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Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Wiersbe writes that "The church began in Jerusalem, and then spread to other cities, including Samaria, Damascus, Caesarea, and Antioch in Syria. At least forty different cities are named in Acts. From Antioch, Paul and his helpers carried the Gospel throughout the then-known world. In fact, the record given in Acts 13–28 is almost a review of ancient geography. About the year 56, the Apostle Paul was able to write, “So that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ” (Rom. 15:19). What a record! In these two chapters (Acts 13-14), Dr. Luke described Paul’s ministry in six different cities, beginning and ending at Antioch." (Bible Exposition Commentary) Swindoll comments that "In this compost-like blend of East and West, good and bad, morality and depravity, the gospel germinated, took root, and flourished like a rose in a garbage dump." In the church that was there, prophets and teachers - God had this church well-equipped to be edified and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Do you recall God's pattern for Church growth (in Christ-likeness, not necessarily numbers!) in Acts 2:42+? "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching (didache)...." The priority of the Church in Jerusalem was the same as the priority of the Church at Antioch, explaining in large part why God's Spirit used both churches mightily for His glory and the spread of His Gospel! God's pattern for "success" has not changed! Preach (aorist imperative = "Just Do It!") in season and out! (2 Ti 4:2+). Church (1577)(ekklesia) describes the assembly of believers at Antioch who by this time were already an established spiritually strong church, even though they were only a few years old. THOUGHT - How could such a relatively young church be so spiritually strong? I think the answer is crystal clear in (Acts 11:26+) where Luke describes Barnabas finding Saul after which "he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught (didasko) considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." Barnabas and Saul filled with the Spirit fulfilled Jesus' command in Mt 28:19+ to "make disciples" (aorist imperative speaks of urgent need to obey) which literally means to make learners, but not just learners who knew more about Christ, but who obeyed what they learned and thereby grew more like Christ -- not "smarter sinners" but "more like the Savior" as Howard Hendricks used to say! Barnabas and Saul were following through on Jesus' commission, "teaching (same verb didasko in present tense = continually!) them (THE DISCIPLES AT ANTIOCH) to observe (tereo = describes action of keeping one's eye upon something to watch or guard over so as to obey it - aka, "doers of the Word" - James 1:22+) all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always (HOW? THE SPIRIT OF JESUS - ILLUMINATING THE TEACHING, EMPOWERING THE DOING!), even to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20) While Luke does not say, it is doubtful that this year of teaching was just a Sunday morning class or a single Bible study during the week, but knowing Saul/Paul (cf Acts 20:9-10, 11+) it probably went on every day and for most of the day for 365 days. Now that quality and quantity of sound doctrine will always produce a healthy and dynamic Body! Dear pastor and elders, are you imitating Saul/Paul's example (cf 1 Cor 11:1+)? If you want a missionary minded church you need to repeat the pattern of the church at Antioch! Swindoll - Though great congregations can accomplish great things for the Lord, they need godly leaders to bring them together and to focus their efforts. Luke names five who were “prophets and teachers” (Acts 13:1)—two different gifts, two distinct offices working in harmony together to bring the word of God to the people and then to instruct them in how to apply it. God calls prophets to a ministry of “forth-telling,” which in the first century, before the New Testament Scriptures were written and circulated, included “foretelling”—providing new divine revelation that includes predictions of the future (Acts 11:28). God calls teachers to help individuals turn truth into action. (Acts - Swindoll's Living Insights NT Commentary) Prophets (4396)(prophetes from próphemi = literally to tell beforehand in turn from pró = before, in front of, forth, on behalf of + phemí = speak, tell) is primarily a forth-teller or one who speaks out God’s message, primarily to their own generation, usually always calling the people to God's truth for them at that moment, often using the phrase "Thus saith the Lord." Although we commonly think of the prophet as predicting future events (foretelling) generally this was secondary to his work of forth-telling. In sum, forth-telling deals with current events (spiritual life today) and fore-telling with future events, but in both the goal is the same -- to call us to trust the Lord and submit to His will for our lives, living in conformity with His Word and growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Whom be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18+). In