Note the
journey so far: Antioch - Seleucia (Syria) - Salamis and Paphos (Cyprus) -
sailed to Perga in Pamphilia (John Mark left here to go back to Jerusalem - see
comment in Acts 15:36 - 41) - Antioch (in Pisidia- 160 km's beyond the
mountains from Perga).
Pisidian Antioch (Galatia) 13: 14 – 52: This is where our main focus and interest now lies. Like Antioch in Syria (today Antakya, now a poor town with a few
thousand inhabitants) Antioch in Galatia
(today in ruins and close to the village of Yalvac in the Isparta province in
southern Turkey) was founded by Seleucus Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Dynasty.[1] He founded
nearly 60 cities, and 16 of them were named in honour of his father Antiochus.
Our
text can be divided into three sections:
(i)
Paul’s Gospel Preaching 13:14-37
(ii)
Application of that which he preached : 13:38-41
(iii)
Response to what he preached 13:42-52
Observe:
- This is a Jewish context; it's a synagogue, attended by Jews and God-fearing gentiles (13:16, 26, 44, 48). It was his habit to go to the synagogue (cf. also 13:5) - to the Jews first.
- The liturgy: V. 15 “after reading from the law and the prophets” – part of the liturgy. The Synagogue service would have begun with the Shema (Deut. 6: 4ff:" Hear oh Israel, the Lord your God is one God. Love the Lord your God…), some prayers… some Scripture readings, from the law, prophets etc., followed by an expository sermon, concluding with a blessing.
- Paul and Barnabas were visitors. Perhaps they recognised from his dress that Paul was a Rabbi - therefore he was invited to bring a word of encouragement.
- In this context people know the Old Testament Scriptures, so the sermon is full of quotations from the Old Testament: Psalm 2:7, Psalm 16:10, Isa. 55:3, Hab. 1:5. Paul is preaching to people who are familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures. This is very interesting because in Chapter 14, to the pagans at Lystra (14: 8 - 18), and the philosophers at Athens (17:16- 34), the sermon will be different- different content, different style, different approach. But in all the sermons the final focus is essentially the same: Jesus Christ and he crucified!
- Evangelistic preaching demands that we understand our hearers – the context, their background, their ability to understand.
So this
is Paul’s first recorded sermon by Luke who undertook to write an orderly
account (Lk. 1:3). This is not the
first sermon that Paul had preached. We know of occasions where he had
preached in Damascus, Jerusalem, in Antioch in Syria, on the island
of Cyprus, but it is here in Pisidian
Antioch that we get the first insight
into the content of Paul’s gospel
preaching - the
message of this salvation v. 26
; the
good news (gospel) in v. 32 .
The Theme of Paul's Sermon
"How the God of this people Israel
(v.
17) has brought the Saviour – Jesus, to
Israel - just as He promised “(v.23).
The Substance of Paul’s Sermon - 13: 14-37
Paul presents
Jesus
as the climax of biblical history and in facing a Hebrew congregation,
a people familiar with the scriptures,
it is
important that he reasons with
them from the Old Testament scripture. He begins with
the patriarchs , and speaks about the time in
Egypt under Moses and the Exodus, the
period of the Judges, mentioning the
major figure Samuel who gave Israel
their first king , Saul and then David. From David he makes a giant leap to John the Baptist,
the forerunner of the Messiah … Jesus. A
son of David, it was expected in Israel, was going to be the Messiah…and here He is! Paul
says that Jesus was the fulfilment of biblical prophecy. So, what Paul is doing
here is that he is interpreting the Old Testament for them. He's giving them a
key to understand their Old Testament history, and he is saying to the, “Look, here He is!”
But it’s not
so simple : The leading religious
rulers and men among the Jews did
not recognise this Jesus , because they
did not understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath. So, they condemned Him (v.27) but even that, says Paul was in fulfilment of the Scriptures (vv. 27b-29). They simply did what was
written … what was predicted by the prophets.
