Lesson Notes

Introduction

• Studying the Book of Acts to see how the Holy Spirit empowered and propelled the early church out into a hostile world that it turned “upside down”
• I pray that will happen again now and that we’ll be part of it!
• Key verse – Acts 1: 8 – the structure and plot of the book of Acts
• We’re skipping chapter 12 to focus on Paul’s early mission work as the church starts  moving rapidly outward
  • Emphasizes persecution of the church in Jerusalem by Herod Agrippa I
  • James the brother of John is killed
  • Peter is arrested (to be executed), but freed by an angel after much prayer
  • We’re introduced to John Mark, whose mother hosted a prayer meeting for Peter
  • God struck Herod down for allowing a comparison between himself and a god
  • Verses 24-25 set up the next few chapters, “But the word of God increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem wen they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.”

Barnabas and Saul Set Off Through Asia (Acts 13: 1-12)

Read Acts 13: 1-12

• Verse 1 – Prophets and teachers from different countries in the church at Antioch (in modern-day Syria) – Simeon is likely African, Lucius  from North Africa, Barnabas, Saul, etc.
• Verse 2 – Worshiping and fasting – practicing those spiritual habits we’ve discussed
  • Probably referring to the entire congregation, not just the leaders
  • In the posture to hear from the Holy Spirit – set Barnabas and Saul apart
  • To the work to which He’d called them – Saul’ commission – to preach Christ before Gentiles, Kings, and Jews. Here we go!
  • Verse 3 – laid hands on them and sent them off – probably 46/47 AD
  • Traveled through Cypress, then Lycia and Galatia in modern day Turkey
• Verses 4-5 – Leave Syria and land at Salamis in Cypress where they preach in synagogues
  • This will be Saul’s pattern in any new place – synagogues first, then Gentiles
• Verse 6 – They travel throughout the island – Paphos is 90 miles southwest of Salamis
• Verse 7 -The Roman proconsul – Sergius Paulus asked to hear the Word
  • Verse 8 – an influential Jewish magician / false prophet tried to interfere
  • Verse 9 – Saul/ Paul is full of the Holy Spirit and pronounces God’s punishment on Elymas for interfering with His work
  • Temporary blindness to match his spiritual blindness
• Verse 12 – The proconsul believed because of this miraculous sign and Paul’s teaching
• Saul now switches from his Hebrew name Saul to his Roman name Paul (meaning “small”) as he ministers to the Gentiles – Roman citizens had 3 names

Paul & Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia

Read Acts 13: 13-52

• Verse 13 – They arrive in modern-day Turkey, traveling the Via Sebaste and heading to Perga
• John Mark leaves them for some unknown reason, returning to Jerusalem
• Verse 15 – Paul and Barnabas are invited to give a guest sermon at the synagogue
  • He then gives a summary of Jewish history, beginning with their time in Egypt
  • Emphasizes the increasing greatness of the types of leaders God raised up
  • Culminating in Jesus the Savior
  • Verses 26-31 – Presentation of Christ’s condemnation, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection
  • Verse 32 – we bring good news that what God promised is fulfilled in raising Jesus!
  • Verse 38 – forgiveness of sins proclaimed
  • Verse 39 – believers are freed from what you couldn’t be free from under the Law
  • Verse 42 – people begged to hear more the next Saturday – many followed them to learn more
  • Verse 44 – most people – Jew and Gentile alike show up to listen the next Sabbath – this town was mostly Gentile
  • Verse 45 – Jewish leaders got angry and jealous about the crowds and contradicted Paul
  • Verse 46 – Boldly speaking – continued fulfillment of prayer for boldness – be praying this!
    • We had to tell you (Jews) first, but since you’ve decided to reject the gospel and see yourself unworthy of eternal life, now we’re telling Gentiles!
    • Verse 47 – In fulfillment of prophecy of Isaiah 49: 6
  • Verse 48 – When Gentiles heard they were included in God’s purpose and plan in sending Jesus, they got very excited rejoicing, glorifying – many believed
  • Verse 49 – Word spread in the region, but Jew leaders incited a crisis
    • Verse 50 – Leaders stirred up persecution that drove them out
    • This will be the pattern – they don’t lament or try to sneak back – they move on
    • Paul doesn’t stick around to debate those who are hardened against the Gospel
    • They basically take violent opposition as God’s sign that it was time to move on
    • Verse 51 – Barnabas and Paul go to Iconium, 90 miles away
    • Verse 52 – But the church has been planted there in Antioch of Pisidia – these disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit!