Acts 11:27+ Luke records that Agabus came down from Jerusalem to give a fore-telling of a future famine in A D 45. Though the prophets were not essentially predictors of the future, the case of Agabus shows that their functions sometimes did include the actual prediction of coming events. Apparently Agabus returned to Jerusalem after giving his prophecy of a famine because Luke records that while Paul was staying with Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8+) "a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea (used for "Jerusalem")," (Acts 21:10+) and foretold of Paul's subsequent binding and deliverance into the hands of the Gentiles (Acts 21:11+), a prophecy which came to pass. Teachers (1320)(didaskalos from didasko = teach to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught <> cp didaskalía) is one who provides instruction or systematically imparts truth. Teachers give others a clear understanding of Biblical truth. The teacher teaches in such a way as to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught. The teachers at Antioch taught sound (Gk "hugiaino" ~ hygienic) doctrine which resulted in healthy growing saints. Teachers are needed to ground the converts in the doctrines of the faith and produce disciples who in turn reproduce disciples, something I fear the modern charge has lost sight of as I seldom see older men discipling younger men. (2 Ti 2:2+) Once I even met with the young leadership of a church and offered to stir up and head up the older, more mature grey heads to intentionally (one on one or more) disciple the younger saints and I was gently rebuffed and the suggestion was "shelfed." The modern church seems to have forgotten that there is actually only one absolute command in Jesus' "great commission" and that is the "make disciples" (aorist imperative = "Nike commercial = "Just do it! Mt 28:19+). I fear the great commision has become the great omission of the modern church, for when the spiritually mature "Paul's" (and Paulettes) in a congregation are not utilized, the maturity of the younger saints is sure to suffer loss. It certainly cannot be what it could have been! But that is just my opinion beloved. I pray your church is using the older men and women (and that they are willing) to intentionally, aggressively disciple the Timothys and the Timothettas.
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Wiersbe adds that "God had already called Paul to minister to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15+; Acts 21:17–21), and now He summoned Barnabas to labor with him. The church confirmed their calling, commissioned the men, and sent them forth. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, working through the local church, to equip and enlist believers to go forth and serve. The modern mission board is only a “sending agency” that expedites the work authorized by the local church. (Bible Exposition Commentary) The work to which I have called them - There is an effectual call to salvation, but the call in this context refers to the divine call to the work that God had prepared for Barnabas and Saul to accomplish. Note that it is past tense "have called" indicating this call was from eternity past (God's sovereignty) but the saints at Antioch were to set them part for the work (Man's responsibility). Henry Martyn (or here) once said, “The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we must become.” Kenneth Gangel on the word work - An interesting little word, so common in the Greek language and in English as well, yet in this case designating the missionary effort as a whole. It appears in the same context again in Acts 14:26+ ("for the work that they had accomplished") at the conclusion of this first journey. Paul later spoke of a similar "call" on every believer's life writing that "we are His workmanship (poiema = see God's Masterpiece = what YOU REALLY ARE!), created in Christ Jesus for (HERE IS OUR CALL - IT IS FOR) good works (see what constitutes "Good Deeds"), which God prepared beforehand (IN ETERNITY PAST!) so that we would walk in them (IN ETERNITY PRESENT WITH A VIEW TO HEARING "WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT" IN ETERNITY FUTURE!)." (Eph 2:10+) THOUGHT - It is interesting that in the context of their call, prayer and fasting were instrumental and integral in the Spirit telling them about their specific call. Are you walking in God's good works that He prepared in eternity past? If we are unsure whether we are carrying out our worthless works or God's "good works" it behooves us to spend some time in prayer and fasting hat He might show us His will. (for motivation read Jn 15:5) Related Resource: How can I recognize the guidance of the Holy Spirit? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today? How can I receive divine guidance? How can I know God's will for my life? What does the Bible say about knowing God's will? Recall that Jesus had already issued a sobering call to Saul, which Jesus explained to Ananias after Saul's Damascus Road conversion... But (rebutting Ananias' trepidation in Acts 9:11-12, 13-14) the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”(Acts 9:15-16+). In addition Luke reiterates the call in Acts 14 John
