Introduction
The
author Luke wants us to learn particular things. Right up front in Luke 1, he
wants us to have certainty concerning the things we have been taught.
We
reach the stage in our studies in the Book of Acts where the Gospel – the
Christian News – is about to go global. Acts 10 – 12, at first glance, appears
to be a diversion where Saul, who was to become the apostle Paul was converted
dramatically in Ac 9 on the road to Damascus. One might expect the author of
Acts to move straight from Saul’s conversion to the start of Acts 13 & the
first Missionary Journey.
These
3 chapters (Acts 10 – 12) provide a detailed description of:
·
The first Gentile convert
·
The first Gentile church
·
The second Christian martyr
However,
these 3 chapters are not a diversion, but rather sets out the genuine hallmarks
of true Christian Mission, at the very point that the Gospel is about to go
global. So that we have a barometer, a measure, a Gold standard to hold up against Christian Mission in order to see
what Christian Mission really looks like, before the Gospel goes global and to
the ends of the earth.
Gospel Mission (Acts
13:1-12)
It
is this first Gentile church in the city of Antioch, that the Christian Gospel
was first proclaimed to out & out pagans – non-Jews. Dr Luke has
deliberately singled out the work in Antioch to show us how the Gospel advances
across the Mediterranean & into Rome. It is a “spring board” church!
We
find the church grounded by a team of
Bible teachers & prophets in this great, global city (Acts 13:1).
But
this church is also a visionary church
(Acts 13:2).
This
is how God operates. This is what Luke wants us to see: ordinary Christians
from Jerusalem preached the Gospel in Antioch and God assembles &
establishes people in a church. He teaches. As that church is taught, so the
church develops a Gospel vision & the Gospel is driven forward. This church
sends 2 of its best men on Christian
Mission to advance the Gospel in the direction of Rome. All these are directed by God, he establishes the
church, he shapes the church & its vision, and he enables it – this
sacrificial, selfless act – all the way through.
Gospel Message (Acts
13:13-43)
Paul’s
sermon breaks into 2 parts. Part 1 runs from Acts 13:17-25 & Part 2 Acts
17:26-37 & the sermon concludes in Acts 13:38, 39.
It
is extraordinarily important to note that the sermon is rooted in fulfillment (Acts 13:23-25, 27, 29,
32-33).
The
major point is that God’s promised King
would rule over his people, freeing them to enjoy his blessings forever.
Part
2 of the sermon concludes with 3 direct quotes from the second half of the Old Testament
– the Psalms & the Prophets. The theme again of each of these quotes is Kingship. And the point is that the
Davidic King who was promised to reign, is to reign eternally. The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates that he is
this everlasting King.
The
Old Testament provides the interpretative
grid for Jesus which is seen in Acts 13. It enables us to make sense of
him. So the grid of this sermon is fulfillment & Luke who writes wants us
to know for certain and Jesus fits like a piece of puzzle & the final piece
makes sense of the whole thing.
The
preaching of Paul is centered on Jesus
Christ. We have the first sermon of Peter in Acts 2 & it’s all about
Jesus & here we have the first recorded sermon of Paul & it’s all about
Jesus - God’s universal ruler, your King & mine. We can be sure of it because
he has fulfilled the promises of history. God is defined for us in Jesus, the
Jesus of history.
Everyone
who believes in Jesus is justified from everything from which you could not be
justified or freed by the law of Moses. The law of Moses is glorious, but the
law of Moses expounds the holiness of God, tells us what’s God like. As you see
what’s God like, you begin to realize you just don’t measure up.
Furthermore,
God is just & he insists that justice is done, he has to deal rightly with
sin. And so the law of Moses traps us & is like a great weight on us –
because we know how wonderful God is: he’s pure, just, holy, good, true. He
hates all the things that we so often do & think. And we know that he is
just and that he must punish sin. But by this man Jesus has died on the cross
for sin, & risen from the grave triumphant – we can be justified, forgiven,
freed from all the things we cannot be justified, forgiven, freed through the
law of Moses - salvation.
The
Heart of the Christian Message, the
Christian offer, the Christian faith is summarized in Acts 13:38, 39.
Those
who scoff at God will certainly perish which is a word of judgment. (Acts
13:40,41).
Gospel Advance (Acts 13:
44 – 14:7)
As
the Gospel starts to spread out from Israel & to the ends of the earth,
Luke wants us to be certain of the content
of Christian preaching but also to see the way
in which this Gospel advances.
How
the Gospel advances:
- In the context of hostile opposition. The Jews were motivated by jealousy because of the vast crowd & they appear to use 3 methods to oppose Paul & Barnabas:
- Verbal abuse
- Political manipulation
- Physical force
Myth 1 You can’t have Gospel
advance without opposition. Jesus didn’t. The early church didn’t. We wouldn’t.
- Through the means of persistent
& vigorous proclamation. You can’t have Gospel advance without verbal
declaration of the Gospel. Myth 2
The idea that the Gospel can advance without somebody speaking it.
- Through the deepest possible persuasion or conviction. Myth 3 that you can have forgiveness of sins yourself without embracing the reality that this forgiveness of sins in Jesus is for everybody. The fulfillment of the Gospel means the Gospel must now be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Those who now come to Christ are part of his work of making Christ known – this light for the world (Acts 13:47).
Gospel Encounters (Acts
14:8 - 20)
Luke
wants us to get hold of is that as the Gospel advances, frequently it will do
so in the face of pagan superstition.
In
the full-fledged form of paganism, the world is made up of what appears to be random, unpredictable events. Men &
women, partly out of fear, partly
due to ignorance, wanting some sort
of order, some sort of meaning, some sort of control for their own benefit seek to manipulate
the gods to show favour, who
they understand to be very distant &
capricious. Therefore, the gods need to be kept happy by making several
different sacrifices.
Christians
also may secretly have a pagan view of God - capricious, not good, moody - good
one minute, bad the next – seeking to similarly manipulate him. Good news of
the Christian Gospel liberates us from pagan superstition.
What
Paul does is to proclaim to the crowd the application
of the Gospel. They already heard the Gospel (Acts 14:6-8). 3 simple points
that Paul makes:
- There is a living God: God incarnate & resurrection proof;
- The living God is all powerful Ac 14:15 resurrection demonstrated he’s above & beyond the law of nature he created;
- The all powerful living God is good Ac 14:16 He is good, kind, generous and not far away with you having to please him with your sacrifice to get him in a good mood.
Gospel Product (Acts 14:19
- 28)
The
result of Christian preaching is the establishing of Christian church as a
community of men & women gathered together, not buildings or institutions. These
are centers of light & truth proclaiming Gospel to those around.
The
center of Christian churches – the teaching of Jesus Christ.
The
word ‘plant’ is never used in relation to church. The seed of God’s Word is
planted and the church is built (by teaching, strengthening, visits, re-visits).
Paul
& Barnabas taught the believers
(giving them the means to instruct one another from the scriptures), they appointed elders (within their own
congregations, not from outside), they trusted
God (no meddling) (Acts 14:22,23). There was no centralizing manager seeking to
control, control, control.
Paul
was not interested in getting you to the starting line. Paul had his eye on the
finish – strengthened in the faith: secure, mature, solid Christian disciples.
