The Book of Acts: Paul's First Missionary Journey (Week 17)
1. The ________.
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas; Simeon, who was called Niger; Lucius of Cyrene; Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch; and Saul. 2 While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, after they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them off. (Ac 13:1–3)
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. (Lk 12:51–52)
2. The first mission stop was _______
4 So they were sent out by the Holy Spirit and went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. (Ac 13:4–5)
... in the same way 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 55:11)
3. A confrontation with a _______ prophet.
6 When they had traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. (Ac 13:6–8)
9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and looking straight at him, 10 said, "You are full of every kind of deceit and fraud, you son of the Devil, you enemy of all righteousness! Will you never stop twisting the straight paths of the Lord? 11a Now look! The hand of the Lord is against you. You will be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the sun." (Ac 13:9–11a)
You belong to your father, the Devil, and you want to do your father's desires. (Jn 8:44a)
11b Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went around looking for someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what happened, he believed. He was amazed at the teaching of the Lord. (Ac 13:11b–12)
4. At Pisidian Antioch a clear peaching of ______ and ______ gets them run out of the _______.
13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But they went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. (Ac 13:13–14)
After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Gentlemen, brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, say it." (Ac 13:15)
Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen." (Ac 13:16)
17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers and made them a great people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with his uplifted arm, he led them out of it. 18 He put up with them for about forty years in the wilderness. 19 Then he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, and he gave their land to his people as an inheritance. 20a All this took about 450 years. (Ac 13:17–20a)
The number seven expresses God's completion, perfection, holiness, and his perfect covenant relationship with his church. God's involvement in his creation results in his complete holy perfect will being done. ... the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (Dt 7:1)
The 450 years Paul spoke about includes the 400 years in Egypt, the 40 years in the desert, and the 10 years in Canaan, up until the time the land was divided. After that, he gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. (Ac 13:20b)
12 They abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them. They bowed down to them, and they angered the Lord. 13 They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtartes." (Jdg 2:12–13)
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God's throne. (Heb 12:2)
Points to Ponder
1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message?
2. Do you struggle to keep the First Commandment? If so, why do you think that is (be specific)? What can/are you doing to keep God first in your life? What else do you need to do?