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Wiersbe points out that "This event is an illustration of the lesson that Jesus taught in the Parable of the Tares (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43): wherever the Lord sows His true children (the wheat), Satan comes along and sows a counterfeit (the tares), a child of the devil." (Bible Exposition Commentary) Jack Arnold reminds us that "The enemy of the Gospel is always an unseen enemy, for Christians struggle against the very powers of darkness. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes (see methodeia) of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world-forces of the darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:11+, Eph 6:12+). Elymas was Satan’s man. Bar-Jesus was the best specimen hell could produce!" (The Blessings, Burdens and Blunders of Missionaries) Related Resource: Online book by Donald Barnhouse - The Invisible War - 272 pages When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos (see map above) - Barnabas and Saul were not wasting time just "passing through" but were intentionally proclaiming (Acts 13:5) throughout the island the heart penetrating Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whole is holos which generally speaks of totality (Mk 1:33), but is most likely used as a hyperbole to emphasize the extent of their "broadcasting" the seed of the Gospel (cf Lk 8:11, 15+) on Cyprus which has a total area of 3,572 square miles. Clearly they did not go through the whole 3572 square miles. More likely they may have visited every Jewish synagogue on the island. Polhill points out that "The old settlement of Paphos was originally established by the Phoenicians and lay some seven miles to the southeast of the new city of that name. This original settlement had been destroyed by earthquake in 15 B.C. The new city had thus been built during the Roman period in Roman style." (NAC) Jack Arnold - Notice how it says “they had gone .” It appears that the New Testament pattern is the sending out of a team of two or three or more missionaries to the same place.....When missionaries are sent out in teams, they can encourage, exhort and uphold one another. This is a very practical way to deal with the discouragement, depression and disillusionment that comes with missionary work. Another New Testament principle of missions is that the missionaries went to the cities, the cultural and population centers, to preach and establish a local church. The indigenous church in the city then began to reach the country area around the city. (The Blessings, Burdens and Blunders of Missionaries) They had gone through (1330)(dierchomai from dia = through + erchomai = come, go) means to go through, to pass through, to move through an area. It is interesting that Luke uses this verb figuratively in the prophecy to Jesus' mother Mary that "a sword will pierce (dierchomai - go through) even your own soul–to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2:35+) Indeed, as Barnabas and Saul traversed the whole island out of their mouth came the message of the Gospel that undoubted would pierce hardened hearts and revealed their thoughts and intentions (cf the effect of the Word of God proclaimed in Hebrews 4:12-13). THOUGHT - SPURGEON on use of dierchomai in Luke 2:35+ - Christ’s death revealed the thoughts of many hearts. It revealed the thought in the heart of Pilate, that he loved popularity better than the truth. It revealed the thought of the heart of Judas, that he loved gold better than he loved his Master. It revealed the thought in the heart of Caiaphas, that he would keep to old customs rather than to the right. It revealed the thought in the hearts of the disciples, and showed what poor timid, trembling hearts they had. Peter’s impulsive spirit, too, was revealed in all its weakness by the death of the Saviour. The cross is the great touchstone; wherever it comes, it tests and tries us, even as the crucible tries the metal that is put into it, and lets us know what manner of men we are. Dost thou love Christ? Dost thou glory in his cross? Then it is well with thee. But dost thou despise the cross? Dost thou set up thine own righteousness in opposition to it? Art thou depending upon anything beside Jesus Christ and him crucified? Then his cross reveals thee to be self-righteous, and dead in trespasses and sins. They found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus - Bar is the Aramaic word meaning "Son of" and Jesus is the Latin form of the name "Joshua" which gives him the name "Son of Joshua." What an "incongruous" name! The man named "Son of Jesus" or "Son of salvation" opposes Jesus the Son of God Who alone brings salvation! Satan is a deceiver and so even the name of this "son of the Devil" suggests in some way he seeks to counterfeit the true way of salvation, to "make crooked the straight ways of the Lord." (Acts 13:10) Elymas, "Satan's man in Paphos" reminds us of Simon Magus "Satan's man in Samaria" who Peter encountered and confronted (read about it in Acts 8:9–24+).