But more
than that, and here comes the exciting part, God raised Him from the dead! The
risen Lord Jesus, unlike His human ancestor David - did not taste death and
decay. He arose, and took death and sin and Satan captive. They hold no more
terror for those who put their trust in Jesus. (v.30). The Resurrection is the proof and vindication of the fact that
Christ is the Messiah. And more than that, He appeared too many who witnesses
of this fact (v.31) were. And all this is a fulfilment of the OT Scriptures (vv.
33-37). this is the sum and substance of
the gospel of Jesus the Messiah - His
life and His death and His resurrection.
The Application of Paul’s Sermon -
13:38-41
The preaching
of the Gospel leads to making a choice between life and death, and
it all depends on what we will do with Jesus.
1. LIFE: Justification by faith vv.
38,39
Through this man …
(i) v. 38!
Forgiveness of sins is effectively achieved – once and for all! Jesus is
the end of the sacrificial system. Forgiveness in Christ, the Lamb of God is
absolute and final.
(ii) v. 39!
Freed from the demands of law – no one kept the law. The word freed is the word for justification. No one is justified by obedience to the Law
plus faith in Jesus Christ. The Law (holy as it is) cannot contribute anything
to our justification. The law (which no
one keeps) can only declare us guilty before God. Jesus secured salvation for us by inviting us
to look to Him. He alone can justify us. That is Paul’s gospel. Notice too, how he speaks of “everyone who believes” i.e. Jew and Gentile – the whole world, whoever believes
is freed and saved!
2. DEATH: vv. 40, 41
A warning from the prophets (based on Hab. 1:5). Those that do not
believe the gospel are scoffers, and they will perish! They will incur the wrath
of God. Their sins will be on their own head, and they themselves have to bear
the consequences for this.
This
leads to the next and last point - the conclusion.
The Consequences of Paul’s Sermon - 13:42
- 52
(i) Invited to speak further about these
things - next Sabbath (v. 42)
(ii) An amazing response - "almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord"
(Note: crowd is not an achievement - it is an opportunity).
(iii) A mixed response: The word of God will always have that
sort of effect in any community!
·
The
Jews were filled with jealousy- did not appreciate this opportunity (v.45) - caused them to be expelled from
their region (v.50) ;
·
The
gentiles were glad, - and honoured the word of the Lord (v.48).
The
overall effect however was this: "The word of the Lord spread through
the whole region." (v.49).Wherever the Word about Jesus goes
it will bear fruit. That is the typical pattern. Those who respond best are
usually those who have had few religious privileges. Those who are hardest of
hearing are usually those who have heard the Gospel often, but remain unresponsive
and even hostile!
And
notice the effect on the disciples of Jesus
(v.52). After they were driven out of the city, “they were filled with joy and with the Holy
Spirit…” It wasn’t the persecution that they rejoiced in as much as knowing
that the Word of God was producing the right effects. That is what Paul and
Barnabas were sensing here.
What is the Ultimate Purpose of Preaching
the Gospel?
Why did Paul and Barnabas embark on this so called "First Missionary journey"?
Why did Paul and Barnabas embark on this so called "First Missionary journey"?
Why did
they travel so far - just to speak to people in Pisidian Antioch?
Why
should we be concerned about the spiritual plight of people in far countries?
Why
should we go out of our way and speak to some stranger about his/her need for
the gospel?
Paul and
Barnabas were essentially convinced from the OT Scriptures, and from the Life
and Teaching of Jesus that people are lost in their sins and trespasses, and
unless they embrace this good news they were going perish.
Those
that have been entrusted with the Gospel are responsible to tell the Gospel. We
are responsible for this generation. Are you praying and working for the
advance of the gospel?
What on
earth are we doing for heaven’s sake?
[1] Seleucid
dynasty, which existed from 312 BC to 63 BC, following the death of Alexander
the Great
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