Acts 13

Acts 13:1-13

37. THE WORK TO WHICH GOD HAS CALLED US Acts 13:1-13 The revealed purpose of God for his church is that it should be the means by which the gospel of his free and sovereign grace in Christ is preached throughout the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-48; Acts 1:8). Every local church has, by divine mandate, a singular purpose for existence, and that purpose is that it be a lighthouse, a sounding board for the gospel. The church of Christ is to be a preaching center, no more and no less, in which the gospel of Christ is preserved from generation to generation and from which it is preached unto all men (1 Timothy 3:15). Every believer is called of God to be a missionary, a witness for him (John 20:21; Isaiah 44:8). Our business, our goal and occupation in life is to seek the Lord’s sheep, the salvation of God’s elect. I can think of no reason for God leaving his people in this world except to use them for the saving of chosen, redeemed sinners. Every believer is completely fit for heaven (Colossians 1:12). We are completely forgiven of all sin, perfectly righteous, and approved of by God through the sin-atoning blood and imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we have been given a righteous nature in regeneration. Righteousness has been imparted to us by the Spirit of God. Why then has God left us in this world to live in this body of flesh? It is because he has chosen to use saved sinners to carry the gospel to other sinners for the saving of his elect! In Acts 13 the Holy Spirit has recorded for our learning the beginning of world evangelism. In this chapter God’s eternal purpose that the gospel be preached in all the world began to be fulfilled. Prior to this the center of the church was Jerusalem. From this point forward (in the Book of Acts) it is the Gentile city of Antioch. Prior to this the primary spokesman was Peter, the apostle of the circumcision. From this point on it is Paul, the apostle of the uncircumcision. Prior to this the gospel had been preached basically to the Jews only. From this point on it is preached to the Gentiles. Prior to this the church was still bound with many of the fetters of Jewish legal worship. From this point forward the chains of bondage are completely broken. Acts 13 marks the point in history when the Lord God began gathering his elect from the four corners of the earth by the preaching of the gospel of his dear Son. In this study we will consider seven things about the work to which God has called us. First, GOD HAS AN ELECT PEOPLE WHOM HE HAS TO SAVE IN EVERY PART OF THE WORLD. It never was God’s intention, desire, will, or purpose that the gospel of his grace be preached only among the Jews. God’s church and kingdom is made up of men and women of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue upon the earth (Revelation 5:9). There are some among all people to whom God will be gracious, some who must be saved, because God purposed to save them. It has always been the purpose of God to gather his elect from the four corners of the earth. The Israel of God, his church, is made up of his… “Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth!” The Word of God plainly asserts that God’s elective purpose has never been limited to a singular race, or class of men. His purpose of grace includes people from every race, from all parts of the world, Jews and Gentiles, blacks and whites, rich and poor, male and female, learned and unlearned (Genesis 22:17-18; Ex. 19:46; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 49:6; Hebrews 1:10; John 3:16; Acts 9:15; Galatians 1:15-16). God will fulfill his covenant. He will accomplish his purpose. All his elect must be saved. Therefore, he has sent his church into the world to preach the gospel.

What wonderous, condescending grace! Certainly, the sovereign, almighty Lord God could have saved his chosen without the use of means. But he has chosen to use saved sinners to carry the gospel to chosen, redeemed sinners who must be saved (Acts 26:16-18). Second, THE BY WHICH GOD HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE IN THIS WORLD IS HIS CHURCH (Acts 13:1-5). God’s purpose of grace is accomplished through his church. The church of Christ is separated and called of God unto the work of proclaiming the gospel. Throughout history men have attempted to bypass the church and do the work of evangelism outside and apart from the church. But God’s work must be done in God’s prescribed way. No organization can replace the church of Christ.

