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In our Lord’s Day afternoon progression through the book of Acts, I’ve been asked to address chapter 13.
Introduction
Context
- Persecution in Jerusalem: James martyred, Peter imprisoned
Given its length, I’ll read the chapter as we proceed through the message rather than upfront.
Chapter 13 actually begins at chapter 12 verse 25.
After the persecution in Jerusalem that led to the martyrdom of James, the imprisonment and supernatural escape of Peter and the agonizing death of Herod of which Dan spoke last Lord’s Day, we read...
The events Dr. Luke described in Chapter 12 are particularly relevant and set the stage for the launching of Paul’s first missionary effort to expressly for the purpose of reaching the Gentiles with the gospel.
So Barnabas and Saul had gone to Jerusalem from Antioch in Syria - not to be confused with the Antioch in Pisidia.
We saw in that it was in Syrian Antioch that they had spent a year planting this church.
The events Dr. Luke described in Chapter 12 are particularly relevant and set the stage for the launching of Paul’s first missionary effort expressly for the purpose of reaching the Gentiles with the gospel.
There is quite a lot happening in this chapter and several sermons could be preached highlighting various aspects.
For our purpose today we will briefly consider the chapter from about a 20,000 feet view.
Our outline for this will include...
The commissioning and sending of Barnabas and Saul
The Gospel “First to the Jews”
The Gospel “also to the Greeks”
Why the Gospel is rejected
Why the Gospel is accepted
and finally a few points of application to assist us in our own Gospel presentation opportunities
I.
The commissioning and sending of Barnabas and Saul
The Commission
Since its planting the church in Antioch shows itself to be a very blessed group of churches from whom is being sent the “prophets and wise men and scribes” that Christ promised back in .
Beginning in verse 1 of chapter 13...
Of course, ministers of the gospel are exhorted and should minister to the Lord.
Here we see that these faithful “prophets and teachers REALLY DO minister to the Lord!
And it is in this context that the call of Spirit upon these two missionaries is received.
Take note of the cause and effect of the call.
While we are not told the form in which this call came to them, Luke does tell us that is came “while they were worshiping”.
And then after the call he tells us that they fasted and prayed.
The posture of worship preceded the call and the call itself ignited further praise and worship.
Now, we know this took some time.
We know this because our text states that they FASTED and prayed.
Why?
Why did they fast and pray and what should we learn from it.
Listen to v1 of chapter 4 in John’s first letter.
1joh
We must not assume that every felt or stated call is of the Holy Spirit.
Discernment is required.
These “wise men” were appropriately testing the spirits, to discern whether they are of God.
Having discerned the call is of the Spirit, what did it mean for the call to come to this church?
Tim Keller addresses this by saying that...
“This means that it was only shown to the church to send the two missionaries out, but not to tell them exactly what to do.
It takes a sense of adventure to follow the Holy Spirit’s calling.
He does not show you the whole map, but takes you one step at a time.
First official sending of missionaries by the church.”
— Tim Keller
But to what purpose were they called?
The Spirit himself answered this...
“…for the work to which I have called them.”
(v.2)
What work?
Specifically, the work revealed to Ananias in Damascus at the time of Paul’s conversion.
Acts 9:15...
This is the work Christ commissioned Paul to while he was still in Jerusalem.
Recounting this later, Paul recalls in ...
This is the work that the Apostles recognized Paul was being separated for.
beginning in v7...
Gal
Despite having foreknowledge that this call would come, Paul and Barnabas did not take it upon themselves to go, but awaited the call.
Recall v.3, a call confirmed by the Spirit and “prophets and teachers” through fasting and prayer.
It was then that they “laid hands on them and sent them away.”
Did you catch that!
Who was it that laid hands on them?
These prophets AND teachers laid hands on them!
Teachers ordain teachers!
Of course, no longer do we have prophets.
Paul instructs Timothy in ...
II.
The Gospel “First to the Jews”
Pisidian Antioch
Jesus explicitly gave this instruction when he appeared to the disciples after the resurrection.
He stated in ...
It is right that the offer of the Gospel be extended first to the Jews.
To the Syro-Phoenician woman in chapter 7 of his gospel Mark records Jesus...
It is right that the offer of the Gospel be extended first to the Jews.
Jesus explicitly gave this instruction when he appeared to the disciples after the resurrection.
He stated in ...
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.”
Jesus explicitly gave this instruction when he appeared to the disciples after the resurrection.
He stated in ...
…and again in ...
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.”
Peter, preaching to the Jews in , says to them in verse 26...
Later in our current text, beginning in verse 46, Paul affirms his understanding of this pattern...
act13
And so this pattern he followed.
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.’
”
…and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
The first church sent missionaries
This is FIRST and primarily a gospel message
Upon arriving at Cyprus they went “first to the Jews”.
See v4…
Syrian Antioch
A very blessed group of churches from whom is being sent the “prophets and wise men and scribes” Christ promised back in .
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