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Review: We crossed a significant marker in the book of Acts when we began Acts 13; for the rest of the book, it is Paul who is center stage. Paul and Barnabas, as we read in the introduction to ch. 13, are called by the Holy Spirit to go on a journey. Much like Abraham's call to "go to a land I will show you," the Holy Spirit is not specific about the destination. But he does identify the two men, and those two are thus prayed for and given the blessing of the church at Antioch in a "laying on of hands" which commissions them for service. It's now 46 A.D., and the church has been growing for about 14 years. It's about to grow beyond the borders of Israel and its immediate neighbors.
Acts 13:4: Barnabas and Paul, "sent by the Holy Spirit," go first to the port city of Seleucia, and then on a ship to Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean. They will be gone for two years, and in that time, will visit 14 different places, returning to Antioch in 48 A.D. On this first of three missionary journeys, Paul establishes a pattern: (1) he visits a city and finds the synagogue; (2) he preaches to the Jews of the city; (3) he wins some converts; makes some enemies; (3) he stirs conflict; (4) he's thrown out of the synagogue; (5) he preaches to Gentiles and wins converts; (6) he's beaten and/or arrested; (7) he leaves the city with bruises (and often, barely escapes with his life), and (8) having established a group of believers there, leaves to repeat the events in another place. God had told Ananias at the time of Paul's conversion that he would "show him how much he must suffer for my name" (Acts 9:16). Paul suffers, but he does not get discouraged or quit. In II Corinthians 11:23-12:10, he lists those sufferings (and note: this isn't the complete list; this letter was written in the middle 50s; Paul lived to 68 A.D. and continued to endure hardship as he witnessed to the gospel's transforming power).
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II Cor. 11:23I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands. II Cor. 12: 1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know - God knows. 3And I know that this man - whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows - 4was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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Paul in his inimitable way, tells the Corinthian church, a church he'd founded on his second missionary journey between 49 and 52 A.D., about all he'd endured in order to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. And he implies "every beating, every close call, every brush with death was worth it!" The list of those close calls begins on this first journey.
Acts 13:5: On Cyprus, they went to Salamis, the first city they encountered on the island. Here they found the synagogue and "proclaimed the word of God." Typically, a visitor to a synagogue was invited to comment on the Torah and/or Haftorah portions read on that day. Recall that Jesus did this in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30); reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, he commented that "this scripture [about the Messiah] is fulfilled in your hearing." The hometown crowd was astounded at this statement because they saw him as anyone but the Messiah: "Isn't this Joseph's son?" In their anger, the mob pushed him to a cliff ready to toss him over. It could be dangerous to interpret scripture in that day; it certainly was for Paul. However, aside from noting that John Mark (also known as Mark; nephew of Barnabas) was traveling with them, the synagogue visit was uneventful. They continued to travel across the island and at Paphos, they were met by a sorcerer, a Jew named Elymas, who had great influence in the area. In fact, he was an aide to the Roman governor there, a man named Sergius Paulus. The governor sent for Paul and Barnabas and asked them to tell him about God; as they were doing so, Elymas, also called a "false prophet," interfered. Paul "filled with the Holy Spirit" looks at Elymas and says "you are a child of the devil, and an enemy of everything that is right." And Paul then said "you will be blind for a time," and Elymas, already spiritually blinded by Satan, now became physically blind. The proconsul was not only amazed at this revelation of God's power, but also convinced by Paul's message that the gospel was for him; he became a believer.
