God is on mission to save sinners who are doomed to everlasting punishment. As his church, we get to announce the good news of his salvation to all men – to be on mission with him. In this teaching, we see some of the characteristics of the missionaries in the early church.
Teaching Notes:
The Making of a Missionary – Pt. 1
Acts 12:25-13:52
As we come to Acts 13, we embark on a New Section in Acts. Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Well, they have been witnesses in Jerusalem (you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching – Acts 5:28), Judea (they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea, preaching the Word – Acts 8:1,4), and Samaria (Acts 8:5-8). Now, the final phase of Jesus’ prophecy is about to begin – witness to the remotest parts of the earth (Acts 13-28).
Starting with Acts 13 we also see another change: the transfer of attention from Peter to Paul. Peter is the dominant player in the 1st 12 chapters, Paul in the last 16 chapters.
Acts 12:25 provides a good introduction to this section. Remember that Paul and Barnabas had made a special trip to Jerusalem to deliver a generous gift that the church at Antioch had collected for them to help during the time when a great famine would hit the known world. Now they returned to Antioch, bringing John Mark with them.
As we study the 1st Missionary Journey chronicled in Acts 13 and 14, I want you to see the characteristics that make a missionary: He is Propelled, Powerful, Preaches, is Persecuted, Perseveres, is Perceptive, and Plans. God has called all of us to be missionaries to our own people. We are a Family of Missionary Servants sent out to make disciples. Thus, we can learn a lot from studying Paul’s missionary activity. Henry Martyn, the great missionary to India 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.”
1. He Is Propelled: 12:25 – 13:4
A. The Leaders At Antioch? 13:1. 5 men are listed. They are Prophets and Teachers. We know that Saul and Barnabas were teachers (11:26). Thus, some or all of these other men were Prophets. It is noteworthy that 4 of the 5 were Hellenists, being raised outside of the Holy Land. No wonder the church there was able to reach the Gentiles, and send out the first missionary team to the Gentile world.
Simeon: Niger is a Latin name meaning “black, or dark.” Evidently this was a black man named Simeon or Simon. There is some reason to suspect that this may be the very man who carried the cross of Christ – Simon of Cyrene. Cyrene is in Africa, where the population is Black. In Mk.15:21 we are told that this Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus who must have been well known in the Christian community in order for Mark to slip in that little parenthetical note without comment. So, perhaps Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus’ cross, stayed at the execution site and saw how Jesus died, and became one of His followers, disciple his 2 boys to follow Jesus as well, and later became one of the Leaders at the church at Antioch!
Lucius of Cyrene: In Acts 11:20 we were told that the church at Antioch got started because some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came and began speaking to the Gentiles, and the hand of the Lord was with them and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. Evidently Lucius was one of those men from Cyrene who was instrumental in preaching to the Greeks and who saw multitudes come to Christ. Who was one of the charter members of the church at Antioch.
Manaen: Herod the Tetrach refers to Herod Antipas, who was the one who stole Herodias from her husband, murdered John the Baptist, and mocked Jesus. He was a very evil man. The Manaen was brought up with him at court. He was exposed to all the pollution, depravity, and godlessness of that setting, yet God in His matchless grace had saved him out of it all!
B. The Spirit Speaking: 13:2.
· When did the Spirit speak? While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting. It was during a time in which the Leaders decided they would set aside the distraction of food preparation and eating in order to give themselves wholly to the Lord.
· How did the Spirit speak? Probably through one of the Prophets mentioned in vs.1. No doubt the point of mentioning there were Prophets in the church was to show us how the Spirit spoke in vs.2.
· What was the message? “Set apart for Me…” Set Barnabas and Saul apart from yourselves. The Church at Antioch was being required to give up their 2 best men. These men weren’t new converts. They were seasoned and proven men of God who had given themselves in ministry to the saints, teaching and shepherding them over a lengthy period of time. They were gifted in evangelism, teaching, and exhorting. They were loved and respected by all. To send them to the mission field would be like cutting off an arm and a leg. There may come a time when we are required to give up one of our best men because God has a work for them to do. God may call some to leave our missional community and start another. No matter how much we love one another’s company, we need to be willing to release one another to do the work God is calling each to do. “to which I have called them.” Notice it is past tense. I don’t think this is the very first time this kind of work had occurred to Barnabas and Saul. The Spirit had already called them, and had made that known to them. Now was the time for the church to formally set them apart and release them.