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Wiersbe wrote that "During my years of ministry as a pastor and as a member of several mission boards, I have seen first-term workers do what John Mark did; and it has always been heartbreaking. But I have also seen some of them restored to missionary service, thanks to the prayers and encouragement of God’s people. A.T. Robertson said that Mark “flickered in the crisis,” but the light did not completely go out. This is an encouragement to all of us." (Bible Exposition Commentary) Left (672)(apochoreo from apó = from, a marker of dissociation + choréo = to go from a place, give space) means to move away from a point, with emphasis upon separation and possible lack of concern for what has been left. To depart in the sense of desert or abandon (as in Ac 13:13). One of the uses by Jesus in those frightening words in Mt 7:23+ "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART (apochoreo) FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’" Returned (Turned away from) (5290)(hupostrepho from hupo = under + strepho = to turn, to change) means to go back to a location, in this case Jerusalem. John Butler writes that "Mark had failed (Acts 13:13) and this had not surprisingly alienated him from Paul (Acts 15:37-39) but he had evidently repented and became a good servant of Jesus Christ and a helper for the Apostle Paul as our text indicates. He even wrote a Gospel that we know by his name. Mark tells us what counts isn't how many times you are knocked down by Satan but how many times you get up. His failure at Perga of Pamphylia was a black mark on his Christian dedication but he got up from the canvas of this failure to later be of help to the Apostle he had justifiably alienated by his failure." (Sermon Starters) Tony Merida - Ministry isn’t for the faint of heart. Advancing the gospel will cost us. If you ever imagine that pioneer evangelism and church planting are glamorous, just read about some of Paul’s afflictions in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. Then read about the church’s larger history; you will find some of God’s choicest servants like Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, and William Wilberforce suffering from all sorts of health problems. Others, like George Whitefield and David Livingstone, suffered under violent threats. Paul’s desire to reach the Gentiles reminds us of part of the reason we have so many unreached people in the world: they live in extreme, hard-to-access places—on steep hillsides, in deserts, and out in the middle of nowhere. Many other unreached peoples live in dangerous places, in locations where society is violently hostile to Christianity. But here in Acts 13 we see an example of the type of grace-enabled endurance that must reside in the hearts of gospel-centered, Spirit-empowered, Christ-exalting missionaries. (Ibid) ILLUSTRATION - A friend of mine served the Lord for many years in the lonely outposts of northwestern Canada. His missionary journeys took him into logging camps, to construction crews, into mining villages, and among some of the toughest people to evangelize in the Canadian west. He was traveling north one day along the lonely Alaska highway. It was his policy to stop at every wayside cabin and leave a cheery greeting, a gospel paper, and a word of testimony. On his journey he came at length to such a cottage, surrounded by a fence and barred by an iron gate that bore the warning "Beware of the dog." Nothing daunted, he unlatched the gate and the dog appeared. It was massive and fierce. It showed its formidable teeth and growled. The missionary paused and considered. Prudence told him to omit the house; conscience told him to go ahead and trust the Lord. At length, after a word of prayer, he carefully opened the gate and stepped inside. The dog menaced him. He ignored it and slowly but deliberately made his way to the house. The dog followed, snarling and threatening at his heels. He arrived at the door but before he could knock, it opened. A woman stood there with a loaded gun in her hands. The missionary greeted her and offered her one of his papers. She eyed him up and down as she took it. "Mister," she said, "Can't you read?" He admitted that he could. "Didn't you see the sign 'Beware of the dog?" she demanded. He confessed that he had. "Didn't you see the dog?" she inquired. He said he had hardly seen anything else. "Mister," she said, "that dog is trained to kill. I live here alone when my husband is away. That dog is my protection. He's a killer. Only last week he killed a bear. I'll take one of your papers, mister, but next time, pay attention to the sign." In telling me of the incident, the missionary said, "I had to go up to that house. If I'd backed down there, I'd have backed down everywhere-every time there was a difficult place." Paul was made of the same kind of stuff. Difficulties did not deter him; they dared him. It is one of the marks of a pioneer. (
