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September 1, 2021

Acts Chapter 13 – Part two

The proconsul, Sergius Paulus: This was an important man. A Roman proconsul was responsible for an entire province and answered to the Roman Senate.

“All Roman provinces were divided into two classes, those that required troops, and those that did not. The latter were administered by the Senate and ruled by proconsuls; the former were under the administration of the emperor.”

COMMENTATOR “Sir William Ramsay reports that inscriptions bearing Sergius Paulus’ name have been found on Cyprus confirming that LATER ON, he was a Christian and that his entire family became Christians.” (Hughes)

SER-GI-US PAULUS called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God: While ministering in Paphos (presumably after the same fashion – going into the synagogues and presenting Jesus), an unexpected door opened – the proconsul wanted to hear the word of God.

THEN COMES THE DEVIL, (Act 13:8-12) The resistance of El-y-mas the sorcerer. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? “And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

THE DEVIL CANNOT ATTACK WITHOUT LEAVING TRACKS, AND SO CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOTE THE TRACKS OF THE DEVIL BECAUSE THEY WRITE A DETAILED LESSON TO TEACH MEN.

AND We should not be surprised or shaken by opposition. “Wherever there is likely to be great success, the open door and the opposing adversaries will both be found. If there are no adversaries, you may fear that there will be no success. A boy cannot get his kite up without wind, nor without a wind which drives against his kite.” SAYS (Spurgeon)

SAUL BECOMES PAUL “Saul’s father gave the child a Roman and a Latin name because he was a Roman citizen with all the rights in the Roman Empire this implied. The child had both names from infancy. When his father called him he shouted, ‘Saul, Saul!’ but when the Greek boys with whom he played called him they shouted, ‘Paul, Paul!’” (Lenski)

Filled with the Holy Spirit…Said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud”: Paul, using spiritual discernment and operating in the gift of faith, rebuked and pronounced the judgment of God upon Elymas (you shall be blind). As Elymas was struck with blindness, we can’t help but think Paul would remember his own experience with God. Paul was struck blind at his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:9). Certainly, those who resist God are blind spiritually, so God just gave Elymas a physical blindness that matched his spiritual blindness. Sadly, we never hear of Elymas repenting, as Paul did.

Then the proconsul believed: Paul was harsh in his confrontation against Elymas because the eternal destiny of the proconsul was at stake. If one wants to commit spiritual suicide, that’s one thing. But it is never right to bring others down also. If you want to give up on the things of God and grow bitter in your heart against Him, that’s your choice. But it is a heavy sin to draw anyone else away with you, either with your words or your example.

“The severest words of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, are reserved for those who stand between men and truth, for those who stand between men and God…It must be the heart that loves Sergius Paulus that speaks in anger to Elymas the sorcerer.” (Morgan)

Being astonished at the teaching of the Lord: As amazing as the miracle of Elymas’ sudden blindness was, the good news the proconsul heard from Paul was even more amazing. His astonishment is said to be at the teaching of the Lord (presumably, the doctrines of God’s gracious gift to man in Jesus, through the cross) not the miraculous work before his eyes. (MIRACLES DON'T SAVE).

(Act 13:13) From Paphos to Perga. Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

Now when Paul and his party set sail: The missionary group is now described as “Paul and his party.” Previously – as recently as Acts 13:7 – the group was described as Barnabas and Saul. From this point on, Paul’s leadership and prominence will be evident. MAYBE SOME JOINED AS IN THE "LONG MARCH"

They came to Perga: They left the island of Cyprus, coming to Perga on the mainland of what is today Turkey. John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem: We don’t know exactly why John Mark went home to Jerusalem. Perhaps he was homesick. Perhaps he was afraid of the tough and dangerous travel through the mountains ahead of them. (VIEW THE TERAIN) Perhaps he resented that the team of his cousin Barnabas and Saul (Acts 12:25) had now become Paul and his party. Perhaps he lost confidence because Paul suffered poor health (according to Galatians 4:13).

As will be clear from Acts 15:36-41, Paul didn’t appreciate the departure of John Mark here, and to some degree he seems to have lost confidence in him as a missionary companion, a member of the team. This reminds us that as great and godly as these men were, and as great as the work was that they did, they still had problems. TWO MEANS MORE GROUND COVERED.

C. The sermon at Pisidian Antioch.

1. (Act 13:14-15) The customary invitation in the synagogue gives Paul an opportunity to preach Jesus. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pi-si-di-a, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

They departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia: Perga was a costal, harbor city, where the ship from Paphos came to the mainland. Antioch in Pisidia was about 135 miles (220 kilometers) inland, to the north. This general region was known as Galatia, and later Paul wrote a letter to these churches that is included in our New Testament.

