Acts 13:40-51

Introduction:

If you have your Bibles let me invite you to open with me to the book of Acts chapter 13.

If you are new with us here this morning, we welcome you into our study of the book of Acts.

This book of the Bible tells the story of the creation of the Christian church

and the spread of the Christian message throughout the first century world.

Here in Acts 13, we have the first recorded sermon from the apostle Paul on his first missionary journey.

Upon arriving to Antioch Pisidia, Paul was invited to speak in a Jewish synagogue.

And this morning we turn our attention to the conclusion of Paul’s sermon.

Paul has preached the good news of salvation,

he has told the story of the Old Testament

and he has pointed our eyes to Jesus, the fulfiller of God’s promises, the savior, and the forgiver of sins.

And now he lands the plane…

Without looking ahead, how do you think Paul chose to conclude his message?

What would be a fitting end to this good news sermon of salvation?

And What effect will this sermon have on the hearers?

Those here this morning who are not followers of Jesus need to listen intently because this sermon was originally crafted for unbelievers like you.

The Holy Spirit of God inspired this message for your ears to hear why you need to believe upon Jesus.

Those who are followers of Jesus in the room need to listen intently because this missionary task of taking the message of salvation to others is our task.

We need to learn how Paul did it, what he communicated, and what we should expect when we share the good news message.

So, how does Paul conclude and what are the people’s response?

Lets read beginning in verse 40 and then lets pray for understanding.

Acts 13:40–51 ESV

40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ” 42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 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. 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.

Lets Pray

There are five truths about the missionary task that I want us to highlight from the text this morning.

#1 The Missionary Task is Urgent

The final word of command in Paul’s sermon is “Beware”

It is a word of warning

A warning to those who scoff at the message of Jesus.

A warning to those who refuse to believe the Word of God

And in order to strengthen his warning, Paul references a Scripture quotation so as to paint the picture of the urgency with which he speaks.

He quotes from the book of Habakkuk.

A book written in Israel’s history when God was warning Israel of an impending judgment.

A judgment they refused to believe was coming.

Israel had given themselves to Idolatry,

And God warned that he was going to send the evil nation of the Chaldeans to conquer them and take them into captivity.

Look with me at the warning from Habakkuk 1.

Habakkuk 1:5–11 ESV

5 “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. 7 They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. 9 They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. 10 At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. 11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

This is the scene from which Paul quotes.

and now he applies that warning to the conclusion of his sermon about the word and work of Jesus.

Acts 13:40–41 ESV

40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”

What is Paul’s final point?

Judgment is Coming

A judgment that is bigger than the historical conquering by the chaldeans in Habakkuk 1.

A judgement upon the whole world.

a Judgment only escaped through faith in Jesus who took the judgment of God on himself.

So Paul rightly says,

Beware…

beware of scoffing at the message of Jesus.

beware of one day being surprised by judgment.

beware of eternal perishing.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Thats true, but the inverse is also true.

God is so holy and will judge the world, so that whoever does not believe in Jesus will perish and will not have eternal life.

Judgment is coming.

Let me pause here and ask you Christian, does your presentation of Jesus’ message include this aspect of warning?

I know this is difficult especially in our present culture of relativism and moral confusion...., but we need to be clear about what we believe.

God is Eternal Creator

He is Holy beyond comprehension.

And he is the just judge of all evil.

He is the moral law giver and he will execute eternal punishment upon all sinners who oppose him.

Hell is a real place of final judgment.

And God made only one way of forgiveness.

Jesus absorbed the full wrath of God for sinners who turn to him in faith.

Charles Spurgeon says it like this,

“Think lightly of hell and you will think lightly of the cross.” - Spurgeon

Martyn Lloyd-Jones says it like this,

“If I did not believe in the doctrine of the wrath of God, I would not understand the death of Christ upon the cross, it would be meaningless to me.” -Martyn Lloyd Jones

‌The cross Of Jesus is where he absorbed the judgment of God for his people.

Apart from this provision there is no forgiveness.

God will execute his eternal, righteous, judgment on all people who sin against him…

all have sinned against him.

Our message needs to include the language of warning.

We need to say with the apostle Paul “Beware”

And we need to be reminded of this so that we treat the missionary task given to us with the appropriate degree of urgency.

We aren’t just recruiting people to a new way of life.

We aren’t just inviting them to church.

We aren’t just having spiritual conversations about better morality.

We are warning of a coming reckoning for all sinners..

Judgment is coming. Thats the final note that Paul strikes in this first recorded sermon.

Now what will the response be?

How will these devout Jews respond?

Will they respond like the Jews of Habakkuk’s day with scoffing and unbelief?

Or will they respond with faith?

The reality of this sermon’s conclusion in Acts 13, is that we see both responses simultaneously.

#2 The Missionary Task Will Face Rejection and Acceptance

At first it seems like Paul’s sermon was a hit.

Acts 13:42–44 ESV

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

The word of the Lord actually drew a crowd.

