Church Planting

Church Planting In Thessalonica

Book of Acts Chapter 17

Last week when we left the apostle Paul there had been a great salvation in the house of the jailer. Paul had caused problems with the local government when he had informed them that he also was a Roman citizen who had been treated improperly.

But they had still requested that he leave the city of Philippi but before leaving Paul stopped by the house of Lydia to comfort the church that was beginning in her house.

And, the Holy Spirit continued to open doors in what we now call Europe.

We should always be aware that when we are following the Lord there will be problems along the way.

Listen to these words of Jesus:

Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

It had not been easy being beaten and mistreated by the government of Philippi but there had been a great salvation and many lost souls receive the gift of God, which is eternal life with Him in Heaven.

The lessons we learn today can be best realized if we study the parable of the sower in Matthew chapter 13.

God told Jeremiah that men must break up the fallow ground and not plant in the thorns in order to reap a harvest. This also holds true when planting the seed of the "gospel"!

"It is the condition of the soil" that determines the bounty of the harvest!

There may be many sowers but they all should plant the same message which is, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Show map of Paul's second journey.

Let's begin:

*****Act 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

Act 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

This chapter will describe Paul's ministry in three cities and how some of those people responded to the Word of God.

As we study the missionary trips of the Apostle Paul we should have a better understanding of how to support the missions of today's church.

It was 100 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica and Thessalonica was the capitol city of Macedonia.

As we study the Apostle Paul we learned that he was one of the most effective witnesses for the Lord who's ever lived. So we can and should learn from his manner of witnessing.

It was typical for Paul to reason with the lost out of the Scriptures.

This is more than just reading or quoting particular verses in the Bible!

In the days of Nehemiah we find this Scripture:

Neh 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, [and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading].

The apostle Paul used a similar method to reach the lost of Europe and Paul later wrote to us some of the methods he used:

To the Colossians:

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

To witness "with grace" would be to use words that "attracted" rather than "repel" a person.

And to be seasoned with salt would be making the Word of God pleasant to the taste and also not to corrupt God's Word.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

To be a good witness we have to study God's Word. We also have to rightly divide the truth of the Gospel.

This would be to treat it honestly and in a straightforward manner!

As disciples we should teach no other doctrine so there would be no confusion.

We should leave that to Bible scholars so that it no way "we would corrupt" the Word of God.

To a sower of seed this would be like plowing a straight furrow and placing the seed at the required interval!

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

If we have not sanctified the Lord within our own hearts, we will never be a good witness. And if we have not studied the Word of God then we will never be ready to give an answer to every man that may ask.

We may not have to know the answer to every question but we should know where the answers are located!

We should also notice that Paul reasoned with these people on at least three separate occasions, so we should not expect good results every time we witness and most times there will not be any results!

We must remember what God says:

1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; "but God that giveth the increase".



We can only be the sower of the seed!

We can only be the fisherman who cast the line and hook or the net!

*****Act 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

When the Apostle Paul went into the synagogues we must remember he did not have to convince these people of the Scriptures.

Most all of them already believed the Old Testament Scriptures!

The apostle Paul had to take those same Scriptures and preached Jesus!

These Jews already believed in "Creation" as it was written in the book of Genesis.

Sadly not many today accept Creation as it is written in the Bible!

So the apostle Paul had to preach Jesus as the promised Messiah, which means He was the Christ child they had been looking for to come!

Whenever possible this is the message we need to give to those lost world!

But in many cases today we will also have to present "Creation" as the truth of the Bible, which it is!

And we must do this as we present the "Gospel" in many cases, just as Paul.

If our belief is not based on "Creation" as the entire truth as it is written in the Book of Genesis then we will fail to be a good witness!

And if our belief is not based on Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah then we will also fail to be a good witness!

We notice as we study the Apostle Paul that he used both methods depending on those he was witnessing to.

*****Act 17:4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

We find that some of the Jews believed.

Many of the Greek proselyte also believed.

And there was a great multitude of the devout women of the city who were openly friendly to the Word of God.

These could include women who were proselyte of Judaism, and Gentiles, and Jewish wives of Gentiles and Gentile wives of practicing Jews.

*****Act 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

Again we see that the success of Paul of leading many to the Lord Jesus Christ, stirred up trouble in the Jewish community.

These Jews did not like what they heard from Paul and they brought in a gang of roughnecks to create a commotion against him.

They also stirred up the whole city against these missionaries.

But once this crowd was gathered that were unable to find the apostle Paul so they assaulted the house of Jason. It is the house of Jason where they had been staying during this time.

*****Act 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Act 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

They brought Jason out onto the ruling government of the city. But they made their charges against Paul and Silas accusing them of "turning the world upside down".

Jesus Christ came into this world to turn it upside down!

It's a shame when a small group of people can stir up the government who is supposed to be for all people.

We find that today in America as a small group of gays, a small group of atheists, try to spread their influence over the entire population of America.

Christians are commanded by God to witness but it is God Himself that has control of the results!

These enemies of the Lord, also said that Paul and Silas were proclaiming Jesus to be a rival king to Claudius Caesar, which was also a lie.

Jesus will one day rule as King on this entire earth.

This is prophesied but not during the "Church Age"!

*****Act 17:8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

Act 17:9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

At least in this case the government took control of this mob and dispersed it and secured Jason and those with him to safety.

