NBBC SS: Acts 13:13-52

Introduction: We’re going to resume our discussion of Acts 13 this morning.

Last week we saw how the Lord brought together a diverse group of men that He made into able leadership within the church at Antioch.

The Spirit set aside Paul and Barnabas for a particular work that the church affirmed through ordaining them.

They experienced opposition in Seleucia through Bar Jesus that the Lord put down, demonstrating that Bar Jesus was a fraud.

With this apparent victory before them, let’s see what happens next in the narrative.

Acts 13:13 “13 Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.”

What immediately are we hit with when we read this verse?

Contrasting voyages.

Paul and his crew go one way.

John, by himself, goes another.

This prompts us to inquire, what would prompt John to leave?

Importantly, the phrase translated as “left them” can be translated as “departing from them” ([N]KJV).

Whatever had taken place, the wording here suggests for us more than just an off-the-cuff choice.

Instead, John chose to part ways with Paul and company.

When we consider the context that the Spirit ordained Paul and Barnabas to this ministry, we can’t help but walk away thinking negatively concerning John Mark and his choice to leave this ministry endeavor.

Application: The sad reality is that, when we’re following the Lord, those that we believe are following the Lord may choose otherwise.

What’s the temptation when we’re seeking to be faithful to the Lord and others who were serving with us choose otherwise?

To grow discouraged.

Maybe even to give up ourselves.

Who is it that wants us to grow discouraged or give up on being faithful to what the Lord has given us to do?

The enemy, Satan.

Importantly, did John’s departure indicate that the work before Paul and his companions had ceased?

No.

The work was still before them.

What did Paul have to look back that would have encouraged him in the face of this possible temptation to be discouraged as John Mark turned back to Jerusalem?

He knew that the Spirit had set him apart to do this work (cf. Ac 13:2)

He could remember when the church leadership of Antioch laid their hands on him affirming that work of the Spirit (cf. Ac 13:3).

We look at this experience and refer to it as an ordination.

Herein, the church recognizes the Spirit at work in particular individuals and affirms that by laying hands on them.

Those of use who are pastors or have served as deacons know what this is like.

However, I recognize that not all of us can relate to this experience.

The reality is that not all of Paul’s companions could relate to that experience either.

You see, the Spirit identified that Paul and Barnabas were to be ordained for this work (Ac 13:2).

What would have kept the others going is the Spirit-ordained ministry that they were serving with Paul in.

In other words, what would encourage them is that they were doing the Lord’s work.

So, brothers and sisters, when we’re tempted to grow discouraged over serving the Lord, we need to remember that it’s the Lord’s work before us that we’re involved in

Acts 13:14–43 “14 But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”

It was customary to read from these portions of the OT every Sabbath (BKC).

I want for you to see if you can pick up on how Paul uses this habit to his advantage in what he’s about to share with people.

Notice that Paul and his companions were invited to share some encouragement with the people, from God’s Word.

This happened likely because Paul and his crew introduced themselves to the synagogue officials beforehand (BKC).

What I love about this is how it demonstrates a truism: If you invite a Christian preacher to say something, buckle up!

16 Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

I love the descriptiveness here concerning Paul.

We can see him standing up and the motion that he makes with his hand for everyone to be quiet.

Notice how Paul acknowledges that he’s in a company of more than just Jews: “you who fear God,” that is, God-fearing Gentile converts to Judaism.

This is going to be important later on when we consider the reaction to Paul’s message.

When he uses the word “listen,” related to both groups, Paul is saying that this message is for both groups to heed and understand.

This is huge considering that Paul is about to give a theological OT history lesson.

That history lesson relates primarily to God’s working among the people of Israel.

However, Paul’s message that relates the OT history of Israel is also for the mixed company in the synagogue!

Paul is pointing implicitly how this OT history will affect them, not just the Jews!

17 “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18 “For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19 “When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. 20 “After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24 after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 “And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ 26 “Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27 “For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. 28 “And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. 29 “When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. 30 “But God raised (cf. David) Him from the dead; 31 and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. 32 “And we preach (Paul includes himself in the witnesses) to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today i have begotten You.’ 34 “As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 “Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’ 36 “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40 “Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; For I am accomplishing a work in your days, A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.’ ”

To attempt to cover everything in this section would be beyond our time together this morning.

Therefore, I want to highlight a few things for you.

In these verses, we have read of God’s incredible activity among His people.

Acts 13:17 - God graciously chose Israel out of His own love and kindness

Acts 13:17 - God made Israel great in number and in possessions when they departed Egypt

Acts 13:17 - God delivered His people from Egypt by leading Israel from that country

What an understatement!

Wrapped up in this statement are all the miracles the demonstrated that God is the Lord culminating in His causing His people to pass through the Red Sea on dry ground!

