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Home , Acts 13, Acts of the Apostles, Elymas, Sergius Paulus

Chapter 13 – 14

Overview: Paul and begin their first missionary journey (13:4-12). Paul arrives at in (13:13-15) and addresses the synagogue (13:16-43) and the (13:44-52). Paul and Barnabas go to Iconium (14:1-7) and then to (14:8-20) and return to home (14:21-28).

First Missionary Journey: 13:1 – 12

• /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 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

• : Named after the Hellenistic dynasty that ruled northern part of Greek empire • John (Mark): Holy Spirit called Saul and Barnabas, but they also brought • Note: Mark will abandon mission and go to ; Barnabas is from (:36) • Bar-: “Son of Jesus”; he was a Jew, magician, and false (Kurz, 206) • : who desires to hear God’s word; from Pisidia Antioch in Minor • Opposed them: Those who reject the throw up roadblocks to its expansion • Key: Just as opposed Jesus from the beginning, so opposed Paul at beginning • Paul: Luke switches from Saul () 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 • Proconsul: Astonished by Paul’s teaching and of blindness (Kurz, 208)

Paul’s Arrival at Antioch in Pisidia: 13:13 – 15

• : A Roman province on the southern coast of Asia Minor (present-day ) • John Mark: His departure upsets Paul; see second missionary journey (: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 () and Stephen () • 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/ (Kurz, 210) • Four hundred fifty: 400 in Egypt, 40 in the desert, 10 for conquest (Kurz, 211) • : Paul highlights that David’s good heart, in contrast to Saul, the first king • 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 (:1) • Lystra and : 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 :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, , 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 (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 • : Means “”; they are new leaders; mature and reliable leaders • Prayer and fasting: Jesus prayed and fasted before His ministry (Lk 4:2, 6:12; :3) • Note: Church in Jerusalem outreach to /; 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)

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