Acts 13:13: It's hard to tell how long Paul and his companions stayed in any one place. But after their mission to Cyprus, they sail to Perga in Pamphylia, a coastal city in Asia Minor. Here John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem. No reason is given here or later, but he was young and perhaps immature in the faith. And perhaps the hardships that Paul and Barnabas were able to see as tests of faith, and thereby, found their faith growing stronger, defeated Mark. It's hard to know. Paul and Barnabas now pushed inland to Pisidian Antioch - a different place than the Antioch which had been their starting point, called Syrian Antioch to distinguish the two. "On the Sabbath, they entered the synagogue," (v. 14) and the officials ask them to speak. Paul does. Notice that he addresses the mixed audience as "Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God." The diaspora of Jews, which began in 721 B.C. with the defeat of Israel by Assyria, followed in 586 B.C. with the defeat and exile of the people of Judah to Babylon, has created these mixed groups. The more observant Jews established synagogues, places of study and prayer, and their faithfulness to God attracted some Gentiles. We read of a Centurion in Capernaum (Luke 7) whom the Jews praised for being a friend of the synagogue; we read of Cornelius in Acts 10 who was called a "God fearing man," and to whom Peter was sent with the gospel. Paul speaks to this group for a long time, and as Peter and Stephen before him, he reviewed Jewish history, and showed how Jesus was the Messiah who fulfilled what the prophets said. Many who heard this message wanted to hear more; they asked questions and invited Paul and Barnabas to return the next Sabbath to elaborate on this message. "On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord," we're told in v. 44. Pisidian Antioch was a place where trade routes crossed; it was a Roman colony with a large Jewish and Gentile population. Opposition arises against Paul and Barnabas with the Jews, jealous at the crowds that these two outsiders were attracting, hurling abuse at them. Paul boldly answers them, saying he had to come to the Jews first, but if they rejected the message of Jesus Christ, he'd go to the Gentiles. The Jews were sullen, but their Gentile counterparts welcomed Paul's message, and many believed, and "the word of the Lord spread throughout the entire region." Nevertheless, the Jews who'd rejected the gospel stirred up influencial men and women, probably telling them that life would be different if they didn't protect their turf. And so, Paul and Barnabas were "expelled from their region," but "shaking the dust from their feet," they went on to another city. The believers left behind in Pisidian Antioch continued to grow in faith because they were filled with and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Another church has begun.
Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas went next to Iconium, 60 miles east of Pisidian Antioch, and "as usual, they went into the Jewish synagogue." Paul is predictable, but he's doing what the Holy Spirit directs him to do: preach first to Israel and then, when the Jews reject the message, to take it to the Gentiles. In Iconium, many Jews and Gentiles did believe, but those Jews whose hardened hearts and minds would not admit the truth of the gospel, once again stirred up opposition. Paul and Barnabas spent time in small groups and one-on-one debates, spoke boldly, and performed miracles. This teaching convinced many, but others were unsure, and we read "the city was divided." A plot to stone the missionaries was uncovered and they were hustled out of the city before it could be carried out.
Acts 14:8: Paul and Barnabas went on to two neighboring cities, Lystra and Derbe. The first is the home of Timothy, a man who figures prominently in Paul's life. They continue to preach. Can't you see them? Paul is thought to have been a short, bald man, with bow legs and a forceful style of speaking. Barnabas was larger, a bear of a man, who'd as soon hug you as look at you. The two were quite a pair, and in many ways, they complemented each other: Paul speaking out boldly and Barnabas quietly praying with folks, mentoring, discipling, teaching. In earlier chapters of Acts, we saw miracles of healing, signs of the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of the apostles. We've seen a couple of instances of that in Paul's life. Now in Lystra, he encounters a crippled man and commands him to "stand and walk." The man, who'd never walked, gets up and the crowed is stunned to see him walking. They hail Paul and Barnabas as gods, and begin to prepare sacrifices to offer at the Temple of Zeus in their honor. But Paul and Barnabas, unlike Herod who allowed himself to be worshiped as a god, are distraught. They tear their robes and shout to the people that they are men, not gods. Paul preaches another sermon, telling them that God who created the earth and sky and sea can be known. The crowd was stopped in their attempt to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas, but just then, Jews from Iconium and Antioch, where Paul had been previously, came and "won the crowd over," to the point that they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city and left him for dead. The disciples, those who believed the gospel, gathered around him, and we can infer that because he got up and went back into the city, he was brought back to life by a miracle from God. I wonder if those who'd stoned him saw him walking around and thought "it's a ghost!" With that as an invitation to leave, Barnabas and Paul went on to Derbe.
Acts 14:21: They preached with success in Derbe, and many believed. Then they went back to the cities where they'd left disciples: Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, teaching them, praying with them, "strengthening them" in the faith. The two missionaries warn them that they will suffer for the faith, but that God will be faithful to them. In each of these churches, they appoint elders, men who will oversee the various ministries in these congregations. They prayed with and "committed them to the Lord," and then moved on. In much the same way, Billy Graham has brought people to Christ: he preaches in large arenas and thousands respond to the gospel. But he does not leave them without help: local churches are given the names of converts. Their follow-up includes prayer and encouragement, getting them involved in a church, making sure they have Bibles. Paul and Barnabas established the pattern in the early decades of the first century.