The grace of God offered in the person and work of Jesus was good news worth coming to hear.

Some begged that they might hear these things again,

And news spread quickly.

I pray that the draw of St. Rose Community Church will never be entertainment value or music style or professional programming…,

but that this church continues to grow because God is stirring hearts of people who gather to hear the word of the Lord.

Paul simply explained the Scriptures and pointed people to Jesus, and a movement of faith began in that city.

A word of encouragement to you, if you don’t know how to make a disciple, or evangelize a lost person….

Read the bible with them

Show them how it points to Jesus

And watch God work Through his word.

Some will accept the message.

and some will reject the message.

Acts 13:44–46 ESV

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

A group of Jews began to contradict what was spoken by Paul.

They began to revile Paul

To the Christian there should be some encouragement here.

This is the divinely inspired apostle Paul whom the resurrected Jesus appeared to and commissioned to his preaching ministry.

And this apostle Paul preached a sermon, that was rejected by many of his hearers.

This is part of the missionary task.

We will face frequent failure and rejection.

To the non-Christian this should stand as a warning.

Notice the reasons for their rejection that the author articulates.

Acts 13:45 ESV

45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.

Their rejection was due to jealousy, not reason or logic.

It is so often the case that people reject the message of Jesus, not because they have weighed the evidence and considered the eye-witness testimony to be unreliable…, but rather because they have a strong sinful desire that guides their thinking more than anything else.

In this case, it was jealousy - a strong desire for the praise of men, power, and influence.

They wanted a particular kind of life they had envisioned for themselves so much that they would rather pursue it at all cost than consider the truthfulness of the claims being made.

If you don’t believe in the eye-witness testimony about the resurrected Jesus… why don’t you?

Do you have a better more logically consistent explanation for the creation of the world, the corruption of the world, and the human longing for eternal life?

Or are you rejecting the message because of a strong affection for your own pride, independence, or life style?

Paul responds to their rejection with crystal clarity.

Acts 13:46 ESV

And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

To the unbeliever in the room.

Don’t thrust aside God’s message of salvation.

Don’t judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, when God has made a way.

#2 The Missionary Task will Face both Rejection and Acceptance

But this scene is meant to communicate more than just that.

There is something bigger going on here.

Paul went to the Jews first with the message of Jesus, because they would have already been familiar with the Old Testament story of God’s promises.

They were the covenant people of God.

Jesus was a Jew. He was sent to save his people from their sin.

But just like in the Old Testament narrative, the Jews in Antioch Pisidia reject God’s anointed savior.

And Paul uses it as a teaching moment…

He wants to show them that this message is not just for them… it’s for all the nations of the world.

Salvation is for both the Jews and the Gentiles - that is the pagan and godless nations of the world.

The good news is for those people farthest away from the one true God,

those worshipping Julius Caesar,

those worshipping the whole pantheon of Roman Gods with their pagan feasts and cult prostitution with no regard for God’s law.

Paul says, “we are turning to the Gentiles”

and then he quotes another Old Testament text to show that this has always been the mission.

Acts 13:47 ESV

47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

#3 The Missionary Task is Global

Paul quotes from Isaiah 49:6.

Isaiah 49 describes the ministry of God’s servant.

God’s servant will be a light for the nations and will be the vessel through which salvation goes to the ends of the earth.

The imagery is simple but powerful.

The world has been plunged into spiritual darkness.

Millions of People in our world today do not know God.

They do not know or understand the nature of coming judgment.

They fumble around in the darkness of their sin.

They need someone outside of themselves to turn on the light so that they can see the truth about God, about sin, about life and death.

They need what Jesus says he is.

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus is the perfect servant who accomplishes this most ultimately.

He is the light who exposes all sin and reveals the plan of salvation.

But Jesus, the perfect servant and the light of the world, has delegated his mission to his servants.

And the task he has given us has always been God’s goal for us.

His intent has always been to spread God’s glory to the ends of the earth through his worshippers so that the world is full of worshippers.

Jesus left us with the task that Isaiah points us to.

Jesus says this in Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The book of Acts is about the accomplishment of this mission.

The book began with these marching orders from Jesus himself.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Christian, we are part of something far bigger than ourselves.

We are part of something far bigger than just St. Rose.

The missionary task is global…,

We get to be a part of bringing the light of the world into the darkened hearts and lives of people right here on St. Rose Avenue and Oak street.

But the ministry and mission of this church overflows not just to St. Rose, but to the jungles of Peru, the islands of Southeast Asia, and more.

This week we took the staff and several of those going through the Timothy Track to an annual gathering of Pillar Network Churches.

and what we got to see and celebrate was a big picture of God’s people bringing salvation to the ends of the earth.

I got to speak with Orlando Saer, who planted a church in South Hampton England near a university. He told me of the overwhelming blessings of God on his church as they serve as a light to the Gentile college students of England.

Every week they pack in hundreds of college students to the space they are renting, and they are raising funds now to plant a new church in an adjacent town with no strong gospel witness.

