Acts of the Apostles Chapter 13 – 14 Overview: Paul and Barnabas
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Acts of the Apostles Chapter 13 – 14 Overview: Paul and Barnabas begin their first missionary journey (13:4-12). Paul arrives at Antioch in Pisidia (13:13-15) and addresses the synagogue (13:16-43) and the Gentiles (13:44-52). Paul and Barnabas go to Iconium (14:1-7) and then to Lystra (14:8-20) and return to home (14:21-28). First Missionary Journey: 13:1 – 12 • Prophets/teachers: Two ecclesial ministries often listed by Paul (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:28) • Worshipping/fasting: Provide an opening to listening to the Holy Spirit and receive direction • Lay hands: Expresses the community’s setting apart for God’s mission (Kurz, 203). Correct Order Incorrect Order Worship/fasting – flows into mission Plan mission – ask God to bless our plans • Seleucia: Named after the Hellenistic dynasty that ruled northern part of Greek empire • John (Mark): Holy Spirit called Saul and Barnabas, but they also brought John Mark • Note: Mark will abandon mission and go to Jerusalem; Barnabas is from Cyprus (Acts 4:36) • Bar-Jesus: “Son of Jesus”; he was a Jew, magician, and false prophet (Kurz, 206) • Sergius Paulus: Gentile who desires to hear God’s word; from Pisidia Antioch in Asia Minor • Opposed them: Those who reject the gospel throw up roadblocks to its expansion • Key: Just as Satan opposed Jesus from the beginning, so Elymas opposed Paul at beginning • Paul: Luke switches from Saul (Jewish name) to Paul (Roman name) for the first time • Twisting: Son of the devil twists the straight paths of the Lord (Is. 40:3-5) (Kurz, 208) • Dark mist: Bar-Jesus is temporarily blinded as Paul was for contradicting the gospel • Proconsul: Astonished by Paul’s teaching and miracle of blindness (Kurz, 208) Paul’s Arrival at Antioch in Pisidia: 13:13 – 15 • Perga: A Roman province on the southern coast of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) • John Mark: His departure upsets Paul; see second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41) • Synagogue: Paul preached to the Jew first, especially those open to God’s Word (Saturday) • Exhortation: Invited to give a homily; not expecting reinterpretation in light of Jesus Paul’s Address in the Synagogue: 13:16 – 25 • Got up: This is the third retelling of Israel’s history: Peter (Acts 2) and Stephen (Acts 7) • Listen: Hebrew – Shema; rallying word “pay attention’’ • Egypt: Paul moves quickly past Genesis and moves right into Exodus • Put up: Epitomizes all the people’s grumbling and rebellion against God/Moses (Kurz, 210) • Four hundred fifty: 400 in Egypt, 40 in the desert, 10 for conquest (Kurz, 211) • David: Paul highlights that David’s good heart, in contrast to Saul, the first king • I am not he: Greek is “I am not” (ouk eimi egō) as opposed to “I am” (egō eimi) (Kurz, 21 1 Address to Gentiles: 13:44 – 52 • Following Sabbath: A week later, almost the whole city gathered, including Gentiles • Jealousy: The sin that wants to guard what one possesses and to keep others from having it o Envy: Resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another; wanting the same • Violent abuse: Greek is blasphēmeō; speaking against the gospel is blaspheming (Kurz, 218) • First: Gospel addressed the Jew first and then the Gentile (Rom. 9:4-5) • Unworthy: Rejection of the gospel is tantamount to rejecting eternal life • Destined: God wills their salvation, but they also must free accept the invitation • Persecution: Verbal abuse turned to physical violence as they expelled Paul and Barnabas • Key: Paul and Barnabas received a mixed response as Jesus did in Nazareth (Luke 4) Paul and Barnabas at Iconium: 14:1 – 7 • Iconium: Paul moves east where he continues to receive mixed responses • Boldly: Paul and Barnabas courageously preach the gospel in the face of opposition • Divided: Jesus warns that he has not come to bring peace, but rather division (Lk 12:51) • Stone: Paul nearly suffers the same fate as he witnessed earlier with Stephen (Acts 8:1) • Lystra and Derbe: Paul and Barnabas are now in “barbarian territory” (Kurz, 224) Paul and Barnabas at Lystra: 14:8 – 20 • Crippled Man: Similar to Peter’s healing of the lame man in Acts 3:1-13 • Stand up: Peter healed the man “in the name of Jesus the Nazorean” (Acts 3:6) • Hermes/Zeus: Legend recounted by Ovid, in which Zeus and Hermes visited the region in disguise, seeking hospitality but finding it only in one devout elderly couple, whom they later rewarded (Kurz, 226). They destroyed the homes of the rest. • Tore garments: A sign of extreme distress, blasphemy, or other serious sin (Kurz, 226). • Living God: Paul and Barnabas urged them to turn from paganism to the living God • Note: Idols in every age look different; today, they are money, honor, pleasure, power, etc. • Fruitful seasons: Peter argued Jesus as Messiah (Acts 3:18); Paul appeals to creation • Stoned: 2 Cor. 11:25 Paul speaks about the suffering that he experienced on his missions • Entered the city: Amazingly, Paul gets up and goes right back into the city! End of the First Mission: 14:21 – 28 • Returned: Paul and Barnabas preached publicly before, now minister privately (Kurz, 229) • Strengthened: New disciples need encouragement and instruction to remain strong • Hardships: Paul is honest about the sufferings they will experience following Christ • Presbyters: Means “elder”; they are new church leaders; mature and reliable leaders • Prayer and fasting: Jesus prayed and fasted before His ministry (Lk 4:2, 6:12; Acts 13:3) • Note: Church in Jerusalem outreach to Jews/Samaritans; Antioch outreach to Gentiles • God had done: Paul and Barnabas recognize God is the primary agent in evangelization • No little time: Even the greatest missionaries need rest and friendship! (Kurz, 231) 2 .