C. The Response to the Spirit: 13:3-4.
· They fasted and prayed: probably both to confirm that this was the Spirit speaking, and to ask for God’s blessing and power to accompany them in their venture of faith. Note that fasting seems to be a normal part of the church’s life. Note also that it does not occur alone. In both instances there is something that is taking place along with fasting – ministering to the Lord and prayer. Fasting is not an end in itself. Fasting is a means to free us up from physical, worldly distractions so that we can give ourselves undistractedly to the Lord.
· They laid their hands on them: as their way of saying that we confirm that the Lord has called you to this mission, and we are with you in prayer and support.
· They sailed to Cyprus: Why would they go there first? My hunch is that it was Barnabas’ desire. He was from Cyprus (4:36). He had a burden for his family and friends there, and longed to see the gospel take root in his homeland.
Summary: There is much here for us to learn. 1) We should learn the importance and power of fasting. 2) We should see the rightness of taking time just to minister to the Lord, both in personal and corporate worship. 3) We should be open for God to speak and direct us in words of prophecy. 4) We need to be willing to let people go to fulfill God’s calling, even if it will mean losing good men.
2. He Is Powerful: 13:5-12
A. Persistent Preaching: 13:5-6a. To preach in the synagogues of the Jews. They would go to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (1:16). Any male Jew over 30 years of age was permitted to speak in the synagogue. It was an ideal place to evangelize Jews. In every new city, Paul would follow this strategy. It’s not a bad thing to have an evangelistic strategy. They started on the east side of the island (Salamis), and went all the way to the other side of the island (Paphos), preaching in the synagogues, about 150 miles. It appears that they kept persevering until they finally found a man who wanted to hear the word of God. I admire their persistence. They must have faced rejection again and again in one synagogue after another. But they kept on. They didn’t quit. What a great example for us. As we talk to people about the gospel, most are not interested, and it is very tempting to just quit. But we must not. If Barnabas and Saul quit, they would never have found Sergius Paulus. If we quit, we will never find those people God has determined to save either!
Notice that these missionaries proclaimed the word of God: 13:5,7,12,26,32,38,42-46,48,49. They didn’t travel to these lost people to just try live before them in such a way that they hoped they would ask questions. No, they proclaimed, preached, spoke! So must we. Yes, we should work on developing friendships and relationships with non-christians and try to live godly lives before them. But that’s not all we do! From the very beginning of that relationship, we should be telling them about Jesus Christ.
B. A Deceptive Enemy: 13:6b-8. Elymas, Bar-Jesus (son of Jesus or son of salvation). He’s a magician, a Jewish false prophet. Since Jewish law condemned sorcery, he could not have been a believing Jew. He seems to be a kind of court wizard, kind of like Richard Nixon seeking out Jeanne Dixon’s psychic predictions. He tries to turn the proconsul, a ruler of a province on Cyprus, Sergius Paulus away from the faith because if he embraces Jesus Christ, his job is over. He is a pawn of Satan, being used to further his interests. Don’t be surprised if in your efforts to bring the gospel to the lost, Satan raises up enemies to oppose you!
C. A Powerful Judgment: 13:9-11. Here for the first time, we are told that Saul was also known as Paul. This is important because beginning in vs.13 he is always referred to as Paul from then on. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and fixed his gaze upon this magician. The expression “fixed his gaze” occurs 3 times in Acts: 3:4, 13:9, 14:9 and in every case it precedes a miracle. It appears that it is what happens when God speaks to someone about something supernatural He is about to do (healing lame man at Gate Beautiful; striking Elymas with blindness, healing lame man at Lystra). It seems to be Luke’s way of saying that God got their attention and told them what He was going to do.