What I love bout Orlando’s story… is that it began 30 years ago when one American Christian graduate student named Mark Dever was going to school in England and simply asked Orlando if he would be interested in reading the Bible together once week.

That simple ask 30 years ago, has led to a church planting movement today in Southampton.

I got to speak with Juan Hernandez from Columbia. He called what was happening in Columbia a great awakening. 16 Pillar Network churches are working together to plant churches and send missionaries.

Some of the columbian churches with a heart for the nations even gathered resources and are helping support church planting work that is happening in Kenya, under the leadership of pastor Ken Mbugua and church planter John Musyimi.

Over the course of the week We got to pray for

Binoi Samuel in India as he shared the difficult persecution that the churches in North India are facing.

We got to pray for a pastor who I will leave nameless,

Whose church in Dubai is currently being investigated by the government. They are demanding that he and his elders provide detailed information for every church member who gathers with them lest they lose their permit and their freedom to gather.

I could keep going, but I think you get the picture.

The missionary task is global.

and there is still much work to be done.

According to the current data, there are approximately 3,000 unreached and unengaged people groups in the world meaning these groups have very limited access to the Gospel and no known active church planting efforts are taking place among them.

Frankly it would be overwhelming if the work were all up to us.

but even in this text in Acts 13… the author is careful to make very clear that the missionary task may be assigned to us, but it is not ultimately ours to accomplish.

turn your attention to verse 48.

Acts 13:48–52 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. 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.

#4 The Missionary Task is God’s

When the gentile people present heard from the lips of Paul that God’s plan was to extend salvation even to the pagan and godless peoples living in spiritual darkness they erupted with praise.

They began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.

They began spreading the word of the Lord throughout the whole region.

It was spiritual awakening.

But don’t miss who the author credits with the work being accomplished.

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.

Behind the belief, and the worship, and the spread of the word….

Was God who graciously and sovereignly was appointing eternal life to undeserving sinners.

We get to participate in the missionary task, but we are not sovereign over it.

God is doing the work.

Those who believe are those whom God miraculously and effectively appoints to eternal life.

They are those whom God calls to himself in a powerful irresistible way.

the missionary task is God’s we just get to participate…,

And thus we can expect that sometimes when we present the good new of Jesus to someone, they will accept by the power of God, be filed with Joy and with the Holy Spirit so much so that they begin to lead others to Jesus very quickly.

but we can also expect that sometimes we will only secure for ourselves rejection and even persecution.

Acts 13:50 ESV

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.

whatever the case may be, because God is sovereign.

because he is the one who appoints to eternal life, and we are just the messengers.

we get to participate and we get to trust God to do what only he can do.

This is why at the end of this event, Paul and Barnabas can respond the way they did in verse 51.

Acts 13:51 ESV

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

To shake off their feet as they left town was a symbol of judgment.

It means that they freed themselves from the guilt of their rejection.

It means they freed themselves to move on to the next place with the good news of salvation.

It means they gave those people who rejected God over to God to do as he pleases.

They left to minister else where because of persecution, but they could do so in good faith because what they left behind were lights in the world.

Acts 13:52 ESV

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

Verse 52 signals to the reader that just because Paul and Barnabas were chased out of town did not mean that God’s work was done in that city.

The Missionary Task was not all about Paul and Barnabas…

Its about God working in every disciple whom he fills with his Holy Spirit and sets up as a light in the world.

And that includes you just as it included the random believer in Antioch Pisidia that was left behind with the message of Jesus.

If you are a Christian you have been given the word of God, joy of God, and the Spirit of God to take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.

It is my fear that as a church becomes more established they forget why they were planted in the first place.

It is so easy to slowly drift into a place of complacency.

We most naturally travel down the path of least resistance in our lives both personally and corporately.

Too many churches have slowly faded into maintaining the status quo.

They become institutions designed to meet the felt needs of their parishioners rather than communities of spirit-filled disciples working together to spread the word of God.

Over time if we aren’t careful…,

The church begins to look more like a cruise liner carrying customers rather than a battle ship training up spiritual warriors to push through enemy lines.

May it not be so in our church.

The servant of the Lord is the servant who shines their light to the gentiles and brings salvation to the ends of the earth.

The Missionary Task is Urgent

The Missionary Task Will Face Rejection and Acceptance

The Missionary Task is Global

The Missionary Task is God’s

And lastly

5. The Missionary Task is Ours

Its not ours like it is God’s

We aren’t sovereign over it but we are assigned to it.

The question is not whether we are seeing awesome results.

God is in charge of that.

The question is whether we are being faithful to the assignment?

Who are you bringing the message of salvation to?

Pray for them this morning.

Where will the next generation of missionaries and church planters come from?

Its my prayer that at least some of them will come from this church.

Pray for them this morning.

How will the 7,500 people in St. Rose hear the message of salvation?

Its my prayer that its through you.

Lets pray.