The Book of Acts: Paul's First Missionary Journey Part 4
1. The call.
2. The first mission stop was Salamis.
3. A confrontation with a false prophet.
4. At Pisidian Antioch a clear peaching of law and gospel gets them runout of the district.
43 When the meeting of the synagogue had been 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. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy and began to contradict what Paul was saying by slandering him. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas responded fearlessly, "It was necessary that God's word be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, look: We are now turning to the Gentiles! (Ac 13:43–46)
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were rejoicing and praising the word of the Lord. All who had been appointed for eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being carried through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 The disciples continued to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. (Ac 13:48–52)
5. In Iconium the gospel _______________.
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. (Ac 14:1)
2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by granting them the ability to perform miraculous signs and wonders. (Ac 14:2–3)
It would be better for that person if a millstone would be hung around his neck and he would be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. (Lk 17:2)
But the people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. (Ac 14:4)
The People's Bible, "In what sense was Barnabas an apostle? Since he is coupled with Paul here, he must have qualified by seeing the risen Savior during those 40 days between Easter and the Lord's Ascension. There was one occasion when Jesus was seen by more than five hundred disciples; Barnabas was very likely one of those witnesses. Some scholars think that he was one of the two with whom Jesus walked and talked on the road to Emmaus. It is clear from Luke's use of the word that he did not limit the number of apostles to 12."
5 When there was a plot by both Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside. 7 There they kept on preaching the good news. (Ac 14:5–7)
51 Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 Yes, from now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. 53 They will be divided: father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (Lk 12:51–53)
6. In Lystra a miracle led to ___________ worship.
8 In Lystra there was a man who was sitting down because he had no strength in his feet. He had never walked because he was lame from birth. 9 When he was listening to Paul as he was speaking, Paul looked at him closely and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10 Paul said in a loud voice, "Stand up on your feet!" And the man jumped up and began to walk. (Ac 14:8–10)
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form." 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the main speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gates, because he wanted to offer sacrifices along with the crowds. (Ac 14:11–13)
14 But when the apostles Paul and Barnabas heard about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15 "Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men with the same nature as you. We are preaching the good news to you so that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without testimony of the good he does. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills you with food and fills your hearts with gladness." 18 Even though they said these things, they had a hard time stopping the crowds from sacrificing to them. (Ac 14:14–18)
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the crowds to stone Paul. When they thought he was dead, they dragged him out of the city. (Ac 14:19)
20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he stood up and went into the city. The next day, he left with Barnabas for Derbe. 21a After they preached the good news in that city and had gathered many disciples. (Ac 14:20–21a)
7. The _____________ home.
21 After they preached the good news in that city and had gathered many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. They told them, "We must go through many troubles on our way to the kingdom of God." 23 They had elders elected for them in every church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they believed. (Ac 14:21–23)
24 When they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the Word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. 27 When they arrived and called the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith for the Gentiles. (Ac 14:24–27)
... my word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty. Rather, it will accomplish whatever I please, and it will succeed in the purpose for which I sent it. (Is 55:11b)
Points to Ponder
1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message?
2. Do you think evangelism and missions should rely on a “one size fits all” approach? Why or why not?
3. Have you ever thought that adversity could be a sign that you are doing the right thing? Why or why not?
4. Why is it important for our words to be backed up by our actions?
