Acts 13:13-52 WE NEED JESUS

Acts 13:13–52 ESV

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 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. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: “ ‘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.’ ” As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 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. The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 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. 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.’ ” 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. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 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. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:13–16 ESV

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

Acts 13:13–15 ESV

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”

Acts 13:13-

Acts 13:13–15 ESV

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”

What are you preaching? -> Someone else’s sermon! (Stephen - Acts 7)

Today: Someone else’s sermon again

Similar to Stephen’s

Same pattern

Both began by tracing Israel’s history

Redemption of Israel out of Egypt

Time in the wilderness

The promise of a Messiah

The fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ

Both preached Jesus death as prophesied

Both called out the Jews for having put him to death

Both preached Jesus’ resurrection from the dead

and Both were persecuted for their sermon

On that occasion, Stephen was stoned to death

On this occasion, the preacher is the one who had Stephen put to death.

Amazing 180 degree turnaround

Jesus Christ came to save the worst of sinners

The gospel is the power of God for salvation to ALL who believe - even the worst of the worst

Supernatural event - a manifestation of God’s power

more so than in Creation

Acts is the story of the spread of this good news

We’ve seen that

thousands saved at a time

people being saved in Samaria

people being saved in Gentile nations

The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to ALL who believe (whether Jew / Gentile, black / white, raised religious / not religious - even if you support the Stormers)

People are not saved by virtue of their ethnicity, culture, works, merits....

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone

We need Jesus!

Something else:

We don’t just need Jesus to be saved.... We need Jesus all the time!

The Church is messy, doesn’t always get it right

So its not that we need Jesus to be saved, and then its up to us to make it work from there on

We need Jesus all the time, and we need to keep growing all the time

And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia

Luke doesn’t say why he left, just records it.

It either was the result of a fallout, or it led to one...

…because later on in we see Paul and Barnabas have a fallout over this very incident

Paul wanted to go back and visit the churches

Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with

Paul felt it wasn’t the right thing to do because he had already left a mission trip half way before

Paul and Barnabas have a “sharp disagreement”

Barnabas went one way with John Mark, and Paul went another way with Silas

It is not unusual for there to be strong disagreements in ministry

We are all different

Barnabas was a chill guy (the encourager)

Paul was probably more black and white (a pharisee of the strictest order)

When different personalities clash, this can happen

BUT

Be encouraged...

Later on they made friends again

In Paul calls both his fellow workers, and a comfort to him in ministry

Disagreements in ministry are usually resolved when the 2 parties communicate with each other.

Disagreements don’t break apart churches and do irreperable damage to relationships

GOSSIP DOES

I like how Luke deals with this

He records that John Mark left, but he doesn’t go into the detail

Unfortunately, we love to know details

Be careful that your bible studies do not become gossip sessions where you share all the details of your problem with somebody else...

…and be careful that your prayer requests aren’t gossips in disguise either

Remember - if you allow someone to gossip about someone else to you, you are equally guilty

1-1 is far better

The point is, we all need Jesus

We all need to be saved by the grace of Jesus

And we all need to live in the grace of Jesus

And that is really the point of Paul’s sermon to the Jews in the Synagogue at Antioch

its really all about Jesus, and our need of Him

Paul makes a proclamation

A clear feature of all the sermons we have seen in Acts so far: THEY ALL PREACHED JESUS

2 Features of his sermon that are similar to what Stephen

2 Features:

Most of what you hear today is

Jesus as the fulfillment of all the OT promises

Jesus’ identity confirmed by his resurrection

Both answer a very important question - both for the Jews in the synagogue, and for us today

WHO IS JESUS?

In fact, Jesus is who the entire OT is about

Jesus is the climax of every OT event

And he is the fulfillment of every OT promise God gave to Israel

This is Israel’s history - their background story

It was all pointing forward to Jesus the whole time

The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.

Acts 13:17 ESV

The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.

Acts 13:

Israel in Egypt

Their time in the wilderness (the serpent on the pole Numbers 21)

Destroyed 7 nations in the land of Canaan and gave them the land as an inheritance.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:11–14 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:12–13 ESV

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Eph

Judges & kings - fallible (not like the true Judge)

David - a man after God’s own heart who will do His will

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

But David wasn’t the ultimate head crusher - the Son of David is

As the genealogy in Matthew shows, Jesus was born in the line of David

What Paul is showing is that Israel’s history and all the events of the OT were not mere events of coincidence...

Time and events were not just happening aimlessly...

…but everything was pointing and moving inevitably towards a specific climax and fulfillment

Just as Paul says in ...

God was always working all things according to the purpose of His will.

