Acts 13: The first missionary journey

Key Verse: Acts 13:2 “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””

Here is a history, not only worthy to be remembered, but also very profitable to be known, how Paul was appointed the teacher of the Gentiles; for his calling was, as it were, a key whereby God opened to us the kingdom of heaven. We know that the covenant of eternal life was properly concluded with the Jews, so that we had nothing to do with God’s inheritance, forasmuch as we were strangers, (Eph. 2:12;) and the wall of separation was between, which did distinguish those of the household from strangers. Therefore it would have profited us nothing, that Christ brought salvation unto the world, unless… there had been some entrance made for us into the Church. The apostles had already received commandment touching the preaching of the gospel throughout the whole world, (Mark 16:15,) but they had kept themselves until this time within the borders of Judea. When Peter was sent to Cornelius, it was a thing so new and strange, that it was almost counted a monstrosity, [prodigy.] Secondly, that might have seemed to be a privilege granted to a few men extraordinarily; but now, forasmuch as God had plainly and openly appointed Paul and Barnabas to be apostles of the Gentiles, by this means he made them (the gentiles) equal with the Jews; that the gospel may begin to be common as well to the one as to the other. And now the wall of separation is taken away, that both those who were far off and those which were near at hand may be reconciled to God; and that being gathered under one head, they may grow together to be one body. Therefore Paul’s calling ought to be of no less weight among us, than if God should cry from heaven in the hearing of all men, that the salvation, promised in times past to Abraham, and to the seed of Abraham, (Gen. 22:17,) now pertains to us at this day, just as if we, too, had come out of the loins of Abraham. For this cause is it that Paul labours so much in defence and avouching of his calling, (Gal. 1:1, 12–24;) that the Gentiles may assuredly persuade themselves that the doctrine of the gospel was not brought to them by chance, neither by man’s rashness, but, first, by the wonderful counsel of God; secondly, by express commandment, while at the same time, He made known to men what he had decreed with himself.

John Calvin and Henry Beveridge, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 496–497.

Discussion Questions:

The first part of this text is about the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas for the first missionary journey.

verse 1. What does this verse tell us about teachers? Can anyone teach?

Verse 2: How are missionaries called, according to this verse?

Verse 5: Are we called to witness to Jews? As God’s chosen people in the OT, do they need the Gospel?

The second part of this passage tells us about how Paul and Barnabas shared the Gospel with a proconsul in the face of opposition

Verse 9-12: A false prophet, (Bar Jesus), was seeking influence with the pro consul (Sergius Paulus). To discredit him, Paul performed a miracle. Could Paul perform any kind of miracle? What was the purpose of this miracle?

The third part of this passage is about how Paul and Barnabas were able to testify to Jews, proselytes and God fearers

Verse 15: How did the missionaries gain credibility in this synagogue?

Verse 18: How did God “put up with them”? Is God putting up with us? How?

Verse 26: “To us the message of salvation is sent. “ There are some today who teach that modern Christians can ignore the OT. Who is us in this context? What does this say to us about the OT?

Verse 27: What does this say about the Jewish understanding of the message from the OT? What was behind their misunderstanding?

Verse 30: Why is this important? Why does the Gospel hinge on it?

Verse 38-39: Why is this important?

Verse 43: What effect did this action have on the Jewish leadership in Pisidian Antioch? Explained in verse 45

In the fourth part of this passage, the missionaries have gained a following, but have angered the Jewish leadership

Verse 44: The preaching the previous Sabbath had now drawn a crowd. What was preached? What was not preached? The Gospel, from the Bible, is powerful, not therapeutic, moralistic deism

Verses 46-47 show a major shift in focus for the missionaries’ Gospel proclamation. What was the error the Jews in their understanding of God’s will? How did the missionaries point this out?

Verse 48: “as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” What encouragement does this give us when we are witnessing?

Verses 50-52: The missionaries were driven out of Pisidian Antioch and on to Iconium. Was this a setback or did it fulfill God’s will?

Summary

We discussed:

Calls to ministry

Witnessing under opposition

Ministry to the Jewish and Gentile churches

The providence of opposition

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