Acts 13:44-52 - All who were appointed

Introduction

Last Week:

Paul’s message of encouragement

The ultimate message of encouragement we have and hold is the gospel.

There is no greater encouragement!

This Week

Delicate (but Biblical topic) God’s sovereignty in salvation

We will also see the transition of the focussed ministry from being on Jews to now being mainly on Gentiles

The Text: Acts 13:44-52

Vs. 44: “the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord”

Paul’s words of encouragement spread!

They created a buzz - brining the whole city in.

The message we have and cary is the same message that we see here and has the same potential.

Vs. 45: The Jealously of the Jews

The Jews of the city were jealous and sought to oppose Paul

Their way had been challenged -

They stand opposed to the fulfillment of the Scriptures they had known and had been reading.

Vs. 46-47: Turning away from the Jews

The word of the Lord had to first be spoken to the Jewish people because they were the chosen people of God in the Old Testament - they were the lineage that Christ came through

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Since the Jews rejected it - Paul knew that this was now the time to turn to the gentiles because God’s plan of salvation includes the gentiles which is quoted from Isaiah 49:6.

The true “Israel” of God - the light to the world

The Quoted scripture from Isaiah (including 5 and 7)

Isaiah 49:5–7 ESV

5 And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Notice that in the quoted scripture above you see that this is referring to something (or someone specific)

This is referring to Christ - the light to the world!

By extension then Paul and his associates!

And by further extension us! (for we cary on the mission of Christ just as Paul did)

This “Israel” was to be a light to the gentiles (unbelieving world)

Now who is this Israel?

Romans 9:1-8 - gives us some clarity

Romans 9:1–8 ESV

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. 6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

This passage would teach that the children of the flesh are not the people of God but rather the children of promise - who are the children of the promise? - believers

Romans 2:28–29 ESV

28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

The true people of God are not the ones with circumcised flesh but rather those with circumcised hearts.

Therefore, we look at the passage from Isaiah and see its fulfillment is found in Christ and through his servants!

V.48 - As many who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Acts 13:48 ESV

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

The gentiles believed and rejoiced!

Appointed

Why did they believe?

Now did they believe because there was something “good” or “better” within them that they were able to claim their salvation as their own victory?

No!

The biblical view of salvation is that we are so lost that we cannot come to Christ unless God works it himself within our hearts.

This work or “appointment” as the text says it began before the foundations of the world in eternity past - we see this evident in other scriptures:

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Also see Romans 9:9-23

Romans 9:9–23 ESV

9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

Believed

Notice that those were appointed believed

Predestination does not nullify mans responsibility to believe

Now we know why the believing occurs - God brought it about - but we are still called to respond

Now how does this effect evangelism?

Well we know who the author and perfecter of salvation is God - therefore we are called to share and God will handle the rest.

So this should bring confidence.

Next this does not mean that we are off the hook to share the gospel - you might be the one that God uses to call in the elect!

God calls those who have received this divine election through the proclamation of the gospel (the general call) hearts change through the effectual call of the Gospel.

Vs 49-52 - Gospel spread and rejection

Acts 13:49–52 ESV

49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The word was spreading rapidly but the Jewish leaders did not like this and got the leaders of the region to expel Paul and Barnabas.

Imagine the judgement that these people will receive on judgement day - Christ said that it will be worse for them than Sodom and Gomorra.

They shook the dust off of their feet - they were following the command of Christ - if you are rejected shake the dust off of your feet.

We as people can only do so much when we are rejected it is time to shake the dust of the place off of your feet and move on.

I have had to do this in the past with a church I served in that was corrupting the gospel.

They were filled with the joy and with the Holy Spirit -

Though they had to leave they knew that God had used them!

We too can find such comfort only because we measure things based off of God’s economy and not based off of man’s economy.

Conclusion

The gospel creates excitement

Believers (the church) are called to be the witness to the nations

God is sovereign in salvation

Men measure by the visible and God measures by the invisible