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Wiersbe writes that "Every pious Jew knew that the Messiah would come from David’s family, and that a prophet would announce His coming beforehand. John the Baptist was that prophet." (BEC) This is the first prophecy Paul alluded to in describing John the Baptizer, the forerunner to Messiah. The prophecy of course to which Paul alludes is Isaiah 40:3-5 which described the ministry of John... A voice is calling (Mt 3:1-3), “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 “Let every valley be lifted up (Listen to this verse in Handel's Messiah), And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken (AND THAT SETTLES IT!).” (cf Lk 1:76–77+). Paul could also have been alluding to the prophecy in Malachi... “Behold, I am going to send My messenger (JOHN THE BAPTIZER), and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord (MESSIAH), whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1+) John
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Wiersbe has a play on words writing that "The “virgin tomb” (John 19:41) was like a “womb” that gave birth to Jesus Christ in resurrection glory." (BEC) Even Jesus' burial fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. (Isaiah 53:9+) And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb ("his own tomb" Mt 27:50) cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. (Lk 23:50-53+) It is interesting that Paul does not use the more common NT word for "cross" which is stauros, but instead uses xulon which would have been more familiar to the Jews who knew the Septuagint (Lxx), for the same word for "cross" ("tree") was used in the Greek translation of the passage in Deuteronomy. If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree (Lxx = xulon) his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree (Lxx = xulon), but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.(Deut. 21:22,23) Messianic Jew Steven Ger comments that "Paul studiously avoids using the word for cross, stauros, an offensive word, particularly within the context of public synagogue discourse, choosing instead the euphemism xulon, meaning, "tree, wood, or stake." (Ibid) Later Paul in his letter to the Galatians (Antioch is in Galatia) would add a "commentary" on the "tree" explaining that Christ became a "curse" in our place. In other words, Christ became a curse that we might be blessed! Hallelujah, What a Savior! Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE (xulon, quoting Dt 21:23)”– (Gal 3:13+) Peter wrote that He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross (xulon), so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed (spiritual healing NOT physical healing!). (1 Peter 2:24+) Cross (tree) (3586)(xulon from xuo = to scrape) is literally wood and refers to anything made of wood, including a tree or other wooden article or substance. In Ac 5:30, 10:39, 13:29, 1Pe 2:24 and Gal 3:13 xulon refers to the old rugged Cross. The NT idea of xulon/xylon as a cross is related to Dt 21:22, 23 which emphasizes the shame that befalls the one who is exposed and punished in such a way. The more common NT Greek word for "cross" is stauros which described an instrument of capital punishment, an upright pointed stake often with a crossbeam. Luke used xulon earlier describing the crucifixion of Jesus: Acts 5:30+ “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. Acts 10:39+ “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. Richards records that "In the Roman world the cross was used to execute only slaves and foreigners. Those with Roman citizenship were protected from the shame and the pain associated with crucifixion. As practiced by the Romans, crucifixion involved either tying or nailing the convicted person to a crossbeam, which was attached to the stauros (4716) ("pole"). The cross might be in the form of a T or, as it is more traditionally represented, as a t. Death came slowly to a crucified person, through exhaustion or by suffocation. And it came with great pain. Death by crucifixion was also considered a great disgrace. It is the theological implications of Jesus' crucifixion, however, that are of most concern to the Christian (Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency Jack Arnold - We know that Christ had to die in order to save sinners. His death was an atoning death, a substitutionary sacrifice, a death under the curse of God for our sins. He was innocent, yet God cursed Him and punished Him in our place, laying our guilt upon Him so we could be forgiven of all our sins. (Paul's First Recorded Sermon) Related Resources: Was Jesus crucified on a cross, pole, or stake? What is the meaning of the cross? Why is there a curse associated with hanging on a tree? What is the curse of the law? Acts 13:30 But God raised Him from the dead; (NASB95) KJV Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead: Acts 2:24,32; 3:13,15,26; 4:10; 5:30,31; 10:40; 17:31; Mt 28:6; Jn 2:19; Jn 10:17; Heb 13:20 Acts 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BUT GOD! RESURRECTION! But God - This is one of those great contrasts, one of those "but God's" that should make us shout "Hallelujah!" Death could not hold Him down! Jack Andrews - Thank God for this conjunction. They did their worst to Him, but God did their best for them! David Guzik on but God - These are wonderful words. Man did his best to fight against God—even to kill Him—but God was greater than man’s sin and rebellion, and Jesus rose from the grave, winning over sin and death. (Acts 13 Commentary)
