Honoring the Word

Acts 13:13-48

 

“The word of God continued to increase and spread and flourish.” That’s what Acts 12:24 says. That’s what today’s message is going to focus on: how the message of the gospel continued to spread. 

 

Last week, we rejoined Paul and Barnabas. We are going to continue on with them on their journey through today’s passage.

 

We’ve heard a lot about Paul (or Saul) and his powerful teaching in Acts 9 and 11.  

 

For example, Acts 9:22 says, “Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah,” and Acts 9:28 says, “Saul stayed with [the apostles] and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.”  In Acts 11, Barnabas was sent to Antioch, where a great number of people had believed and turned to the Lord.  After encouraging these new saints, Barnabas then went to find Saul, who had been sent to Tarsus.  When they returned to Antioch together, they “met with the church for a whole year and taught great numbers of people” (Acts 11:26).  Now, in Acts 13, we will get to hear some of Paul’s preaching. 

 

With that, let’s pray and get into today’s message.

 

Father God, we desperately need You.  Thank You for Your word.  Please teach us, we pray.  May Your word continue to increase and spread and flourish throughout the whole earth.  We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

 

Let’s go ahead to Acts 13, starting in verse 13:  

 

From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. – Acts 13:13-14

 

Let’s have a brief look at a map of what is most frequently called Paul’s first missionary journey.  In last week’s passage, Paul and Barnabas set out from Syrian Antioch and went to Cyprus.  They traveled across the island of Cyprus by land.  Today, we pick up their journey at the western end of the island at the city of Paphos. From there, they sail to Perga, which is on the southern shore of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).  From Perga, they go inland to Pisidian Antioch.  The missionary team has grown.  It’s Paul and his companions, not just Paul and Barnabas.

 

Why two Antiochs?  Because history.  I don’t want to get too far off track, but Alexander the Great was a great conqueror, right?  He briefly ruled over an area from Macedonia and Greece to Egypt to India.  He died unexpectedly when he was 32 years old.  His kingdom was divided among four of his chief generals.  The one who ended up controlling this area was Seleucus.  You can see his name on the map twice: Seleucia Tracheotis and Seleucia Pieria (where Paul and Barnabas embarked to go to Cyprus in Acts 13:4).  Seleucus founded several cities named after himself.  In addition, since his father and his son were both named Antiochus, he built more Antiochs than Seleucias.  These cities were Greek in culture and securely built, and this influence is what enabled the New Testament to be written in the Greek language. 

 

John, also called Mark and sometimes called John Mark, left them, but we don’t know why.  Later, in chapter 15, we’ll see that Paul did not view John’s departure positively. However, in Paul’s letters, we see that Paul cherished John Mark and wanted John Mark to be with him in his (Paul’s) last days. We also see in the letters that Paul said John Mark was helpful to Paul in his ministry. 

 

It’s interesting to see an up and down like this in a relationship within the early church.  It is a good reminder to love one another and to persevere.  I often think of James 3:2, “We all stumble in many ways.”  With that, it is necessary that we “bear with each other and forgive one another if any of [us] has a grievance against someone” (Colossians 3:13).  In fact, we are exhorted to “Forgive as the Lord forgave [us]” (Colossians 3:13). 

 

So, Paul, Barnabas, and the others arrived in Pisidian Antioch, which was a hub of good roads and trade.  It had a large Jewish population and hence a functioning synagogue. 

 

On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue [in Pisidian Antioch] and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; He made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power He led them out of that country; for about forty years He endured their conduct in the wilderness; and He overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to His people as their inheritance. All this took about 450 years.  After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king, and He gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, He made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised. Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the One you are looking for. But there is One coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’” – Acts 13:14-25 

 

Paul had a regular practice of beginning his preaching in a new city in the synagogue.  There you would find Jews, and here we see even Gentile worshipers, who knew the Old Testament.  It was also an organized meeting place with a planned meeting time.  The synagogue also followed a standard order of worship with opening prayers and reading from the Old Testament, both from the Law and the Prophets.  After that, there would be an invitation for a rabbi or an educated person or persons to speak in relation to the readings.  Hearing from a visiting rabbi would be a special treat. 

 

And so, Paul does give a high-level view of God’s working in the Old Testament bringing forth the Savior, Jesus.  God has a plan.  He had a plan from the very beginning.  Part of that plan was worked out through the Jewish people to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.  The goal is Jesus.  He is the center of history. 

