Atos 13

Atos 13

Chart from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission THE EXPANDING WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CHURCH Considering the fact that Acts 13 is such a strategic chapter in regard to world evangelism, take a moment and study Irving Jensen's chart at top of the page (click it to enlarge it which is what I have to do at age 72!). Notice the bold vertical line (|) at the end of Acts 12 and beginning of Acts 13 which Jensen estimates to be about year 47 (it could be a short time prior). Note the horizontal description of "Church" - Church Established in the first 13 years from Acts 1 through Acts 7, then the Church Scattered between Acts 8 through Acts 12, which occurred over a period of about 14 years (and remember all dates and times are at best approximations because Luke gives only a few events that allow us to give specific dates, such as the death of Herod in A D 44 in Acts 12:23) and lastly, beginning in Acts 13 (and until the end of this age), the Church Extended, this extension being the primarily the fruit of Paul's Three Missionary Journeys which"upset the world!" (Acts 17:6) Now, you have a good grasp of the chronological context of Acts 13. And as they say in the restaurant when your delicious meal is served "Enjoy!" The three missionary journeys are summarized below (this note will be repeated in subsequent chapters). Click links for the maps of each journey. Paul's First Missionary Journey Acts 13:4-14:28 Paul's Second Missionary Journey Acts 15:36-18:22 Paul's Third Missionary Journey Acts 18:23-21:26 Maps in table above are from the Holman Bible Atlas (Hardcover/Paperback version) copyrighted © 1998 B&H Publishing Group, used by permission, all rights reserved. This is one of the best resources for Bible maps as the maps also include helpful short descriptions of the events portrayed on the maps. Please do not download for use on another website. Thank you. Here is a map with all three journeys on one map. THE ITINERARY OF PAUL'S THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS FIRST SECOND THIRD Phrygia/Galatia Acts 16:6 Phrygia/Galatia Acts 18:23-28 Charles Swindoll points out that "When we study the journeys of Paul in the book of Acts, we’re not just reading the travel log of a man; we’re observing the redemptive plan of God unfolding as He promised. Through the ministry of Saul of Tarsus, God’s mission to reclaim His creation from the death grip of evil would move to its next stage. The plan of this mission was outlined in the Lord’s promise at His ascension, where He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses... In Jerusalem [Stage 1: Acts 2–7], and in all Judea and Samaria [Stage 2: Acts 8–12], and even to the remotest part of the earth [Stage 3: Acts 13–‍28].” (Acts 1:8+) David Jeremiah - Another way to outline the book of Acts is to center it on the book’s key character: the apostle Paul. More than half of the book of Acts (chapters 13–28) chronicles Paul’s missionary activity. Chapters 1–12 can be read as a prologue to Paul’s work, as these chapters identify him as the leading persecutor of the church, describe his conversion to Christ, and record his pre-missionary activities. Prologue (Acts 1–12): The church is born; believers are persecuted and scattered; Saul of Tarsus, the Christians’ chief persecutor, is converted; Paul is gradually accepted by the church. Paul’s first missionary journey and the council at Jerusalem (Acts 13–15:35): Paul preaches to the Gentiles in Cyprus, Turkey, and Syria, taking Barnabas and John Mark with him; the council at Jerusalem declares that Gentiles who come to Christ do not need to be circumcised. Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–18:22): Paul and Silas strengthen churches in Syria; Paul travels throughout Greece, preaching and encouraging new believers (such as Lydia, Priscilla, and Aquila). Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 18:23–21:16): Paul ministers in Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey) before returning to Jerusalem, where he is arrested. Paul’s fourth “missionary journey” (Acts 21:17–28:10): This is not a planned missionary journey; it comes as a result of Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem and his appeal to make his case to Caesar in Rome. Epilogue (Acts 28:11-31): Paul is incarcerated in Rome. Outlining the book this way affirms what American poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson believed: that all history is biography. In addition to recounting key events in Paul’s life, Acts is filled with descriptions of other people we can learn from. Another lesson we can glean from this overview of Paul’s conversion and ministry is that God always has a plan. Paul wouldn’t have mapped out his life this way —particularly not being struck with blindness for several days or being imprisoned for several years —but it’s clear in retrospect that God’s plan was sovereign even in these apparent setbacks. How would you outline your own life? Thematically, geographically, or chronologically? Based on high points and low points? It doesn’t really matter, because all are relevant. God is always at work in our circumstances with “a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure” (Ephesians 1:9). The path of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome and to “other places far beyond” (2 Corinthians 10:16) is not a straight line. There were, and will continue to be, twists and turns, starts and stops, all along the way. But in the end, God’s plan is always fulfilled: “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9). The same is true of our lives. On the front, our lives look like a beautiful tapestry. But on the back, there are all kinds of knots and tie-offs and connections and repairs that make the front of the masterpiece possible. The book of Acts can look a bit “messy” at times, just like our lives do. But all of this is ultimately part of God’s plan to build his church (Matthew 16:18) and conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), regardless of the difficulties involved (Romans 8:28). (A.D: The Bible Continues: The Book of Acts) Acts 13:1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (NASB95) KJV Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Circa A.D. 45-47 in the Acts 11:22-24; 14:26,27 prophets Acts 11:25-27; 15:35; Romans 12:6,7; 1 Corinthians 12:28,29; 14:24,25; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:20 Barnabas Acts 4:36; 11:22-26,30; 12:25; 1 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:9,13 Lucius Acts 11:20; Romans 16:21 who had been brought up with Herod Acts 14:1-10; Luke 3:1,19,20; 13:31,32; 23:7-11; Philippians 4:22 and Saul Acts 13:9; 8:1-3; 9:1 Acts 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries "THE ANTIOCH FIVE" MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP Ray