No one else can or should do the work God has called us to do. And the work of evangelism cannot be done by any means other than the preaching of the gospel, either publicly or privately. The church of the living God is the pillar of the truth, the preserver of the truth, and the proclaimer of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). We are the stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 1 Peter 4:10). God has entrusted his church with the gospel. It is our responsibility to faithfully proclaim it. Third, THE LORD GOD ALWAYS RAISES UP WITHIN HIS CHURCH TO HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE (Acts 13:1-5). We sometimes think there is a deficiency, but there is not. When God has a work to do, he always raises up the men needed to do it, and gifts them with whatever is needed to do the work. These verses show us five things that are true of all true gospel preachers. (1) They are called of God. (2) They are recognized by the church of God as men gifted and called to the work of the ministry. (3) They are separated unto the work of the gospel. (4) They are filled with and led by the Spirit of God. And (5) They preach the Word of God faithfully. Fourth, THE OF THE GOSPEL IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALWAYS (Acts 13:6-12). None of God’s servants labor in vain (Isaiah 55:11). Some believe and some believe not (Acts 28:24). Either way, when the gospel is preached God is honored and his purpose is accomplished (2 Corinthians 2:14-17). Fifth, GOD’S MEANS FOR THE SAVING OF HIS ELECT IS THE OF THE GOSPEL. This is God’s method of grace. He has chosen to save them that believe by the foolishness of preaching (Romans 1:16; Romans 10:14-17; 1 Corinthians 1:21-23; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25). The faithful proclamation of God’s holy, sovereign character, man’s lost and ruined condition, and Christ’s effectual, substitutionary atonement is the message by which the Word of God is preached unto men. Sixth, WILL MEET WITH MUCH AND SUFFER PAINFUL IN THIS WORLD (Acts 13:6-8; Acts 13:13). As were Paul and Barnabas, we will be opposed by false prophets and false religion. And we will sometimes be disappointed by our brethren. Men of sinful flesh will disappoint one another, even believers, like John Mark (Acts 13:13; Acts 15:36-39; 2 Timothy 4:11). But we must not be discouraged. We must persevere in the work to which God has called us, because… Seventh, THE PURPOSE OF OUR GOD AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST WILL BE AT LAST. God shall have his elect (John 6:37-40). Christ shall have his ransomed (Isaiah 53:10-11). The Spirit shall have the called (Ephesians 1:13-14). Our labor is not in vain in the Lord!

Acts 13:14-41

38. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL Acts 13:14-41 When the rulers of the synagogue at Antioch, Pisidia asked Paul and Barnabas if they had “any words of exhortation for the people”, Paul seized the opportunity (Acts 13:14-16). His sermon is recorded for us in Acts 13:17-41. It is essentially the same message he had heard Stephen preach in chapter 7. The Jews were very interested in two things: (1) The Old Testament Scriptures, and (2) The Promise of the Messiah. Paul met them at the place of their interest and preached Christ to them. He did not debate with them. He simply preached Christ to them. He did so boldly in simple, unmistakable, irrefutable terms. He spoke with such clarity that when he was done with his sermon everyone in the synagogue understood exactly what he had said. Thus, by example as well as by precept, Paul shows us what preaching is. It is the bold and clear declaration of the free grace of God toward sinners through the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1-8). In this passage of Holy Scripture the Apostle Paul declared the message of the gospel in five points. THE OF GOD (Acts 13:17-19). When he stood to preach the gospel the first words that fell from his lips declared the sovereignty of God. First, he spoke of God’s sovereignty in election. “The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers” (Acts 13:17). In the Old Testament God chose to make himself known only to the children of Israel, passing by all other nations. His choice of Israel was a matter of unconditional grace and absolute sovereignty (Deuteronomy 7:7-9). Even so, in his sovereign, electing love, God chose to save a great multitude from Adam’s fallen race through the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Secondly, Paul spoke of God’s sovereignty in redemption. “With an high arm he brought them out of Egypt” (Acts 13:17). God’s deliverance, or redemption of Israel out of Egypt was typical of the redemption and salvation of his elect by Christ. As such, it was an act of particular, distinguishing, irresistible, and effectual grace. No sacrifice was provided for, no mercy was offered to, no grace was exercised toward the Egyptians. Everything that God did in the affair was for an elect, chosen people. So too, in the redemptive work of Christ and in the saving operations of his Spirit, everything is for God’s elect.

Christ died for and redeemed God’s elect (Isaiah 53:8; John 10:11; John 10:15). The Holy Spirit regenerates and calls God’s elect, those who were redeemed by Christ (Psalms 65:4). Even the intercessory prayers of Christ are made only for God’s elect (John 17:9; John 17:20). Those whom God purposed to bring out of Egypt, he brought out. Not even a hoof of the herds of Israel was left behind (Exodus 10:26). And all whom God purposed to redeem by Christ were redeemed by him (Galatians 3:13) and shall be saved by him (John 6:37-40).