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Wiersbe - "In Habakkuk’s day, the “unbelievable work” God was doing was the raising up of the Chaldeans to chasten His people, a work so remarkable that nobody would believe it. After all, why would God use an evil pagan nation to punish His own chosen people, sinful though they might be? God was using Gentiles to punish Jews! But the “wonderful work” in Paul’s day was that God was using the Jews to save the Gentiles!" (BEC) Believe (4100)(pisteuo) means they would never (present tense - continually) consider Paul's description of the Messiah to be true and worthy of their trust. Though someone should describe it to you - Notice the dramatic irony, for Paul has just described in detail the work God was accomplishing in the days, by sending the Messiah to be crucified, buried and resurrected in order that through His fully atoning death those who believe might receive forgiveness of sins. NET Note - So the call in the warning is to believe or else face the peril of being scoffers whom God will judge. The parallel from Habakkuk is that the nation failed to see how Babylon's rising to power meant perilous judgment for Israel. Describe (1555)(ekdiegeomai from ek - out + diegeomai) is used only here and Acts 15:3 and means to tell or describe in detail (exactly what Paul has just done in his sermon!) There are 4 uses in the Septuagint - Job 12:8; Ps. 118:17; Ezek. 12:16; Hab. 1:5. The present tense pictures the continual telling in detail the story of the Messiah! Larkin comments on the use of the Habakkuk quote Acts 13:41 - Understood typologically, the spiritual pattern seen in God’s surprise move of raising up the evil Chaldeans to punish Judah, even to the point of exile, could well be repeated in Paul’s day and ours. The difference is that then God’s work was judgment, whereas now it is salvation. But the warning is the same: Take heed lest you miss what God is doing. And the remedy is still the same: repentance. The warning was necessary, and is necessary today for those of a legalistic mindset to whom the “good news” of Jesus’ offer of salvation by faith alone is unbelievable.(IVP Commentary - Acts 13:1--21:16 Paul's Missionary Journeys) Steven
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Wiersbe - The word translated ordained means “enrolled,” and indicates that God’s people have their names written in God’s book (Luke 10:20+ = "rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”; Phil. 4:3+ = "whose names are in the book of life" A book which retains the names of all who have eternal life.). (BEC) Larkin - Using predestination terminology, Luke is careful to point out here, as elsewhere, that this faith is above all God’s work (2:41, 47; 5:14; 6:7; 11:21, 24; 21:19–20; compare Is 4:3; Dan 12:1; Lk 10:20; Phil 4:3; Rev 20:12–15; 21:27; Jubilees 30:20; 1 Enoch 104:1). We too must always keep before us the antinomy of faith as a personal human decision and as a divine gift according to God’s election. (IVP Commentary - Acts 13:1--21:16 Paul's Missionary Journeys) Related Resources: What is predestination? Is predestination biblical? How are predestination and election connected with foreknowledge? Unconditional election - is it biblical? What does Peter mean when he tells us to make our calling and election sure in 2 Peter 1:10? Who are the elect of God? How can I know if I am one of the elect? Bob Utley's Special Topic: Election/Predestination and the Need for a Theological Balance Is there a difference between the book of life and the Lamb's book of life? What is the Book of Life? Tony Garland's summary - Book of Life - - Its Ultimate Purpose When are Names Written? Names Blotted Out Is it possible for a person's name to be erased from the Book of Life? Is eternal security biblical? What is eternal life? POSB - Acts 13:48 shows both God’s part and man’s part in salvation. Jesus Himself had said:"“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." (Jn. 6:44). The man who comes to Christ is a person who has been drawn by God, a person who has experienced the divine initiative. A man does not act alone and come to Christ by his own effort or energy, nor by his own works, whether mental (thought or will, Jn. 1:13) or physical (good deeds, Eph. 2:8–9). A man is a dead spirit; therefore, he can do nothing spiritually just as a dead body can do nothing physically. The natural man prefers self and sin; therefore, if a man with a dead spirit is to come to Christ, he has to be acted upon and drawn by God. Both God