Acts 13

Acts 13:1-28

The Church’s Organization (Perseverance): The Witness of the Church Growth to the Ends of the Earth – Acts 13:1 to Acts 28:29 begins another major division of the book of Acts in that it serves as the testimony of the expansion of the early Church to the ends of the earth through the ministry of Paul the apostle, which was in fulfillment of Jesus’ command to the apostles at His ascension, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) However, to reach this goal, it required a life of perseverance in the midst of persecutions and hardship, as well as the establishment of an organized church and its offices. Outline - Here is a proposed outline:

1. Witness of Paul’s First Missionary Journey (A.D. 45-47) — Acts 13:1 to Acts 14:282. Witness to Church at Jerusalem of Gospel to Gentiles (A.D. 50) — Acts 15:1-353. Witness of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (A.D. 51-54) — Acts 15:36 to Acts 18:224. Witness of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (A.D. 54-58) — Acts 18:23 to Acts 20:385. Witness of Paul’s Arrest and Trials (A.D. 58-60) — Acts 21:1 to Acts 26:326. Witness of Paul’s Journey to Rome (A.D. 60) — Acts 27:1 to Acts 28:29A Description of Paul’s Ministry - Paul’s missionary journeys recorded Acts 13-28 can be chacterized in two verses from 2 Timothy 2:8-9, in which Paul describes his ministry to the Gentiles as having suffered as an evil doer, but glorying in the fact that the Word of God is not bound. 2 Timothy 2:8-9, “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” Paul followed the same principle of church growth mentioned in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” He first placed churches in key cities in Asia Minor. We later read in Acts 19:10 where he and his ministry team preaches “so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks”. Acts 19:10, “And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” In Romans 15:20-28 Paul said that he strived to preach where no other man had preached, and having no place left in Macedonia and Asia Minor, he looked towards Rome, and later towards Spain. Romans 15:20, “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:” Romans 15:23-24, “But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.” Romans 15:28, “When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.”

Acts 13:4-12

Paul and Barnabas at Cyprus – Acts 13:4-14 gives us the account of Paul and Barnabas at Cyprus. Acts 13:5 — Comments - Acts 13:5 tells us that Paul and Barnabas took John Mark with them on their first missionary journey. This may be because they had taken with him on previous trips. Note: Acts 12:25, “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.” Acts 13:7 — “Which was the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus” – Comments - Schaff tells us that General di Cesnola discovered a long, mutilated inscription on a pedestal of white marble, at a city in the north of the island of Cyprus called, Solvi, which, was the most important city. This inscription reads, “EPI PAULOU ,” which Schaff translates, “In the proconsulship of Paulus.” Many scholars believe this inscription refers to the actual (Sergius) Paulus of Act 13:7.[206] [206] Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1955), 734.Acts 13:6-7 — Comments – Satan’s Efforts to Control Leadership - Note how Satan is trying to control the leadership of Cyprus in order to corrupt the entire nation. Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Acts 13:8 — “seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith” - Comments - It is interesting to note how the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is described with the phrase “the faith.” This phrase emphasizes the response of the hearers. While world religions require an initial commitment to a set of doctrines and lifestyle, Christianity simply requires faith, which proceeds from the heart. Acts 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, Acts 13:9 — “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul)” - Comments - It was not uncommon for a person to take upon himself a new name when moving into a new culture. Saul was a Jewish name and Paul became his Roman name. Paul took his surname most likely at this time, on his first missionary journey. Jerome (A.D. 342 to 420) tells us that Saul changed his name to Paul because this was the name of his first convert (Lives of Illustrious Men 5).[207] We find the story of the conversion of Sergius Paulus in Acts 13:4-12, where we also find Paul being called by his new name for the first time (Acts 13:9). [207] Jerome writes, “As Sergius Paulus Proconsul of Cyprus was the first to believe on his preaching, he took his name from him because he had subdued him to faith in Christ.” Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men, trans. Ernest C. Richardson, in A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series, vol. 3, eds. Henry Wace and Philip Schaff (New York: The Christian Literature Company, 1906), 362.Acts 13:7, “Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.” Acts 13:9 — “filled with the Holy Ghost” – Comments - The book of Acts makes continual references to those early Church leaders who spoke boldly in the name of Jesus when filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 reads, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The early Church (Acts 2:4; Acts 4:31; Acts 10:44; Acts 13:52; Acts 19:6) was filled with the Holy Spirit. Men such as Peter (Acts 4:8), Stephen (Acts 6:5; Acts 7:55), Barnabas (Acts 11:24), and Paul (Acts 1:9) were all filled with the Holy Spirit and testified under the anointing. This anointing empowered the early Church to fulfill the Great Commission and take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Although every believer receives the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation, only those filled with the Holy Spirit were empowered to fulfill the divine calling of the New Testament Church. Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 4:8, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,” Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Acts 6:5, “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:” Acts 7:55, “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,” Acts 10:44, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” Acts 11:24, “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.” Acts 13:9, “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,” Acts 13:52, “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 19:6, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 13:9 — “set his eyes on him” – Comments - This boldness of Paul to set his eyes upon this sorcerer feared by the people is a manifestation of our behaviour when under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This same boldness is seen in the courage of great men in the Old Testament when empowered by the Holy Ghost, such as David and his men during battle. This boldness to proclaim the Gospel in the midst of adversity is why the book of Acts focuses upon those men, such as Peter (Acts 4:8), Stephen (Acts 6:5; Acts 7:55), Barnabas (Acts 11:24), and Paul (Acts 1:9), who were filled with the anointing during their proclamation of the Gospel, because these men took the Gospel to the nations.

