Acts 13

As we continue to Acts 13, we see the development of obedience to Jesus’ Great Commission given to His followers in Acts 1:8 as the message of the Gospel continues to spread outward from the original base in Jerusalem.

• Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-14:28
  • Saul (Paul) and Barnabus had gone to Judea to take the collection that had been gathered (Acts 11:30) and were now back in Antioch.
• In Antioch we see
  • A ministering church (Acts 13:1-3)
    • They were well organized with many gifted leaders
      • Prophets – they were proclaimers of revelations from God
      • Teachers – they explain the meaning of the revelations and the application of them
    • Antioch was Saul’s base of operations
    • They all ministered to the Lord (Acts 13:2)
      • That is the work they did was service unto the Lord
      • How do we minister to the Lord?
    • The message (Acts 13:2b-3)
      • Set apart for me Barnabus and Saul
        • These two men were to be appointed to a special work for God
      • This was the choosing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2)
      • The laying on of hands (Acts 13:3)
        • This is an action of men who recognize the choice God has made in appointing a person or persons for specialized work of ministry
  • Ministry at Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12)
    • The message proclaimed in the Synagogue (Acts 13:4-5)
      • John Mark joined them here
        • This is the beginning of John Mark learning to minister
        • He is Barnabus’ nephew
      • An encounter with a sorcerer (Acts 13:6-12)
        • Bar-Jesus = Son of Jesus or Joshua, a common name of the day
        • He pretended to be endowed with certain prophetic powers
        • He worked under the Proconsul by the name of Sergius, a political figure who made his headquarters on the island.
          • This was supposed to be the birthplace of the goddess, Venus
        • Sergius sends for Barnabus and Saul to inquire of the Word of God (Acts 13:7)
        • The false prophet seeks to draw his superior away from the truth (Acts 13:8)
        • Paul confronts the false prophet (Acts 13:9-11)
        • The effect of the Proconsul (Acts 13:12)
          • He became a believer
  • Ministry at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:13-52)
    • At the synagogue (Acts 13:14-42)
      • The message of Paul on this occasion is a sample of how they would minister in the synagogue
        • To a Jewish audience, they would refer to the Old Testament.
          • When ministering to the Jews, Saul continues to be addressed as Saul
          • When ministering to the Gentiles, Saul is addressed as Paul
        • Scriptures that relate to God’s dealings with their forefathers and the people of their own generations
      • The result (Acts 13:43-52)
        • Large numbers turn to the Lord (Acts 13:43-44)
        • Conflict (Acts 13:45-47)
          • A distinct turn of emphasis
        • The result (Acts 13:48/52)
          • Many Gentile believers
          • Advancement of the Gospel
          • Paul and Barnabus forced to leave
          • Joy on the part of Christians

Things to consider

• God works through the lives of many people
• There is a price for transgressing God’s ways
• Even opposition can be a means of advancing God’s work