41)
• HISTORY OF THE JEWS FROM MOSES TO KING DAVID: (17-22)
• JUST AS STEPHEN AND PETER DID, PAUL STARTS WITH SOME POINTS IN JEWISH HISTORY THAT THEY ALREADY KNEW.
• THIS GIVES A SPEAKER A RAPPORT WITH HIS AUDIENCE.
• FROM THE MENTION OF KING DAVID, PAUL MOVES TO JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE DESCENDANT OF DAVID. (23)
• JESUS, THE DESCENDANT OF DAVID, PROMISED BY GOD, IS THE SAVIOR OF ISRAEL.
• THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ABOUT JESUS (24-25)
• THE BAIT! “…TO YOU IS THE WORD OF SALVATION SENT.” (26)
• EVERY GOOD EVANGELISTIC SERMON HAS BAIT.
• PAUL KNOWS THAT TO CATCH FISH, YOU HAVE TO BAIT THEM BEFORE YOU CAN HOOK THEM.
• HE MAKES THE MESSAGE PERSONAL SO THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MUST RESPOND EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY.
• HE BAITS THEM WITH AN INTEREST IN GOD’S FULFILLMENT OF A PROMISED SAVIOR WHO WOULD BRING SALVATION.
• JESUS’ EXPERIENCE OF THE CRUCIFIXION (27-33)
• NOTICE HOW PAUL DOES NOT BLAME HIS AUDIENCE FOR THE CRUCIFIXION LIKE PETER DID.
• PAUL TELLS THEM THAT THE LEADERS IN JERUSALEM DID IT.
• NOTICE HOW MANY TIMES PAUL SAYS THAT THESE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WERE FULFILLED PROMISES OF GOD:
• VERSES 29, 32, AND TWICE IN VERSE 33.
• JESUS’ EXPERIENCE OF THE RESURRECTION (30-37)
• NOTICE THAT LIKE, PETER AND STEPHEN, PAUL’S CENTRAL POINT ABOUT JESUS IS NOT THE CRUCIFIXION BUT CHRIST’S RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.
• THE FULFILLED PSALMS OF DAVID
• PAUL QUOTES PSALMS 2:7
• PAUL QUOTES PSALMS 16:10
• THE HOOK! “THROUGH THIS MAN (JESUS) IS PREACHED UNTO YOU THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.” (38)
• FORGIVENESS OF SIN COMES THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. (38)
• JUSTIFICATION WITH GOD COMES THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS AND NOT THROUGH THE LAW OF MOSES. (39)
• WHAT DOES PAUL PREACH ABOUT THE LAW OF MOSES?
• THIS IS THE BIG SHOCK TO HIS JEWISH AUDIENCE, THAT KEEPING THE LAW OF MOSES NEVER JUSTIFIED ANY PERSON BEFORE GOD.
• PAUL, IN HIS FIRST SERMON, CLEARLY STRIPS THE GOSPEL OF ALL JEWISHNESS.
• A WARNING (41)
• PAUL’S WARNING COMES FROM HAB 1:5 IN THE SEPTUAGINT VERSION.
• PAUL WARNS ABOUT THE COMING DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, THE PRIESTHOOD OF JUDAISM.

• READ ACT 13:42-52 THE REACTION AND THE GENTILES
• WHAT WAS THE REACTION OF THE GENTILES TO PAUL’S PREACHING TO THE JEWS?
• SOME JEWS RECEIVED CHRIST, BUT THE WORD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO THAT THE GENTILES WERE JEALOUS AND WANTED TO HEAR PAUL TEACH.
• JEWISH REACTION TO THE GENTILE INTEREST:
• THE JEWS RESPONDED WITH ENVY, ANGER, AND HATRED.
• PAUL’S EXPLANATION OF HIS MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES (47)
• PAUL QUOTES ISA 49:6
• READ ISA 49:6
• GOD’S PLAN ALL ALONG WAS FOR THE SALVATION OF THE WHOLE WORLD. THE OLD TESTAMENT JEWS JUST DID NOT DO IT.
• PAUL WILL CONTINUE TO PREACH FIRST TO THE JEWS AND THEN TO THE GENTILES EVERY PLACE HE GOES.
• A LARGE NUMBER OF GENTILES ARE SAVED IN ANTIOCH PISIDIA (48-49)
• THE NEW GENTILE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH PISIDIA
• THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH PISIDIA IS ONE OF THE CHURCHES THAT PAUL SENDS HIS LETTER TO THE GALATIANS (THE BOOK OF GALATIANS).
• THIS BOOK OF GALATIANS IS ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE LAW OF MOSES TO SAVE AND JUSTIFY MAN WITH GOD.
• GROWING OPPOSITION
• THE JEWS USED PROSELYTE WOMEN AND THE WIVES OF CITY OFFICIALS TO GET PAUL AND BARNABAS EXPELLED FROM THE CITY.
• PAUL AND BARNABAS “SHAKE OFF THE DUST FROM THEIR FEET” AND LEAVE FOR ICONIUM.
• TO SHAKE OFF THE DUST FROM THE FEET IS A COMMON PHRASE OF THE TIME. YOU WILL RECALL THAT JESUS USED IT IN LUK 9:5 AND MAT 10:14.
• IT WAS THE CUSTOM OF ORTHODOX JEWS NOT TO ACCIDENTALLY BRING ANY GENTILE SOIL INTO JEWISH TERRITORY, ESPECIALLY TO JERUSALEM.
• APPLICATION:
• EVERY CHURCH SHOULD HAVE A VISION OF OUTREACH. NO CHURCH SHOULD BECOME INGROWN.
• THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS NOT TO BE A SOCIAL CLUB. IT IS TO BE A TRAINING CAMP TO EQUIP PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT AND SPREAD THE GOSPEL.
• THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE OBSERVE IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH COMPARED WITH THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM.
• THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVES AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO MOVE OUT AND SHARE THE GOSPEL.

HOMEWORK
ACTS 14
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF ACT 13
• WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD YOUR CHURCH? DO YOU HINDER OR PROMOTE THE OUTREACH? EXPLAIN HOW.

• PREPARATION OF ACT 14
• READ ACT 14:1-28
• WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT HUMAN NATURE IN THIS CHAPTER?

• WHAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE DIVISION IN VERSE 4?

• WHY DID PAUL AND BARNABAS GET SO UPSET IN LYSTRA?

• WHO IS FOLLOWING PAUL AND BARNABAS EVERYWHERE THEY GO, AND WHY?

• WHY DID PAUL AND BARNABAS RETURN AGAIN TO LYSTRA, ICONIUM, AND ANTIOCH PISIDIA?

• WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT GOD IN THIS CHAPTER?

• MEMORY VERSE: ISA 52:7