v.1-3
Barnabas & Saul commissioned and sent off
v.4-12
On Cyprus
v.13-15
To Pisidian Antioch
v.16-41
Paul preaches in Pisidian Antioch
v.42-44
They continue on in Pisidian Antioch
v.45-52
The Jews reject the apostles
v.1-3
Barnabas & Saul commissioned and sent off
v.1
Now
in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas,
Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought
up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
v.2
While
they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them.”
v.3
So
after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them
and sent them off.
[Passage
Synopsis: In the
church in Antioch the ministries of prophets and teachers who
had come there [as seen previously] headed up the times of worship,
prayer and fasting, so that a word was received from heaven to
send out Barnabas and Saul as missionaries of the gospel. Note
at this stage Barnabas is clearly the leader of the two as we've
seen him taking the initiative again and again so far – initially
helping Saul be accepted in Jerusalem [9:27], later being sent
to Antioch by the Jerusalem church [11:22] where he expands its
ministry, then goes and bring Saul from Tarsus [11:25,26] where
the two of them teach, then being sent with Saul to Jerusalem
as a finance emissary [11:30] before returning to Antioch [12:25].
It is only after they start their ministry that under the Spirit's
prompting, Saul takes the lead – see below]
v.4-12
On Cyprus: THE START OF THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY
v.4
The
two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to
Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
v.5
When
they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the
Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
v.6,7
They
travelled through the whole island until they came to Paphos.
There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul,
an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted
to hear the word of God.
v.8
But
Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed
them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
v.9
Then
Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked
straight at Elymas and said,
v.10
“You
are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right!
You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never
stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
v.11
Now
the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind
for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately
mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking
someone to lead him by the hand.
v.12
When
the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed
at the teaching about the Lord.
[Passage
Synopsis: They,
[with John Mark as a helper] presumably led by the Spirit, make
their way to Cyprus and start their preaching to Jews in the local
synagogue. i.e. they start with religious people. It is there
that Luke starts, instead of using Saul's Hebrew name, to using
his Roman equivalent, Paul, as he is filled with the Spirit and
takes the lead by rebuking a sorcerer who was hindering the local
Roman delegate believing the gospel. But this man, seeing God's
power believes it. From now on it is Paul leading.]
v.13-15
To Pisidian Antioch
v.13
From
Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,
where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
v.14
From
Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the
Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
v.15
After
the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the
synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a
word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
[Passage
Synopsis: From Cyprus
they sail back to the mainland of Asia Minor, and then travel
some hundred miles north to the Antioch in the area of Pisidia
where again they seek out the synagogue on the Sabbath. Again
seeking the religious people who will have historical knowledge
of God.]
v.16-41
Paul preaches in Pisidian Antioch
v.16
Standing
up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and
you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!
v.17-23
He explains Israel's history out of which Jesus came
v.17-19
The
God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people
prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them
out of that country; for about forty years he endured their conduct
in the wilderness; and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving
their land to his people as their inheritance.
v.20
All
this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until
the time of Samuel the prophet.
v.21
Then
the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish,
of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
v.22
After
removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning
him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will do everything I want him to do.'
v.23
“From
this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Saviour Jesus,
as he promised.
v.24-29
He explains the coming of Jesu, unrecognised by Israel
v.24
Before
the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all
the people of Israel.
v.25
As
John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am?
I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming
after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'
v.26
“Fellow
children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us
that this message of salvation has been sent.
v.27
The
people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus,
yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets
that are read every Sabbath.
v.28
Though
they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate
to have him executed.
v.29
When
they had carried out all that was written about him, they took
him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.
v.30-37
He explains the resurrection
v.30,31
But
God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by
those who had travelled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They
are now his witnesses to our people.
v.32,33
“We
tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he
has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As
it is written in the second Psalm: “‘You are my son; today
I have become your father.' [Psa
2:7]
v.34
God
raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay.
As God has said,
“‘I
will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'
[Isa 55:3]
v.35
So
it is also stated elsewhere: “‘You will not let your holy one
see decay.' [Psa
16:10]
v.36
“Now
when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he
fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.
v.37
But
the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
v.38-41
He concludes with the offer of forgiveness the Law couldn't give
v.38
“Therefore,
my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness
of sins is proclaimed to you.
v.39
Through
him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification
you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
v.40
Take
care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
v.41
“‘Look,
you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to
do something in your days that you would never believe, even
if someone told you.' [Hab.
1:5]”
[Passage
Synopsis: This is
the first recorded sermon of Paul's given to Jews and God-fearing
Gentiles, based on the history of Israel and salvation through
Jesus as descended from David, a fulfilment of prophecies throughout
the Old Testament but which present-day Israel failed to understand.
Because of this they killed Jesus but he was raised from the dead,
again in accordance with the prophetic scriptures. The result
is the opportunity for forgiveness of sins. He concludes with
a warning from the prophets not to reject this. To this religious
community he uses the Law and, more specifically, the prophets
to show that all that happened to Jesus was what God had spoken
of beforehand.]
v.42-44
They continue on in Pisidian Antioch
v.42
As
Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited
them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
v.43
When
the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts
to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and
urged them to continue in the grace of God.
v.44
On
the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word
of the Lord.
[Passage
Synopsis: This message
creates a hunger in the people who want more.]
v.45-52
The Jews reject the apostles
v.45
When
the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They
began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
v.46
Then
Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word
of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves
worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
v.47
For
this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light
for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends
of the earth.' [Isa
49:6]”
v.48
When
the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honoured the word
of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
v.49
The
word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
v.50
But
the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing
and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against
Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
v.51
So
they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went
to Iconium.
v.52
And
the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
[Passage
Synopsis: First rejection
by the Jews: However, the acclaim given by many people to
what Paul had preached provokes jealousy in a number of the Jews
who abused the apostles. This becomes a turning point and Paul
rejects the unbelieving Jew and says he will go to the Gentiles.
The Jewish leaders incite persecution against the apostles who
leave for Iconium.]
Continue
to chapter 14