“Acts 13: The First Journey Begins”

Friday, January 13, 2017

God’s plan is for the gospel to be taken “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The church in Antioch of Syria is going to be the launching pad for this worldwide evangelization of all the nations.

The church at Antioch is spiritually strong. They have five primary Bible teachers – Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul. Of this group, the Holy Spirit chooses Barnabas and Saul to lead God’s assault on the gates of hell. After the church has fasted, prayed and laid hands on them, they are sent on their way, taking John Mark with them.

They first go to Seleucia, then to the island of Cyprus, where they visit Salamis and then Paphos. Beginning in verse 9, Saul will be called Paul.

As they leave Paphos, they sail to Perga in Pamphylia. It is here that John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem. We are not told why, but we do find out later that it displeased Paul (see Acts 15:38).

Next Barnabas and Paul come to Antioch in Pisidia and go into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day. They were not “keeping the Sabbath” as they had under the Mosaic Law, but they went where the people were, when they were there, to have opportunity to teach them the gospel. Given a chance to speak publicly, Paul reviews much Old Testament history with them. Notice how this breaks down.

                *13:17 – Genesis and Exodus

                *13:18 – Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

                *13:19 – Joshua

                *13:20 – Judges and Ruth

                *13:21-22 – 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles

In six verses of the text, Paul covers the first fourteen books of the Old Testament. He then begins to tell them about Jesus who was the fulfillment of these and other Old Testament passages (verses 23-41).

A week later (verses 44ff), he continues teaching them, both Jews and Gentiles, about the Christ. The Jews become jealous and expel them from the region. Their next stop will be Iconium.

--Roger Hillis

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