Not one shall be lost (Romans 8:28-30). Thirdly, the Apostle declared God’s sovereignty in the operations of his grace and the works of providence. The inheritance of Israel in the land of Canaan was entirely the gift of God’s sovereign grace. “He divided their land unto them by lot” (Acts 13:19). That means he did it without man’s choice or will (Proverbs 16:33). Israel did not conquer the land of Canaan. God conquered their enemies before them. Israel simply took possession of the land at God’s command, and received their inheritance by his decree. Even so, God’s elect do not conquer their enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil. Christ did that for us. We do not win eternal salvation. Christ won it for us! The believer simply takes possession of these things by faith at God’s command. THE TOTAL AND OF MAN (Acts 13:18-21). The history of Israel is a history of human sin and divine mercy (Psalms 78; Psalms 103). The people whom God chose and redeemed as types of his elect were a sinful, undeserving, rebellious people. Paul here declares that God’s elect, like all other men, are fallen, depraved, justly condemned children of Adam (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-4). THE SURE OF GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE (Acts 13:22-23). Throughout this brief survey of Old Testament history Paul was driving one point home to his hearers: God’s purpose of grace is sure! God promised a Redeemer, a King, and a Savior, and he must come! Our great God so wisely and sovereignly rules this world that even the depraved hearts and sinful acts of men cannot thwart his purpose. In fact, they are instruments by which God fulfills his eternal purpose of grace (Psalms 76:10). This is Paul’s doctrine: In spite of our sin, rebellion, and unbelief, God is faithful! “God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus!” THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (Acts 13:24-39). Paul’s message was “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Everything he had said in the preceding verses was leading up to this point. In this part of his message the Apostle tells us five things about the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. CHRIST CAME (Acts 13:24-27). John the Baptist had but one mission. He was sent to prepare the way for and identify the Lord Jesus Christ. When he saw him, he pointed to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world…This is the Son of God!” (John 1:29-34). God himself assumed human flesh! “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Son of God came into this world to save sinners by the sacrifice of himself.
2. CHRIST DIED (Acts 13:27-29). Though he was clearly an innocent, righteous man, one who “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), he was despised and rejected of men and was put to death under the penalty of the law, according to the Scriptures. The Son of God died by the hands of wicked men, but he died according to the purpose of God (Acts 2:23). As the sinners’ Substitute he died as a common criminal under the wrath of God, to satisfy the justice of God for his people. Christ died that he might save guilty sinners from the wrath of God (Isaiah 53:4-11; Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 1 Peter 3:18).
3. CHRIST AROSE (Acts 13:30-37). The resurrection of Christ is God’s public declaration that he is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Son of David, that he has put away the sins of his people which were imputed to him by the satisfaction of divine justice, and that the “sure mercies of David”, (the sure mercies of God in Christ), shall be bestowed upon all his people.
4. CHRIST REIGNS (Acts 13:33-34). Jesus Christ is King! He reigns as the Son of David, the Son of Man upon the throne of God to give eternal life, to dispense “the sure mercies of David” to chosen sinners (John 17:2).
5. CHRIST SAVES (Acts 13:38-39). The gospel of the free grace of God in Christ is the message of redemption accomplished by the substitutionary sacrifice of the Son of God. It is the proclamation of the free forgiveness of sins and complete justification for all who believe upon the grounds of justice satisfied and righteousness imputed (1 John 1:9; Romans 3:24-26). THE OF MAN (Acts 13:40-41). “To you is the word of this salvation sent” (Acts 13:26). It is the responsibility of all to believe it. If you do, if you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall live forever. If you refuse to believe, if you reject the gospel and despise the Son of God, unutterable woe shall be your eternal portion (Mark 16:16).

Acts 13:42-52

39. OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN Acts 13:42-52 When Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel at Antioch, Pisidia, the Jews “were filled with envy” and spoke against the gospel, contradicting it and blaspheming God. They willfully and deliberately refused to believe the revelation of God concerning his Son. Despising Christ, despising the gospel of the grace of God, and despising the messengers of grace, they brought destruction upon themselves. But Paul and Barnabas were not turned away from their noble work. Neither the instability of their brother and friend, John Mark, nor the unbelief and opposition of the Jews could deter them from their work. The Jews would not hear them, so they turned to the Gentiles and preached the gospel to them.

Thus, they were instruments in God’s hand by which he accomplished his eternal purpose of grace in the saving of his elect among the Gentiles (Isaiah 55:11). There are five lessons clearly taught in this passage of Holy Scripture. First, ALL WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL SHOULD SEIZE EVERY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL (Acts 13:42-44). After Paul had finished preaching, the Jews walked out in angry protest. But there were some Gentiles present whose hearts were affected by the message. They asked Paul and Barnabas to preach to them through the week and on the next sabbath, which they gladly did. While at Antioch they preached in the Jewish synagogue and on the streets to the great multitudes who gathered to hear them and to individuals as God gave them opportunity. They looked for opportunities to speak to eternity bound sinners about their souls and to preach Christ to them.