“Pisidian Antioch was in the mountains at an altitude of about 3,600 feet. Since Paul mentions in the letter to the Galatians that he had a bodily affliction at this time, some scholars have supposed that Paul caught a disease, perhaps malaria, while living in Pamphylia’s lower coastal plains and that he had his party pressed on into the healthier mountain climate because of it.” (Boice)

Went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets. A first-century synagogue service followed a general order. Opening prayers were offered, and then there was a reading from the Law (the first five books of the Old Testament). Then, a reading from the Prophets. Then, if there was an educated person present, they were invited to speak on subjects related to the readings. PAUL was more than happy to use the opportunity. "SAY ON"

(Act 13:16-23) Paul begins his sermon

Then 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 exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they asked for a king; so 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 for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior; Jesus.” (THE HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, A REPEATED PATTERN WITH STEPHEN, PAUL, AND BACK IN JOSHUA 24 AND PAUL IN ACTS 20)

a. Men of Israel and you who fear God: Paul addressed both groups at the synagogue on a typical Sabbath; both Jews and “near Jews,” those Gentiles who admired the Jewish religion but did not make a full commitment to Judaism. JUST LIKE WE SPEAK TO MEN OF GOODWILL.

THIE NARRATION, OR This survey of Israel’s history demonstrates that God has a plan for history, and we need to sense a connection to that plan. Jesus is the goal of history, and as we are in Jesus, we are in the flow of God’s great plan of redemption.

3. (Act 13:24-29) Using the examples of John the Baptist and the Jewish rulers, Paul shows how people both received and rejected Jesus.

For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him: (INTERESTING HERE) THOSE WHO MISSED ALL THE CLUES, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE RESURRECTION. SO Those who didn’t know the Scriptures rejected Jesus, and delivered Him to Pilate to be executed. This was true even though they lived in Jerusalem and were rulers among the Jews. Therefore Jesus was executed and laid in a tomb.

They took Him down from the tree: In calling the cross a tree, Paul drew on the idea from Deuteronomy 21:22-23. In that passage, it says that God curses a person who is hanged from a tree. Paul wanted to communicate the idea that Jesus was cursed (.IE, TOOK THE CURSE) so that we could be blessed (Galatians 3:13).

4. (Act 13:30-37) Paul preaches the resurrected Jesus. THIS POINT IS AND WAS EARTH SHAKING IN THE ANCIENT WORLD AND WOULD BE TODAY EXCEPT FOR OUR ANTI-CHRIST CULTURE THAT CONTINUALLY DENIES JESUS.

“But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. (POINT: HE ATE WITH THEM, REFUTING DOCETISM) And we declare to you glad tidings; that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.”

b. But God raised Him from the dead: Here, the fact was simply stated. Yet, evidence from eyewitnesses was also offered (He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him).

i. We should not miss an emphasis on events in Paul’s preaching here; it is so evident that it can be missed. He focused on things that actually happened, not on philosophy or even theology. “Christianity is not just a philosophy or a set of ethics, though it involves these things. Essentially Christianity is a proclamation of facts that concern what THE LIVING God has done.” (Boice)

c. God has fulfilled this for us their children: Then Paul applied the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. The resurrection means that Jesus truly is the unique Son of God (Psalm 2:7), and it proves that He was utterly holy even in His work on the cross (Psalm 16:10).

5. (Act 13:38-41) With a promise and a warning, Paul applies the truth of who Jesus is and what He did for us.

“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’” UNBELIEF IS THE DEFAULT STATUS OF MANKIND...BUT GOD...

Some refuse to embrace the salvation of Jesus in the secret place of their heart, because they want a salvation of their own making. They want to be saved the old-fashioned way – they want to earn it. AND IN SUCH THEY ARE TRESPASSING UPON THE LAMB'S OFFICE.

Only a few months after this Paul, wrote a letter to these churches in Galatia, dealing with these same themes of being justified by God’s grace, and not by keeping the law.

b. Everyone who believes is justified: Jesus does not only forgive us, but we are also justified by Him. Forgiveness takes care of the debt of sin, but justification puts a positive credit on our account before God.

Beware, therefore: The warning is that if we do not embrace the person and work of Jesus with our whole lives, we are despisers who will perish. In this warning, Paul quoted a passage from Habakkuk regarding the judgment that came upon Jerusalem. If God judged them, He will also judge those who refuse and reject His offer of forgiveness through the work of Jesus.