Acts 14:24: this chapter ends with a brief list of additional places where they preached, Perga, Attalia, and then they sailed back to Antioch of Syria, their home church. What a celebration they must have had! After two years, Paul and Barnabas had a lot to report, and the people who'd sent them rejoiced at what God had done. "And they stayed there a long time with the disciples." Unpacking their bags after two years, Paul and Barnabas settled down to preaching and teaching the home folks. They, too, needed to recharge their batteries and to be ministered to. Missionaries today return from the field periodically on what were once called furloughs. These are times of deputation - reporting to churches whose support has been key to their ministry in Brazil or Equador or Nigeria. But it's also a time to listen to someone else preach and teach that they may be refreshed in their faith.
Acts 15: An important chapter in church history, Acts 15 describes the first major decision the council of elders had to make concerning Gentile Christians. Earlier, when Peter reported on his call to Caesarea to minister to the household of Cornelius (Acts 11), the elders had been persuaded that the gospel was for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. This was an important break-through. Now, with Paul and Barnabas going around the Mediterranean preaching, founding churches, teaching the converts, doctrinal questions arise. Some of the Jewish believers from the Jerusalem area go to Antioch in Syria saying "you must be circumcised and obey the law of Moses in order to be saved." Big red flags are going up, borders are drawn, and Paul and Barnabas are concerned. And we read that they were "in sharp dispute" with the Judean believers. But instead of trying to make an independent ruling in Antioch, they agree to go to Jerusalem to get a decision from the elders there.
Acts 15:4: They're made welcome in Jerusalem until some Pharisee believers stand up and state unequivocally that Gentile converts must submit to the law, including circumcision. Do you see the conflict? Jesus' death made sacrifices at the Temple unnecessary; he died once and for all to redeem us. The conflict then is with the rest of the law: If someone believes in Jesus' sacrifice, is it necessary to follow the food laws, the Sabbath laws, and all the rest? When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:37-39). These two commands sum up the entire list of 10 commandments, the first four of which focus on our relationship to God and the last six, on our relationship with other humans. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." "Works" includes obedience to the law, trying to earn our salvation. So the Jerusalem council on the issue of whether Gentiles should be held accountable for obeying the law or not was of great significance.
Acts 15:6: Committees gathered, men discussed and debated, and finally Peter got up to talk. Remember, Peter had already preached to Gentiles; he'd spoken to the council about this. And recall, that it was Peter whose preaching on the Day of Pentecost drew 3,000 to belief in Christ Jesus as savior. So he's got credibility with this council, and they listen as he tells them "God made no distinction in the foods he showed me, nor in the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles or Jews. The Holy Spirit was given to all. For he purified their hearts by faith." There's the key: it's faith that saves, faith in Jesus Christ as redeemer, not faith in the law. He continues: "We couldn't follow the law; it was a burden. Why put it on others?" and he adds: "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." And to this ringing testimonial to the grace of God, Paul and Barnabas tell the council all about what they'd seen and heard among the Gentiles.
Acts 15:13: Finally it is James who speaks. This is James, the brother of Jesus, and his leadership of the church in Jerusalem is acknowledged by all. He stands and underscores what Peter has said, and quotes the prophet Amos regarding God's promise that he would return and rebuild David's "fallen tent," not only on Hebrews but on Gentiles. And James then concludes that Peter, Paul and Barnabas are correct: burdening Gentile believers with the law is counter to what they know the Holy Spirit has done - moving men like Peter, Paul and Barnabas to preach to the Gentiles, and then confirming the onverts' faith by the baptism of the Spirit. He does advise that a letter go out to all the churches telling them of this decision and admonishing them to stay away from three things: sexual immorality, food offered to idols and eating meat not properly butchered or drained. And so the letter was written and distributed. We read the text of the letter in vv. 23-29.
Acts 15:30: The church at Antioch hears the decision with joy; Paul and Barnabas remain with them for a period to teach and preach. And then we read that Paul, eager to see how the young churches they'd left in the cities visited on their first journey, proposed a trip to see them. Barnabas said he'd go, but he said "let's take John Mark," and Paul flatly refused. Remember, the young man had been with them at the start of their journey, but had returned to Jerusalem from Perga (Acts 13:13). Paul didn't think he could be trusted to go the whole way; Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance. Their dispute was so strong that they parted ways. Paul took Silas with him, while Barnabas took Mark. The men who'd been companions for so long, went in opposite directions. And the Lord used both of them.
Next time: We'll continue to follow Paul on his second missionary journey.
Homework for those who want to go deeper:
1. Consider the import of the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. What might our churches look like had the council decided the issue in another way? Why was unity important?
2. In what ways did Paul and Barnabas encourage the new believers? What implications does this have for us?
3. Even in the face of opposition, Paul continued to preach. He was undaunted. What gave him strength?
4. Finish reading the book of Acts.
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Let's close in prayer.
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