Acts 13:18 - God patiently put up with Israel in the wilderness when they would time and again fail to trust the Lord

Acts 13:19 - God mightily destroyed the Canaanites

Acts 13:19 - God generously gave the land to Israel that He promised, demonstrating His trustworthiness

Ac 13:20 - God mercifully gave Israel judges to deliver them from foreign oppression on account of their sin

Acts 13:21 God gave them a king because they asked

Acts 13:22 - God sovereignly removed the king they asked for

Acts 13:22 - God raised up David to be the next king

Acts 13:22 God gave a testimony about David evidencing the latter’s superiority to Saul

Acts 13:23 - God brought Jesus, the Savior, to Israel in accordance with His promise through David’s line

Acts 13:30 - God raised Jesus (cf. Acts 13:33, 37)

Acts 13:33 - God fulfilled His promise to raise Jesus

Acts 13:34 - God raised Jesus (as it is written)

Acts 13:41 - God will accomplish an unbelievable and hardly describable work that will mean judgment to those who do not heed this message leading to forgiveness.

We have also seen various ways in which the people have acted, even in response to God’s generous interactions with them.

God put up with them, suggesting that there was something wrong with them that had to be put up with (Ac 13:18)

God gave the people judges (Ac 13:20; the people sinned)

God gave the people Saul as king because they wrongly asked for a king that would eventually be removed (Ac 13:21, 22)

The people did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah (Ac 13:25)

The people condemned a guiltless man to death (Ac 13:27-29) when they should have recognized Him as the Messiah, even though they have the prophets read every week!

Paul’s history lesson recounts for the people how the narrative of the OT exposes their sin and demonstrates God’s faithful kindness, culminating with the intersection between God’s promises and human responsibility in murdering the Son of God.

Even when it seemed like the people, the mob, and the Roman government were in charge - all was going according to plan.

Ultimately, this demonstrates that God is in charge - He is sovereign!

Additionally, we see the overwhelming kindness and graciousness of the Lord in the abundant acts that He undertook on behalf of His people even when He was responding to their sinfulness!

We also see the sinfulness and selfishness of the people that not only reflects on them but also the human heart in general to disdain the faithfulness of God.

The response to this message is the same then as it is now.

Receive this gracious and merciful forgiveness by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior from your sins; this is the only way that any of us can be freed from the penalty of the Law - death that our sin deserves.

Or, face the judgment that your sin deserves, the penalty of breaking the Law.

42 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.”

What an encouraging response that God’s Word received by Paul and Barnabas from the people in eagerly inviting the pair back to share more! (may the Lord develop the same hunger in us!)

Notice how Paul and Barnabas encouraged them: “continue in the grace of God.”

The only way that they would offer this encouragement is if they were seeing God’s grace at work in them!

The way that they were seeing God’s grace at work in them was through their desire for God’s Word.

Paul was encouraging them to maintain this desire for the true teaching of the Word of God.

Transition: Unfortunately, we’re going to see a particular threat to this desire surface in the next section

Acts 13:44–52 “44 The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.

Tragically, their jealousy, or their fear over losing influence, led them to even more sins by contradicting God’s Word taught by Paul and blaspheming these men in making false statements about their character.

46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’ ”

When Paul states that it was necessary that the Jews receive the Gospel message first he’s calling attention an important truth that he outlined in his message on the prior Sabbath: Jesus is the Messiah Who has fulfilled God’s promises to the Jews (NAC; cf. Ac 13:17-41).

While we are grateful that Paul turned his Gospel ministry to the Gentiles (otherwise, how would we have heard), Paul did not abandon preaching the Gospel to the Jews (cf. Rm 1:16).

Importantly, God still has a plan for Israel (cf. Romans 11:26).

And God is using Gentile believers to make Israel jealous and long for the kind of relationship we have that they were promised in the OT (Rm 11:11).

Notice, also that, just like in his prior Sabbath message, Paul appeals to Scripture to justify proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles and beyond!

It’s important to remember that Paul is speaking to individuals who hear God’s Word every week.

These message point forward to Jesus, as Paul ably demonstrated.

Thus, when Paul describes them as [repudiating] and [judging themselves] unworthy of eternal life, he’s referring to hard hearts resistant to God’s Word, refusing to repent, as evidenced in their actions.

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Importantly, we see God’s work of salvation in action.

The Lord appoints to eternal life.

People respond in belief.

Salvation is all of the Lord and we must respond.

Beyond this, we cannot give more explanation.

We can affirm, that whatever God does, is worth praising Him over, as we see among the Gentiles here!

49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

Notice that God’s Word is expanding but is met with resistance.

This is not something new to the passage, as Paul and Barnabas experienced resistance earlier in Acts 13 with Sergius Paulus and Bar Jesus in Seleucia.

However, notice what the Paul and Barnabas did in response.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

In other words, they did not let it discourage them.

There was more work to be done and they just kept going.

52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Joy is something that only the Holy Spirit can produce.

Joy is also something that is recognizable by others.

Therefore, this joy was something that others were witnessing in these disciples to testify that they had the Spirit in them.

Conclusion: Brothers and sisters, we’ve seen two efforts to discourage Paul, Barnabas, and company in the work that the Lord has given them to do.

Yet, they continued to be faithful not because of any endurance that they mustered within themselves. Instead, it was because of the presence of the Lord with them reminding them of God’s faithfulness to His Word and His call to them to serve that continued to encourage them.

As we seek the Lord to enable us to be faithful, others will be able to see God’s Spirit at work in us producing joy, regardless of if we face opposition.