“Although ours is an age of great grace, God is nevertheless also a God of great judgment, and sin must be judged if it is not atoned for by the work of Christ.” (Boice) WHY? BECAUSE ALL THINGS ARE EQUALIZED IN THE END

ii. Some commentators complain that Paul here preached too much like Peter did on Pentecost. It is a strange complaint. This shows us that Peter and Paul preached the same gospel, and the same gospel was preached some fifteen years after Pentecost as was preached on that first day.

iii. Others note similarities between Paul’s sermon here and the sermon of Stephen in Acts 7. (SIMILAR HOW?) That was a sermon that Paul heard when he still hated the name of Jesus. Perhaps the sermon of the first martyr of the church still rang in the ears of the man who presided over his execution.

D. The Response to the sermon at Pisidian Antioch.

1. (Act 13:42-43) Many people, both Jews and Gentiles, express interest in Paul’s message. So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. (HUNGER FOR THESE WORDS?) Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. (WHAT IS GRACE? EMPOWERMENT AT CHRIST'S EXPENSE. OR A LICENSE TO SIN? WHAT IS HYPERGRACE?)

When the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath: Both Jews and Gentiles at the synagogue responded positively, yet Luke noted an even greater response from the Gentiles present.

i. We should assume that many of these believed for two reasons.

· First, because many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas. There was a continuing interest in their message.

· Second, because Paul and Barnabas persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. This means they had already started to trust in the grace of God.

b. Persuaded them to continue in the grace of God: Continuing in grace is as important as beginning in grace; we must never leave it as the basic principle of our relationship with God. Far too many only think of grace as the introduction to the Christian life, but God wants grace to remain as the foundation for our life with Him.

A BIG EVENT HAS COME TO TOWN. EVERYONE IS TALKING.

2. (Act 13:44-45) On the next Sabbath, envy creates opposition.

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. (STILL DO)

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God: The scene is easy to picture. The whole city was ready to hear the gospel from Paul on the next Sabbath.

“In our day, people are overwhelmed with information. We have radio, television, newspapers, magazines. People did not have any of this in that day. So when somebody came through from another city, the person was a source of precious information and people naturally thronged about him. The missionaries were proclaiming something new.” (Boice) LIKE THE WILD WEST.

DUAL IMPORTANCE. There was not merely the power of novelty; there was more notably the power of the word of God. This was the primary power that attracted people, and Luke emphasized it in his account.

READ IT:

· The whole city came together to hear the word of God (Acts 13:44)

· Paul and Barnabas spoke the word of God to them first (Acts 13:46)

· The Gentiles responded to the word of the Lord (Acts 13:48)

· The word of the Lord spread through the region (Acts 13:49)

b. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy: The dramatic response made the leaders of the synagogue envious. This is inevitable for those who are more concerned about being popular than serving God. When someone else is more popular, they become filled with envy. We can’t all be popular to the same degree, but we can all serve and please God to the same degree in Jesus Christ.

THEY WERE Contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul: Suddenly, Paul’s preaching was opposed as if he were conducting a debate, with his opponents contradicting him and blaspheming God.

The blasphemy mentioned probably has to do with abusive and degrading language directed towards Jesus, whom Paul preached. ONGOING BY YOUR TRADITION. THE TALUDIC TRADITION OF EVIL MEN.

They opposed the things spoken by Paul: It seems strange that these religious people who waited so long for their Messiah would now reject Him when Jesus was presented to them. One great reason was they wanted to keep the division between Jew and Gentile, and if Jesus was to be the Messiah of all men, they wanted no part of Him. THIS IS A PATTERN AS SEEN IN OTHER BOOKS WE STUDIED.

AGAIN AN OLD STORY, “They simply could not accept a teaching that opened such floodgates. For themselves and their adherents they could accept a message as God-sent and tolerate some change in their teaching and practice, but they could not endure that the Gentiles should be made equal with God’s ancient people.” (Williams)

THE WORD GENTILE BROUGHT RAGE AS WE WILL SEE LATER. THE GENTILE CHALLENGE WOULD BE – HOW TO AVOID ANTI SEMETIC TEACHING, EXAMPLE LUTHER IN THE REFORMATION WROTE THE TRACT “THE JEWS AND THEIR LIES” “The Jews could not endure that the Gentiles should be equal to them, being as much concerned against the Gentiles being exalted, as against their own being depressed.” (Poole)

Some people end up rejecting Jesus because of the way He changes our relationship with other people. Some would rather hold on to their bitterness and animosity towards others than turn to Jesus and be reconciled. IN SPOUSES AND LIVE-IN PARTNERS

3. (Act 13:46-48) Paul and Barnabas respond to the Jewish opposition.

THEN THEY'RE OUTTA HERE!