Acts 13:13-52

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia – Acts 13:13-52 gives us the account of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia. Acts 13:13 — Comments - Perhaps John (Mark) returned because the Holy Ghost only sent Saul and Barnabas (verse 2), that is, John was not called on this particular journey. Acts 13:22 — “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart” – Comments - After the Lord took the kingdom from Saul, He looked for a man after His own heart. This qualification was found in David. Note: 1 Samuel 13:14, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” How was David a man after God’s own heart? Throughout the history of the nation of Israel, God progressively revealed His many names to certain individuals. Each name revealed a new aspect of His holy, divine character. Each time He revealed His name, it was to meet a need in someone’s life, it was to encourage someone to look to Him as the Lord over every situation and over all the enemies. King David knew the character of God more intimate than any man before him. For example, David calls him “Father” for the first time in the Scriptures. Psalms 68:5, “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” Psalms 89:26, “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.” Psalms 103:13, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” It was Jesus Christ who revealed God to us in the Gospels as our Heavenly Father in order to show us His tender love for His children. Few individuals in history before Jesus came to earth knew God as intimately as did King David; for David was a true worshipper of God, and this worship ushered him into the presence of God, where God revealed Himself to David as a Father. Acts 13:43 — Comments – What began as “Barnabas and Saul” in Acts 13:2; Acts 13:7 developed into “Paul and Barnabas” (Acts 13:43; Acts 13:46; Acts 13:50; Acts 14:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:2; Acts 15:12; Acts 15:22; Acts 15:35-36) Barnabas had mentored Paul for many years, standing beside him as he grew from a new believer to a man called by God. Now, God was using Paul in a mighty way that placed him in the foreground of their relationship and Barnabas in the background. However, Barnabas still shown on occasions bright (Acts 14:12; Acts 14:14; Acts 15:25). Acts 13:45 — “when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy” – Scripture Reference: Romans 11:14, “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” Acts 13:51-52 — “But they shook off the dust of their feet against them….joy” - Comments - The disciples did as Jesus had commanded in these verses (Luke 9:5). Joy comes by doing God’s Word. Luke 9:5, “And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”