Even Jesus’ death on the cross at the hands of the Jews was promised and fulfilled according to the predetermined will of God

Who is Jesus?

was born to a virgin just as promised

He is the One about Whom the whole Bible is about

lived a perfectly sinless life as promised

He is the fulfillment of every OT promise

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

What is Paul really saying?

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Guys, when you condemned Jesus to die, you were murdering the Messiah

And… in so doing you were fulfilling God’s promise that it would happen

It’s all there in

It was depicted in the story of Abraham tying up His son Isaac, his only son, whom he loved

JESUS IS THE ONE

How can you be sure that Jesus is the Messiah?

After all, if those very educated and religious Jews of the day, who knew the scriptures inside out did not recognize Jesus...

.... then how can we be sure today that Jesus really is the Messiah?

Acts 13:30–33 ESV

But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’

Acts 13:30:33

But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’

After all, if those very educated and religious Jews of the day, who knew the scriptures inside out did not recognize Jesus...

.... then how can we be sure today that Jesus really is the Messiah?

We are not Jews sitting in a synagogue in 1st century Turkey

What does this all mean for us today?

How does this truth about Jesus affect us?

How does it impact our lives?

Well, Paul tells us...

He begins verse 38 with that special word “therefore” (which means he’s about to give us the application)

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Acts 13:38–39 ESV

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Acts 13:38

Let me ask you...

What did Israel do in all of the events that Paul mentions in his sermon?

Were they the heroes of the story of their escape from Egypt?

Not even close!

They argued with Moses

They blamed God for everything

Even though they had literally walked through the Nile river and had food dropped to them from the sky, they stilled doubted God and made and worshiped an idol

Not only that, they complained they wanted to go back to Egypt - back to slavery!

Their judges and kings were all failures and most committed serious idolatry

Even the best of them, Solomon, had serious flaws

When David killed Goliath, where were the Israelites? Cowering in fear and getting ready to turn and run

Even David himself committed adultery and had the woman’s husband murdered as a cover-up

Now Israel had no excuse

They always knew

They of all people knew who God is

They had the Law

They had the sacrificial systems and the prophets and everything

But could the Law save them? Could the Law set them free?

NO - by the Law they could only be condemned

Because God says “I am holy, therefore be holy”

Nobody can be redeemed by the Law, because nobody obeys the Law of God

You and I break the Law every single day

1 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

And the biggest problem that poses to us is that because God is good He will not forgive sin or sweep it under the carpet

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

You’ve probably stolen time off work

Exodus 34:6 ESV

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Exodus 34:6–7 ESV

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

You’ve looked at another person in lust or thought about it

You

Exo 34

If you have sinned, you are guilty and God will by no means clear the guilty.

He does not sweep sin under the carpet - every sin must and will be dealt with by God

But before you bolt for the door..........

Look at the language here in Paul’s sermon:

God chose our fathers...

God made the people great in Egypt...

God led them out...

God put up with them in the wilderness...

God destroyed seven nations in Canaan...

God gave them their land...

God gave them judges...

God gave them a king...

God removed the king...

God raised up David to be king...

(verse 23) Of (David’s) offspring God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as He promised.

Friends, we cannot be redeemed by obeying the Law, by being good people, or by doing the best we can

WE NEED GOD TO ACT ON OUR BEHALF

And He has.

God brought a Saviour, Jesus, as He promised

The Saviour bore our sins upon a cross, as He promised

The Saviour suffered and died in our place, satisfying God’s wrath against sin, as He promised

And the Saviour was raised from the dead - as promised.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU AND ME?

IT means that through this man Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by Him everyone who believes is freed

Why?

Because our sins were not left unpunished but they were taken away for us by Jesus on the cross

Now to all who believe in Jesus, God says “the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin

There is forgiveness and freedom for all who believe

This good news demands a response

After Paul had explained all these things, there were some who wanted him to come back and hear more, and when they heard Paul the next day ...

they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 13:48 ESV

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.

There were others who got angry with him and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and chased them out

There can only be one of 2 responses:

You respond to the gospel with faith in Jesus Christ, you repent of your sins and begin following Him

OR you continue to reject Him, in which case you will need to give account before God by yourself

The bottom line is, we need Jesus

Remember the words of Peter in his sermon in chapter 4

there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

There is no other name

Acts 13:13-52 WE NEED JESUS

Text

1. INTRODUCTION

GRACE TO BE SAVED

GRACE TO BE KEPT

1. PROCLAMATION

(A) JESUS THE FULFILLMENT OF OT PROMISES

(B) JESUS IDENTITY CONFIRMED BY HIS RESURRECTION

2. APPLICATION

3. RESPONSE