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. GODS PLAN OF SALVATION – DAVE LAZEROW

When you want to tell others about Jesus, begin with your own group. YOUR OWN FAMILY. But if they don’t receive it, or when they start to reject it, don’t stop telling others about Jesus. Just find others to tell, others who will listen. YOUR NEW FELLOWSHIP IS NEVER FLESH AND BLOOD BUT ALL WHO LOVE JESUS.

AND as MANY GENTILES AS had been appointed to eternal life believed: They also responded with more evangelism to open hearts, now directing their efforts to the Gentiles, in obedience to God’s command (Romans 1:16 I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.) and in fulfillment of prophecy (the quotation from Isaiah 49:6 "...I WILL ALSO GIVE THEE FOR A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT THOU MAY BE MY SALVATION UNTO THE END OF THE EARTH). I ASK: HOW IS THE LORD LIKE THE FOUNTAINHEAD OF EVERY BLESSING? HOSPITALS, UNIVERSITES, CHAIRITIES, ETC. AND SOME REJECT IT, BELIEVING THE NOBLE SAVAGE WAS PURE...???

The Gentiles responded to Paul’s invitation with enthusiastic belief, learning with joy that God does not hate Gentiles, but offered them salvation in Jesus. (IN ONE ACCORD WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT, OR ACCORDING TO...) "HE ROSE AGAIN, ACCORDING TO..."

Paul showed wisdom in not spending all his time trying to persuade hardened hearts. We know that even after he made Gentiles the focus of his evangelistic efforts, he still prayed earnestly for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1), but he spent his missionary time ministering to more AND LIKELY ANY open hearts. (AND IN ROMANS, GOD HAD RESERVED FOR HIMSELF....?

4. (Act 13:49-50) Blessing and opposition.

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

a. And the word of the Lord was being spread: It was being spread through the efforts of Paul and Barnabas, but especially through the lives of these people being brought to Jesus Christ. WHAT IS A CHAIN REACTION? THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH. AMAZING TESTIMONY. THE ACT OF GIVING.

It’s remarkable to think that this church was born in a little more than a week. On one Sabbath Paul and Barnabas preached in the synagogue and there was a wonderful response. The following Sabbath there was a mixed response, some very hostile and some very receptive. They took the receptive ones and started a church that lasted for hundreds of years and through that church, the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region (Acts 13:49).

ii. Sometimes remarkable works of God happen quite quickly. We should be happy for such SINCE Wherever there is revival, the second group to be revived is the Devil. Jewish opposition was strong enough to force Paul and Barnabas to leave the area. (IS THERE WISDOM IN RETREAT? CONSIDER “D” AND HIS WIFE...

INTERESTING THAT EARLIER PERSECUTION CHASED CHRISTIANS OUT OF JERUSALEM THAT CAUSED CHRISTIANITY TO SPREAD TO THE EAST IN ASIA MINOR AND THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO YOU, IT IS OFTEN TO BENEFIT THE LORD JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. (Act 13:51-52) Paul and Barnabas react to their expulsion from the city of Pisidian Antioch. They shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? They shook off the dust from their feet against them: In doing this, Paul and Barnabas treated the city as if it were a God-rejecting Gentile city.

AND THIS WAS A TYPICAL JEWISH GESTURE.

If Jewish people had to go in or through a Gentile city, when leaving the city they shook the dust off their feet as a gesture saying, “We don’t want to take anything from this Gentile city with us.” In this sense, Paul said “I don’t want to take anything with me from you Jesus-rejecting religionists.” AMEN TO THAT.

BEING FIRMLY CONVINCED OF THE EPIPHANY GOD GAVE YOU. SO This rejection did not make Paul and Barnabas think there was anything wrong with themselves. They knew THEY WERE OVER THE TARGET, AND the problem is with their opposition, not themselves. They carried on the work, going next to Iconium. All too often, rejection and opposition makes us want to give up. But Paul and Barnabas responded with KNOWLEDGE AND appropriate determination. KNOWING CHRIST AND HIS WAY, IN BIBLE STUDY, FORTIFIES, EDIFIES

Being filled with joy AND the Holy Spirit go together. Paul and Barnabas had joy that contradicted their circumstances. Paul is a great example of his own command to be constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit AS IN (Ephesians 5:18). HOW TO BE...?

“The happiness of A PERSON IN CHRIST lies far beyond the reach of earthly disturbances, and is not affected by the changes and chances to which mortal things are exposed. The martyrs were more happy in the flames than their persecutors could be on their beds of down.” (Clarke) WHAT'S A DOWN BED?

© 2012 David Guzik – WORDS IN ALL CAPS BY BILL. C. No distribution beyond personal use without permission