Paul’s rebuke: Paul is extremely confrontational. He just goes off on this guy. Why wasn’t he nice? He could have offended him and hurt his feelings! That wasn’t his concern. God had revealed that this man was being used by the devil to turn away this man from the faith, and a holy boldness rises up in Paul against this man! Paul is angry at how the devil is using this man to blind the proconsul.
Paul’s Prophecy: 13:11. Was this bar-Jesus a false-prophet? Well, Paul was a true one. Here he speaks with God’s authority. Paul told him about God’s judgment that was just about to fall on him. How did Paul know this would happen? God told him – remember the phrase “fixed his gaze.” Paul didn’t have the power to walk around blinding anyone he wanted, but he could authoritatively declare what God was going to do, if God told him.
D. An Initial Convert: 13:12. The word was proclaimed with signs following. Both together convinced the proconsul that the gospel of Jesus was the truth, and he believed it. Here is the missionaries’ 1st convert! And notice it is at this point that Saul becomes Paul. He has a new name because God has confirmed this new office of apostle with the fruit of conversion. Also notice that instead of being “Barnabas and Saul” it is now “Paul and his companions”. Paul takes the lead at this point. God has used Paul to supernaturally blind a sorcerer, and lead the proconsul to faith, and so it is natural that he assume leadership of the missionary team (sort of a first among equals). There must have been great joy among the apostolic band that day! Paul and his team did not return to Cyprus again, although Barnabas and Mark did (15:39). Instead of staying in Cyprus, the missionaries realized that they must move on. There were millions more who needed to hear the Good News.
Summary: As so often in the book of Acts, we find conversions tied to miracles. We find God supernaturally empowering His servants to arrest the attention of those they preached to. Oh, let us long for the power of God to be upon our lives and ministries! Let us believe that what God did once, He can do again. Let us devote our lives to continual prayer that God can work powerfully through us as he worked through His servants in the 1st century.
3. He Preaches: 13:13-41. Leave Paphos, come to Perga where John Mark leaves them. Why did he leave? We don’t know, but I have a strong suspicion it was because his uncle was no longer leading the mission. Notice the Spirit called and sent Barnabas and Saul, but we don’t read of Him calling John Mark. John Mark just tagged along as a volunteer helper (sort of a gopher). When things weren’t going as he liked, he split. Later, this will cause a huge rift between Barnabas and Paul. Then they went from Perga to Pisidian Antioch. When Paul reached South Galatia he was suffering from a debilitating illness (Gal.4:13). It must have disfigured him in some way because Paul expected them to despise or loathe his condition (Gal.4:14). It must have affected his eyesight because Paul said they were willing, if possible, to pluck out their own eyes and given them to him (Gal.4:15). Sir William Ramsay suggested that Paul suffered from chronic malaria fever, and that it was his fever which made it necessary for them to get to the cool plateau some 100 miles away and 3,500 feet above sea level to where Antioch Psidia was. Perhaps it was this hurry which explains why they did not evangelize Perga, but did so on their return trip.
A. Paul’s Sermon Begins With The Story of Israel: 13:15-22. Here Luke gives us his first summary of one of Paul’s sermons. Although there are some God-fearing Gentiles present, the message is to Jews. It is the Sabbath (14), it is in the synagogue (14), the readings are of the Law and the Prophets (15), the hearers are Men of Israel (16), and the theme is that the God of the people of Israel (17) has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus Christ (23). Basically, Paul recounts the history of Israel from the “fathers” (patriarchs), through the Exodus, Wilderness Wandering, the Dispossessing of the Land of Canaan, the Judges, Saul, and David. Notice that Paul emphasizes God’s initiative of grace: He chose, made great, led them, put up with them, destroyed 7 nations, distributed their land, gave judges, gave Saul, removed him, raised up David.