and man have a part in salvation. God’s part is to draw men. Man’s part is to believe. As Brian Bell says "Don’t trouble yourself with election, encourage yourself in it." ILLUSTRATION - There was a Puritan who was presenting his views on strict predestination in old Puritan New England. He had a friend who was not convinced of that doctrine, so as they walked through the woods on their way to church one Sunday morning, his friend, sort of baiting him a little said, “Say, do you really believe that business about everything in the world being predestined by God and God being in sovereign control of every little detail?” The Puritan answered, “That's correct.” “You mean you believe that nothing could happen to you unless God willed it to happen?” said the friend. “That's right,” said the Puritan. The friend went on to say, “You mean, as we are walking through this forest towards Church, that if God did not want an Indian to shoot us, no Indian could shoot us?” The Puritan replied, “I believe that.” “Well, then,” the friend said, “why is it then you are carrying that gun over your shoulder?” The old Puritan thought about it a moment and said, “Well, my brother, you never know when you may meet an Indian whose appointed time has come.” Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. KJV Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. was being spread through the whole region Acts 6:7; 9:42; 12:24; 19:10,26; Philippians 1:13,14 Acts 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE PROPAGATING POWER OF THE GOSPEL And - Note this connective conjunction. Luke has just described the birth of disciples, and now links them ("and") with the spreading of the Word. Undoubtedly these new believers were spreading the good news. I remember when I was first saved and I was sharing the Gospel with everyone I met. What I had experienced was so amazing, I simply could not keep it in, but had to let it out. That is very likely the same spiritual dynamic that drove these joyous, Spirit filled (empowered) believers (Acts 13:52) to spread the good news! Talk about "church planting movement!" It’s remarkable to think that this church was "planted" in a little more than a week. Wiersbe points out that while Acts 13:48 is the "divine side of evangelism", Acts 13:49 "is the human side of evangelism: if we do not preach the Word, then nobody can believe and be saved. It takes both (see 2 Th 2:13–14 and Ro 10:13–15)." (BEC) The word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region - The Word of the Lord is the Gospel. Was being spread is in the imperfect tense, signifying again and again, over and over the Gospel was being "published" (KJV rendering), being spread far and wide. The passive voice pictures the Word, the Gospel, being carried, which begs the question being carried by whom? Clearly these new believers were "carrying" the Gospel, spreading the "Seed" ("the Seed is the Word of God" - Lk 8:11+) casting it out in hopes of it landing in "good soil." (those "appointed to eternal life") (Lk 8:15+). Just as ancient farmers would "broadcast" their seed over the furrowed rows, so too these "freshly minted" disciples were casting their seed through the whole region. "Wheat" was being harvested from "the fields, that (were) white for harvest." (Jn 4:35, cf Mt 9:37-38) The energetic activity of these "Seed sowers" recalls Psalm 126:6 which says "He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy (cf rejoicing over salvation in Acts 13:48), bringing his sheaves with him (cf "sheaves" of "spiritual fruit" in 1 Th 2:19-20+)." THOUGHT - Are you a "Seed Sower," broadcasting the Word of the Lord, the Gospel, through the whole region which is your sphere of influence and contact? (Meditate prayerfully on the following passages - 2 Cor 6:2, Eph 5:16+, James 4:14) And remember fruitful sowing is not left in hands, for the Gospel has the inherent "power (dunamis) of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Ro 1:16). Joy-filled, Spirit-filled, Gospel-filled disciples were taking the "dunamis-filled" Word of God, "far and wide." And keep in mind that these young disciples had a first hand witness of what it had cost Paul and Barnabas to share the Gospel, so they were not naive. All though Acts we see that one of the great effects of being filled with the Spirit is boldness and confidence. These freshly birthed disciples had already morphed into missionaries through the whole region. Was being spread (1308)(diaphero from dia = through + phéro = carry, bear) means literally to carry or take something through an area or structure or to carry in different directions. In Classical Greek diaphero was used meaning to carry over or across, to go through, to bear, endure, spread, separate. Zodhiates says that in Acts 13:49 diaphero is used "metaphorically of doctrine in the passive voice meaning to be divulged, published abroad." Longnecker suggests that "“This spreading of the word, along with the apostles’ own outreach to the cities named in chapters 13 and 14, probably