And they seized every opportunity God gave them. In that regard they are examples to all believers in this world. Every pastor, every gospel preacher must relentlessly give himself to the work of the ministry, to the business of faithfully preaching the gospel (1 Timothy 4:12-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5). And every believer should look for and seize every opportunity to bear faithful witness to perishing sinners concerning the things of Christ (John 20:21; Acts 1:8). We all make excuses for not witnessing to the people around us, but we are without excuse. If we refuse to honestly and openly confess Christ to others, it is either because we do not care that people are perishing without him, or because we fear their reaction to us, or because we do not really believe in the power of the gospel.

Many who would gladly preach to thousands where they might be applauded often refuse to preach to one for fear of scorn! Secondly, ALL WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL WILL MEET WITH IN THIS WORLD (Acts 13:45-46). It is not possible to faithfully preach the gospel of Christ without offending the enemies of Christ. People who are opposed to Christ will be opposed to anyone who faithfully represents Christ to them (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). When men and women oppose God’s preachers, those who faithfully preach the gospel of Christ, they are fighting against God (1 Samuel 8:7). The Jews at Antioch did not merely reject Paul and Barnabas. They did not merely reject a sermon they did not like.

They rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and the message of God’s free grace in him. In doing so they judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life. “The Jews, by this act of theirs in rejecting the Gospel, did as it were pass sentence upon themselves that they ought not to be saved, since they despised the means of salvation” - (John Gill). This is a very solemn matter! These men and women, by their rejection of the gospel became reprobate. God left them to their just condemnation and hardened their hearts in unbelief (Hosea 4:17; John 12:39-40; Romans 11:8-11). The judgment of God that fell upon them should be alarming to any who hear but refuse to believe the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ. To reject the gospel of Christ is to court reprobation. It is to court the judgment of God. Wilful unbelief, the wilful rejection of the gospel involves four things:

1. It calls God a liar (1 John 4:10).2. It despises the precious blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:29).3. It fights against God (Isaiah 63:10).4. It is the judgment of self as one worthy of eternal damnation. A person’s rejection of the gospel, the rejection of Christ, is a decided, deliberate act of his own will. The unbelieving heart is so obstinately proud that it chooses destruction before it will bow to the rule of Christ. God declares that in hell the damned who suffer his wrath eat the fruit of their own freewill (Proverbs 1:31). Thirdly, A MAN’S IN THE GOSPEL IS NOT TO BE BY HIS SUCCESS, BUT BY HIS TO THE OF GOD (Acts 13:47). When Paul and Barnabas found that their message had been rejected, they did not turn away from their work. It never entered their minds to do so. They did not compromise their message. It never occurred to them that they might be more successful if they were a bit less dogmatic in their doctrine. They simply did what they had always done - They went on preaching the gospel. They changed nothing, not their message, nor their method, nor their manners. The prophecy referred to in Acts 13:47 (Isaiah 49:6) refers to Christ himself, but Paul applies it to all who preach the gospel because all true gospel preachers are laborers together with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). In the Word of God those who preach the gospel are so closely connected to Christ in their work that they are called both lights and saviors (Matthew 5:14; Obadiah 1:21; 1 Timothy 4:16). God requires only one thing of his servants - Faithfulness. He does not require success. But he does require faithfulness. It is the responsibility of every child of God and every servant of God to faithfully serve the honor of God, the will of God, and the people of God as providence directs and the Holy Spirit leads (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:1-7). Let us ever be found faithful to the glory of God, the gospel of Christ, and the souls of men with the talents we have, in the place where God puts us. Fourthly, AS GOD’S PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST HE HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE (Acts 13:48-49). Some believe and some believe not, but God’s purpose is always accomplished. Though the Jews did exactly what they wanted to do, yet by their unbelief the gospel has been sent to chosen sinners throughout the world (Romans 11:22-23; Romans 11:32-36). Acts 13:48-49 demonstrate four gospel truths with striking clarity:
2. Unbelief is the cause of eternal damnation (Acts 13:46; John 3:36).2. Election is the cause of saving faith (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).3. All who obey the gospel in time were ordained to eternal life in eternity (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5).4. The preaching of the gospel always accomplishes God’s purpose and glorifies him (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). God will save his elect. He will glorify himself. He will honor his Word (1 Corinthians 15:58). Fifthly, BY THE OF THEIR GOD GIVES HIS AND JOY BEFORE HIM (Acts 13:50-52). When they were thrown out of Antioch for preaching the gospel Paul and Barnabas “shook off the dust of their feet” against their persecutors, being free from their blood (Luke 9:5; Ezekiel 33:8-9), and went on to proclaim God’s saving grace in another place. And they were “filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost”. They had faithfully discharged their responsibilities as God’s servants. Therefore, they rejoiced before him (2 Timothy 4:6-8).