 

It’s interesting to me that Paul includes John the Baptist in his message.  How well known would John have been outside of Judea?  In Acts 18, we will meet Apollos, who was teaching the things of God accurately but only knew the baptism of John.  So, there is some awareness of John beyond Judea for sure. 

 

The focus of Paul is what John said about Jesus.  John was an important prophet, but he said, “I’m not even worthy to untie Jesus’ shoes.”  I wish I could have tracked down a citation, but it seems highly likely that there were rules for rabbis or the disciples of rabbis about what tasks they were allowed to perform and which were too demeaning.  One of the boundaries was the taking off of shoes.  A disciple wasn’t to be required to remove a rabbi’s shoes, but then we have John, an internationally known prophet, saying, “Look, the One who comes after me is so far greater than I am that I’m not even worthy to do the most demeaning thing.” 

 

Taking that one step further, think about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in John 13:1-17. He who was most worthy humbled Himself to wash the disciples’ feet.  And then, to go to the cross for us all.  Amazing. 

 

"Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead, and for many days He was seen by those who had traveled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people. We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. – Acts 13:26-33 

 

There it is.  We have the good news preached to us by Paul this morning. 

 

Despite all the things that were carried out against Jesus by those who did not recognize Him, God was working.  That little two-word phrase is so critical: “But God.”  But for the grace of God, where would we be?  Thankfully, God is there working all things out to our good.  Oh, how we need Him! 

 

Paul also shares the testimony of eyewitnesses.  Jesus’ resurrection is not some esoteric thought experiment.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ was tangible.  People saw, felt, and experienced the risen Christ. 

 

As it is written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” God raised Him from the dead so that He will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.” So it is also stated elsewhere:  “You will not let Your Holy One see decay.” Now when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the Law of Moses. – Acts 13:33-39 

 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in history.  Jesus’ body did not decay in the grave.  He rose to life.  The tomb is empty.  It’s no wonder that Paul talks about it here and that Peter talked about it in Acts chapter 2.  These quotes are verses from Psalm 2 (verse 7) and Psalm 16 (verse 10).  Jesus is the only Son of the Father, perfectly holy and righteous so that His body did not decay in the grave. 

 

The last sentence is so critical.  Everyone who believes in Jesus is not just forgiven; they are justified.  When we believe in Jesus, we are put right with God for all time.  Using a financial illustration, forgiveness means the debt is paid.  Justification means that there is a credit on our account before God. 

 

Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: “Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.” – Acts 13:40-41 

 

This stark warning has its parallels in Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 and Stephen’s in Acts 7.  Peter warned and even pleaded with the people to save themselves from this corrupt generation.  Stephen addressed the group of leading Jews called the Sanhedrin.  Stephen spoke of how resistant to the truth those men had made themselves—how they were actively resisting the Holy Spirit. 

 

Paul is talking here to the unbelievers, exhorting them to put their faith in Jesus.  May we not harden our hearts to what God wants to do in and through us.  May we keep seeking Jesus each and every day. 

 

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. – Acts 13:42-43 

 

A powerful response.  There were those who wanted to hear more.  There were others who had started their journey in grace.  They had believed in Christ.  As they talked with Paul and Barnabas, the direction of the conversation was to urge them to continue in the grace of God. 

 

May we also continue in the grace of God.  How?  Continuing to seek Him, prayer, reading and meditating on the word, singing songs, encouraging others...  I’m sure there are many more ways to continue in the grace of God.  That might be a good conversation starter.  Ask someone how they continue in the grace of God. 

 

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. – Acts 13:44-48 

 

Paul was compelled to speak the gospel to the Jews. He had great compassion on them, thinking even about himself and how he had opposed the good news at first.  Romans 9 expresses his deep love for his people.  And yet when the Jews in Pisidian Antioch rejected the message of salvation, Paul and Barnabas did turn and focus on reaching the Gentiles. 

 

The verse that Paul quotes is Isaiah 49:6, and that is a prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus.  We carry Jesus’ message and also have become lights that can bring the good news wherever we go. 

 

The Gentiles listening to Paul were filled with joy.  They were not despised or cut off.  They have a hope and a future.  They honored the word of the Lord.  In this context, they are honoring the message of the gospel: Jesus is Savior.  That message will keep going forward in next week’s passage as it still goes forward in the world today. 

 

May you continue in the grace of God and honor the word of the Lord today and every day. 

 

Let’s pray. 

 

Jesus, I pray for these Your saints, Your beloved family.  I pray that You would fill us with Your Holy Spirit.  Give us hope in all things.  Help us to continue in Your grace.  May You be lifted high.  We pray in Your Name, Jesus, Amen.