led to the agitation of the so-called Judaizers that resulted in the problem Paul dealt with in Galatiansl" (EBC) (ED: THIS PROBLEM LIKELY PROMPTED HIS EPISTLE TO GALATIANS - Since most scholars date the Jerusalem Council alluded to in Gal 2:1 at about A.D. 49, the most likely date for Galatians is shortly thereafter.) Robertson on throughout the whole region - Antioch in Pisidia as a Roman colony would be the natural centre of a Roman Regio, an important element in Roman imperial administration. And daily . . . they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:42 According to a recent newspaper article the ten top advertisers in the United States spent more than $1.3 billion in one year alone for the promotion of their products. How much more is spent annually by thousands of other firms I don't know, but the total must reach astronomical proportions. Webster's New American Dictionary defines the word "advertise" as follows: "To make public by a printed notice, broad-cast message, or any means of publicity. To give warning or in-formation." As believers-we too have an obligation to "advertise." It is our duty to "make public" the good news of God's Word by every means available. Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." J. I. Rodale, in his book The Synonym Finder, gives the following substitutes for the word "advertise": "To make a public announcement of, to circulate, post, blazon, propagate, disseminate, trumpet, proclaim, or make known." This is what we should do with the message of God's saving grace. To send forth the Gospel is "advertising" in the best sense of the word without any of its distasteful connotations. When we consider the tremendous effort and huge expenditures being made today to promote the material things of this world, with their temporary worth and shallow satisfaction, how much more diligent we should be in "telling the story of Jesus"! Let's not be stingy in the work of "advertising" the Gospel! Tell it out among the highways and the lanes at home; Let it ring across the mountains and the ocean's foam! Like the sound of many waters let our glad shout be, Till it echoes and re-echoes from the islands of the sea! -- Havergal It is a solemn responsibility to have in one's possession a reprieve for men under condemnation and then not to deliver it! No cloud comes into our life but God has put a rainbow in it! Acts 13:44-52 Witnessing Smarter By Dave Branon The word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. —Acts 13:49 Joyce Gleave, an art teacher from Mustang, Oklahoma, had a burden for the spiritual welfare of the 600 students she taught in the public school. So while on a trip to the Holy Land, she purchased 600 tiny wooden crosses. But when she discovered that she would not be allowed to give the crosses to her students in the classroom, her witnessing opportunity seemed doomed. Instead of giving up, Joyce embarked on an ambitious project. Armed with her crosses and gospel tracts, she visited every one of her students in their homes—all 600 of them! “Many parents were moved to tears that I cared for their child,” she said of her visits. The life of the apostle Paul points out that witnessing for Jesus Christ is neither easy nor popular. In his case, he was sometimes told by city officials or opposing groups to get out of town. Yet Paul still found a way to tell the story of Jesus—even at the loss of his freedom. A world trying to eliminate Christianity is one that needs Jesus Christ more than ever. As we face obstacles in our efforts to tell others about our faith, let’s look for new ways to spread the gospel. We may need to witness smarter. Lord, give us wisdom from above To share the message of Christ's love; And help us always persevere To make that message loud and clear. —DJD The rewards of witnessing are worth the risks. Acts 13:50 But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. KJV Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But the Jews Acts 13:45; 6:12; 14:2,19; 17:13; 21:27; 1 Kings 21:25 the devout women Acts 13:43; 2:5; Romans 10:2 of prominence 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; James 2:5,6 instigated a persecution Acts 8:1; Matthew 10:23; 2 Timothy 3:11 drove them out of their district Acts 16:37-39; Isaiah 66:5; Amos 7:12; Mark 5:17 Acts 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JEWS INCITE AND INSTIGATE PERSECUTION OF MISSIONARIES But - A sad term of contrast. "Wherever there is revival, the second group to be revived is the Devil. (ED: OR THOSE "AROUSED" BY THE DEVIL!) Jewish opposition was strong enough to force Paul and Barnabas to leave the area." (Guzik) Once again, many Jews reacted negatively to the Gospel message (cf Acts 5:17, Acts 5:33; Acts 6:11; Acts 13:45). Ray Stedman rightly observed that "One of the marks of true evangelism is always that those who are being affected by it are divided. They are either for it or against it. No neutrality is possible when the gospel is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit."