Missionaries
Acts of the the Apostles • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
As we continue on through the Book of Acts, we now come to what is commonly known as Paul’s first missionary journey, found in chapters 13 and 14. If you recall from several weeks ago, there was a church north of Jerusalem that became the first large, multicultural Christian Church. That was the city of Antioch. Antioch is also where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. We’re going to look at this missionary journey as a whole, and look at some of the accounts that Luke chooses to highlight in each region.
This comes right after the final verse that Luke had included after chapter 12. Last week, we looked at 12 and saw Herod as a main character in that chapter. It concludes with people praising Herod, saying his words are that of a god, not of a man. He accepts their praise, and we see this verse. Acts 12:24
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
Now we see how the word of God continues to spread and flourish. The Holy Spirit has a new mission.
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
MAP
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. 6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos.
As they went, they went into the Jewish synagogues. Paphos is where Luke tells us of an encounter. There was a proconsul, which is a roman official who governed a province. This man’s name is Sergius Paulus. He sent for Paul and Barnabas because he wanted to hear the word of God. The attendant, a Jewish Sorcerer and false prophet name Bar-Jesus, opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
Now in this next passage, a couple interesting things happen. We see Saul being referred to as Paul for the first time. There is a bigger emphasis now on reaching out to the Gentiles, and that’s reflected in the name Paul being used more often.
9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
We see Luke highlighting here on the island of Cyprus a Roman official coming to faith in Jesus, and a shift in focus to the gentiles. It struck me as well the miracle that happened. Blindness, the very same thing that happened to Paul when he was brought low in Acts 9.
MAP
After the island of Cyprus, they then then move on.
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
MAP
14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
Both areas, entering the synagogues.
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
Paul speaks, It’s a long speech. He tells them the history of their people. He tells them of Jesus and how the people of Jerusalem and the leaders did not recognize him. He tell them of Jesus death and resurrection.
I can’t help but wonder if Paul thought about Stephen. Paul was there, listening to a very similar speech Stephen gave just before being stoned to death in Acts 7. And now Paul is on the other side of it. When the Lord called Ananias in Acts 9 to go to Saul after Jesus had blinded him, he said to Ananias, “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.
We are seeing those words come to pass. After Paul’s speech, it says the people invited them back the next sabbath to continue speaking.
Then we see this. Acts 13:44-45
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
As a quick side note on this particular verse. This is one of those verses that separate Christian denominations in their theology. What we call the theology of pre destination verses free will. But I’m not going to focus on that at the moment. What we do know for certain by this verse is that gentiles were coming to faith in Jesus.
To end chapter 13, we read Acts 13:49-50
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
They’re being expelled and persecuted. And yet the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. What an example.
This is still how the Word of the the Lord is recieved, isn’t it? There are some that are so glad to hear it. And there are others that it drives them crazy. Stop talking or I will kill you.
So they were in Cyprus. Then up to Pisidian Antioch, which is a different Antioch then where they started.
MAP
Now they travel from Antioch to Iconium. Their first stop is, you guess it, the Jewish Synagogue. Many Jews and Greeks believed. Paul and Barnabas performed miracles. The Jews who refused to believe stirred up the gentiles and plotted to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas. So they fled to Lystra and Derbe.
While in Lystra, a man who could not walk was listening to Paul. It says Paul looked at the man, saw he had faith to be healed, and called out “Stand up on your feet.” The man gets up and is healed.
At this, the people shouted that the gods have come down in human form. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul they called Hermes because he was the cheif speaker. Even the priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
Last week we looked at Herod who accepted praise from the people. Now we see Paul and Barnabas rip their clothes and say no! We are humans. We serve the one true God. Now something interesting happens at this point. In these cultures, each culture and area had their own gods. And that was fine. They knew that there were different names for the same gods and things like that, but it wasn’t exclusive, in that you could have your gods and I have mine. Your truth and my truth.
But here they say to the people Acts 14:15
15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
The food you eat. The rain and the crops. The joy in your heart. That never came from these other gods. It has always been this God we speak of. All good things are from God, whether we give Him the credit or not. Even today, God is never without testimony.
18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
But then the very next line is this
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
They go from calling him a god to trying to kill him. These jews follow Paul. They stone him. I wonder if, yet again, he’s thinking about Stephen. Perhaps even thinking, “yup, I deserve this.” But this is why Jesus chose Paul. Acts 14:20
20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
Back at it.
MAP
In Derbe, it says they won a large number of disciples. Then they travel back. To Lystra. Iconium. Antioch.
MAP
Down to Perga. To the port in Attalia. All the way back to Antioch. Strengthening the churches as they went. The first of Paul’s Missionary journeys, with his friend and colleague Barnabas.
I look at this map. All of these cities. The incredible difficulty these disciples went through. Why? Because people must know. Everyone everywhere, regardless of culture, location, or the gods they’ve served. They need to know about this Jewish messiah, who is the fulfillment of the one true God’s plan all along. Salvation comes through the Jews, yes, but it’s not just for them. It’s for all the world.
And I also see in every location, there are those that accept the savior, and those that reject. Paul and Barnabas spend time, they know the scriptures, they attempt to convince. But eventually they move on. Like a lifeguard pulling people off a ship taking on water in a storm. Some people are thrilled, but maybe somebody is too attached to the boat and can’t see the danger. I can fix it on my own. It’s fine. The lifeguard’s won’t go down with you, they’re leaving you behind.
Each of us are on one of two sides. You might be the disciple. It’s is our calling, like all disciples before us, to tell the good news of Jesus. To know the scriptures to the best of our ability. To share our testimony and invite others to follow Jesus. But people, many people will reject it, and it’s ok to move on and use that energy to tell someone else.
Or you might be on the seeking, listening side. You have the complete freedom to accept or reject Jesus. You probably have a million reasons why you might not. I met some Christians who were mean. Or I have too many questions. Or life has been incredibly difficult and you’re angry at the possibility of a caring God because He sure doesn’t seem to care about me.
And you know what, all of those are valid, but the fact still remains...you’re on a boat in a storm and it’s taking on water. And Jesus is right there, urging you to get on. And all those other people on the boat with Him, you might not like everyone there, and someone may even have offended you. You don’t like them for whatever reason.
Good news is it’s not their boat. It’s not my boat. We were rescued from our own sinking ships.
What started with those apostles, taking the good news of Jesus to all the world. It’s not finished yet. There are people in our community who don’t know. There are people in this sanctuary who have heard but haven’t accepted Jesus’ rescue.
You have 2 options today. To continue sharing the gospel in word and action, or to accept or reject Jesus salvation in the first place.