B. Paul’s Sermon Moves to the Story of Jesus: 13:23-37. As soon as Paul mentions David, he makes a beeline to Jesus, saying that Jesus is the promised Savior who is the offspring of David. He begins by saying that John the Baptist had been sent to prepare His way. Paul focuses on Jesus’ Death (13:26-28), Burial (13:29), and Resurrection (13:30-37). Of all the things Paul could have focused on concerning Jesus (His virgin birth, miracles, teachings, power over Satan) He deliberately focuses on His death and resurrection. Why? Because that comprises the gospel (13:26,32 – 1Cor.15:3-4).
C. Paul’s Sermon Concludes With An Exhortation to Believe and Receive Forgiveness of Sins: 13:38-41. “Therefore” tells us he is coming to his climax. Everything he has said up to this point was to get us to this point. The Death and Resurrection of Christ were for a specific purpose: to provide forgiveness of sins. Who receives forgiveness of sins? Everyone who believes! Not everyone who keeps the Law, or offers sacrifices. This forgiveness of sins is explained as being justified from all things which they couldn’t be freed through the law of Moses. The Law of Moses could never justify anyone. All it could do was expose sin and pronounce judgment. But faith in Christ could bring perfect justification before a holy God. Paul further exhorts them, not only to believe and be saved, but to take heed that they don’t scoff, marvel and end up perishing! So the application of his message is “Make sure you don’t scoff and reject this message. If so, you’ll perish. Instead believe and be justified and be forgiven of all your sins!”
Summary: Needless to say these men did not subscribe to St. Francis’ motto, “Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary use words.” They were always preaching the gospel BY using words. And the content of the words was the Gospel. The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and what that means for those lost in sin. That must be our message as well.
4. He is Persecuted: 13:42-52.
A. Note the 2 themes running through this section: 1) the success of the Word of God (13:42,43,44,48,49); 2) the resistance of the Jews (13:45,46,50). This is always true. Wherever the word of the Lord prevails, Satan raises up his servants to resist it. Mark it down – should God be pleased to bless the preaching of His Word in our lives, we will face opposition from the evil one!
B. Notice the difference between how the Jews & Gentiles responded to the word of God: 13:46-48. The Jews repudiated it, while the Gentiles glorified it. Why did some Gentiles glorify it and believe while the Jews repudiated it? Because they were appointed to eternal life (13:48). Notice several things about this passage: 1) Not all were appointed to eternal life (as many as); 2) this appointment to eternal life was something which had taken place in the past (had been appointed); 3) Belief is the effect; appointment to eternal life is the cause. They were not appointed to eternal life because they believed. They believed because they were appointed to eternal life.
C. Notice the response of the apostles to the persecution: 13:50-52. The Jews were able to arouse prominent women and leading men to drive them out of the district. These men and women had power in Antioch. They had the ability to shut down someone’s ministry or prosper it. Isn’t that the way it works out so often? You are being blessed in your lightrail ministry and the authority drives you out and says “You aren’t allowed to do that on this train.” Or God is blessing your street witnessing ministry and someone comes along and says, “You can’t do that here” and drives you out. Don’t get discouraged! It’s only a temporary setback.
1) They shook off the dust of their feet: 13:51. What is this all about? Mk.6:11 – Jesus had taught his disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against those who would not receive the word. It was as if they were saying, “We will have nothing more to do with you; you can keep your dust to yourselves!” You have judged yourselves unworthy of this gospel. Since you have trod on this dust, even it is polluted and we won’t take it with us.” You must bear the responsibility for your own judgment!
2) They were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit: 13:52. In spite of persecution they were filled with joy! How? They were filled with the Holy Spirit whose fruit is joy. Don’t worry about persecutions – the blessing and joy of the Lord will be your portion. 1Pet.4:14. Those of us who have material blessing and no persecution might be missing out on the greater blessings of the filling and joy of the Holy Spirit!
Conclusion: God has called us as Missionaries to the people of Sacramento. We need to have a sense that He has propelled us to go to these people. We need to have the power of the Spirit upon us, and we need to Preach the Gospel to every creature. If we are faithful we will probably face some level of persecution, but the joy of the Spirit will be our portion as well. May God make us faithful missionaries to our city!
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