Bible Characters                                                                                                          Power Point Show

 

Scripture Reading:  Acts 14:21-28

 

Part 4

First Preaching Journey of Paul

(God opens a door of faith to the Gentiles)

 

Intro.

1.  Progress of the gospel is continuing in Antioch (Acts 12:25-13:2).

2.  Christ had told Saul He would send him to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21), & this work continues on the journey he is about to take.

 

I.  AT ANTIOCH:  SEPARATION OF BARNABAS & SAUL TO A WORK – Acts 13:1-4.

  A.  Teaching the Gospel:  Serving the Lord – Acts 13:1-2.

    1.  Ministered:  Serving daily needs of the brethren (1 Cor. 3:5).

    2.  Fasted:  Abstinence from food; Exclusive dedication to God’s will & work; concentrated effort on spiritual things.

      a.  Times of mourning over sin (Acts 9:9, 11); intense devotion to the Lord’s work (14:23); extreme sorrow (Lk. 5:35).

      b.  Fasting was never an end in itself (Matt. 6:16-18).

  B.  Barnabas & Saul Called by Holy Spirit to a Work – 13:2-4.

    1.  How?  (a prophet, cf. 12:28);  The work?  Take the gospel to new areas of the world – cf. Acts 14:27.

    2.  Sent by the church by the authority (approval) of the Holy Spirit – 13:3-4.

    3.  Commended to the grace of God – 14:26:  Delivered to God’s care.

 

II. THEIR PREACHING JOURNEY:

  A.  The Route (chart).  “Paul” (13:7) now named 1st (13:2; 14:43).       

    1.  Paul takes the lead (chief speaker, Acts 14:12).

    2.  John Mark was their assistant (13:5); departed (13:13; 15:38).

  B.  The Timeframe & Length:  Cannot know precisely (~AD 45-49).

 

III.  THE POWER OF GOD ON DISPLAY:  THEY PREACHED THE WORD OF GOD – Acts 13:5 (Rom. 1:16 – Jews 1st, also to Gentiles).

  A.  The Power of God to Reveal & Confirm His Word (Acts 15:12).

    1.  Synonyms (Acts 13:5-12):  Preached the word of God; the faith; the straight ways of the Lord; the teaching of the Lord.

    2.  Called on people to “listen” (13:16):  13:26, 38-39, 48.

    3.  Displayed the genuine & exposed the counterfeit:

      a.  Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12):  Elymas & Sergius Paulus.

      b.  Iconium (14:3) & Lystra (14:8-18).

  B.  The Power of God’s Word (“the word of this salvation,” 13:26):

    1.  To save (Rom. 1:16)…

      a.  Cyprus:  Sergius Paulus “believed” – 13:12.

      b.  Antioch:  Convinced, convicted & saved – (In synagogue, 13:14-15; 42-43); to a multitude, 13:44-49).

      c.  Iconium:  Great multitude believed – 14:1.

      d.  Lystra:  Disciples were made there – 14:20.

      e.  Derbe:  Made many disciples – 14:21.

    2.  To evoke opposition (13:45, 50; Lk. 12:49).

            -Increasingly organized – 13:45, 50; 14:2, 4-5, 19.

    3.  To produce joy & gladness – 13:46-48, 52.

    4.  To spread – 12:49.

    5.  To edify the saints – 14:21-22.

  C.  The Power of Faith (13:5; Rom. 10:17).

    1.  Faith to go to the work – 13:4-5.

    2.  Faith to boldly oppose error & confront opposition.

      a.  Elymas on Cyprus.

      b.  Unbelieving Jews at Antioch.

      c.  Divided city at Iconium:  14:2-3 (cf. 1 Cor. 16:9).

    3.  Faith to endure persecution – Acts 14:22.

      a.  The prominent people (Antioch) – 13:51.

      b.  Violence toward them (Iconium) – 14:5-7.

      c.  Stoning / threat of death (Lystra) – 14:19-21.

    4.  Faith in their brethren to continue work of God – 14:23.

 

IV.  THEIR WORK COMPLETED – 14:26-28.

  A.  They Had Been Kept in God’s Grace – 14:26.

  B.  Reported All God had done with them – Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 3:6.

 

Conclusion 

1.  The work of gospel evangelism is vital in this day to:

  a.  Save souls in Christ (Rom. 10:13-17).

  b.  Distinguish the truth from counterfeit faiths (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2).

  c.  Strengthen the souls of the disciples with exhortation (14:22).

2.  God calls you to salvation & to the work of the gospel:  Will you respond?  (2 Ths. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 4:2)