Paul & Barnabas at Lystra

Acts 14: 15-28

• Arriving in Lystra, Paul healed a man who was handicapped
• The locals thought they were Zeus and Hermes and prepared sacrifices to them
• Verse 15 – They use their mistaken identity as Greek gods to transition to the gospel of the One True God who is the creator of all things
• Verses 16-17
  • Very interesting – talks about how God permitted people to believe whatever they wanted to believe in terms of false gods for a time
  • Because He was working His will in His timing through Israel to bring forth Jesus
  • People always had a way to know about God – through creation – common grace and general revelation
  • The good things they experienced – rain, food, happiness – testified to God’s existence and nature – that He is good, fruitful, abundant
• Verse 19 – The Jewish opposition showed up from his previous spots and persuaded the crowd to stone Paul to death – which they nearly do
• Verse 20 – The church gathered around his unconscious body and he woke up, re-entered the city, then went on 58 miles to Derbe
• Verse 21 – Derbe is fruitful – many disciples made – and peaceful
  • It would’ve been easy to walk back to Syria, but the check in on the churches they planted, encouraging and strengthen these new Christians
  • Returning to cities that had driven them out violently!
  • Verse 22 – Note the expectation they set – through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God – the disciples had seen what Paul and Barnabas suffered.
  • This isn’t the health and wealth gospel!
  • Verse 23 – The churches have been functioning long enough for leaders to emerge – to determine who is reliable and mature – both spiritually and practically
  • These are appointed as elders (= pastors) for each church and are committed to God with prayer and fasting. Always multiple elders in each church.
• Verse 27 – They told the church all about what happened – and how God did it and how He opened doors of faith to the Gentiles, which is the transition to the crisis in chapter 15!
• Verse 28 – they stayed in Antioch awhile; this may be when Paul wrote Galatians

The Jerusalem Council

Acts 15

• Circa 48/49AD and probably after Galatians was written
• Verse 1 – some Christians came from Judea claiming you had to become fully Jewish in order to be saved in Christ; a doctrine of salvation by human works
• Verse 2 – Paul and Barnabas debated with them vigorously – because this would be hugely damaging to the church in Antioch and the new churches they’d planted
• The congregation sends Paul, Barnabas, and others to go to Jerusalem to talk with the apostles and elders there
• Verse 4 – In Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and her leadership and “declared all that God had done with them” – God is the primary agent in Acts!
• Verse 5 – The Christians who had been Pharisees demanded that Christians all become Jews – this appears to have been a vocal minority in the church
• Peter reminded them of what we discussed in Acts 10-11: that Gentiles should hear the gospel, believe, and their faith be proven by the Holy Spirit
• Verse 9 – Salvation was only by faith – without distinction between Jew and Gentile
• Verse 10 – Don’t put an extra burden on Gentile Christians that Jews couldn’t keep
• After Barnabas and Paul tell their stories of God’s work among the Gentiles, James explains this is the fulfillment of Amos 9: 11-12
• Proposes simple standards designed to keep Gentile Christians from completely alienating Jewish Christians – because there were Jews in every major city, so it was a real concern how to maintain table fellowship
  • Abstain from things polluted by idols – idolatry is a massive problem
  • From sexual immorality – reflects God’s holiness and that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit; a major issue for Gentiles becoming Christian
  • From eating blood – blood is the life.
  • The church agrees – congregational decision and writes this up in a letter to the church in Antioch, carried by representatives of both churches
• This decision is Spirit-led and everyone rejoiced in it
• This really sets the Christian church free to grow widely across any and every cultural divide, because you don’t have to become Jewish to become Christian
• The church will struggle with people imposing extra rules for the next 2000 years!
• But we’re reminded that we’re saved by grace through faith in Christ alone!
• Verse 36 – kickoff for the 2nd Journey – revisit previous cities to check on them
• Verses 37-38 – Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark along, who had left them during the first trip; Paul didn’t want him after flaking out
• Verse 39 – These great Christians disagree and can’t resolve it – so they separate
  • 2 missionary teams come out of the disagreement, which is good
  • Eventually Paul and Mark are reconciled per 2 Timothy 4

Homework

Read Acts 16-18 in preparation for Ends of the Earth: Paul’s Mission in Europe