It was "the riot itself" that would bring the powers of Rome into the city, not one man housing a few missionaries.

So they released Jason and those with him.

*****Act 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

It is very probable that Paul and Silas were in real danger in Thessalonica.

They escaped in the darkness of night, but we know that persecution continued to those that believed the "Gospel".

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

1Th 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: [for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews]:

Paul went to Berea which is about 50 miles from Thessalonica.

*****Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

In Berea the people listened to the Preaching of the "Gospel" with an open mind!

They did not criticize the Word of God but instead searched the scriptures themselves to verify what Paul was preaching.

In fact they met daily to seek the truth of the of the Bible!

This is what we call Bible study and we all need to be involved in Bible study!

We are taught the truth here at Gethsemane but in our own best interest we cannot rely on the preaching to be our only source.

We must study ourselves, seeking the truth of the "Gospel"!

There are still those that preach a false message!

*****Act 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

"Therefore" the results were that many of the Bereans believed and were saved!

Jewish women mainly had household duties and had little say in the synagogues but we find that these Greek women had a place outside the home in society and held a high rank.

Many of these men and women came from what we would call the upper class in Berea.

And there were a great many that believed, so things were going good in Berea.

We must never forget that "we present the most powerful life-changing force in the world" when we preach the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

*****Act 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

All was going well again until Satan brought his followers to hinder the spread of the "Gospel".

These are wicked men who had no allegiance to any law but their own!

Societies of this world are filled with these sort of evil men, even in America and even more so.

Remember what God says:

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The Bible teaches us that Satan has his own missionaries:

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

These are just more signs that Jesus is coming to get His Bride very soon!

*****Act 17:14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

It is easy to see that the apostle Paul was the target of these evil men.

But the Church outwitted the enemy and took Paul and put him on a ship bound for Athens.

And Silas and Timothy stayed to help grow the church.

*****Act 17:15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

It was only after Paul had arrived safely in Athens that word was sent to Silas and Timothy to join him there.

Athens was the most celebrated city of Greece!

Athens was the central place of Greek literature and art, and philosophy!

But Athens was also the seat of false worship for the entire Greek nation!

"There was a saying in Rome at that time, "that it was easier to find a god in Athens than it was to find a real man".

The apostle Paul noticed all these things as he waited for the rest of his group to join him.

*****Act 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Athens may have been the cultural center of the world but we should always realize and see that culture does not bring wisdom.

The name Athens comes from the Greek goddess Athena who was worshipped as the goddess of wisdom.

But the Bible says:

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

There is no goddess of wisdom though there still those that think so!

The Apostle Paul was not led to Athens to see these wondrous sights and to be a tourist.

Paul was sent by the Holy Spirit to seek the "souls of the lost"!

The real religion of Athens was the worship of art and amusement!

Athens was a city that had no morals!

Even the Jews had got caught up in the idolatry of this city and none opposed the Apostle Paul as they had in the other cities.

*****Act 17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Therefore the Apostle Paul preached throughout the city.

That word "disputed" would mean that Paul reasoned with these people and had discussions with them about the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

The Apostle Paul found a great mixture of people here in Athens.

He found Jews who were not worshipping as they should.

He found devout persons which were probably proselytes who were trying to worship in the Jewish way.

And he found those at the marketplace who were caught up in the immoral practices and the idolatry of the city of Athens.

The marketplace was not only a place were provisions were sold, but it was also a great place for philosophers to gather and engage the public in discussion!

*****Act 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

The definition of philosophy is: "the love of human wisdom"!

I believe it can be said that humans have no wisdom until they know God!

Most of the world would dispute this saying but the Bible says:

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

And also:

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Are there smart people in the world, sure.

But being smart and having an education does not by itself make us wise!

Wisdom is taking the knowledge that we have, and the understanding what we have, and making sound judgments while avoiding evils but at the same time attempting good things!

God says:

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

God says the wisdom of this world is foolishness!

Like all philosophers of that day the Epicureans and the Stoicks had an evolutionary worldview!

The Epicureans were essentially atheists, like the modern Darwinist!

The Stoics were pantheist much like the New Age evolutionist movement of our day!

Both of these groups believed in an infinitely old universe and both rejected the concept of an Omnipotent Creator.

They used astrology, and spiritualism that are associated with many gods and goddesses, who they identified as persons controlling nature, and the natural systems of this Earth.

They would strongly oppose "biblical creationist" and therefore Christianity!

Jesus would never be considered by them as the only true God!

*****Act 17:19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

Act 17:20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

Act 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Having never heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, it was still some new thing to them and they wanted to hear this "new age" concept that was unknown to them.

This world is always trying to find some "New Age" philosophy to rule in their lives but God teaches us with these words:

Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the "old paths", where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

And just as these in the Book of Jeremiah, the Old Path was rejected for the New Age movement which brought failure to the nation of Israel.

*****Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

Mars Hill is the same as Areopagus.

This hill which was near the Acropolis was used as a gathering place to evaluate your religious views or some new immoral philosophies.

"Ares" was the Greek God of war, corresponding to "Mars" who was the Roman God of war.

These "Athenians" worshipped the great number of gods and goddesses.

So what was religious to the Greeks was actually superstitious to the apostle Paul!

It is a sad note that these people attributed the forces of nature to some imaginary god!

This is why the Bible teaches us that the education of man is foolishness in the eyes of God!

It is only when we understand and accept "Creation" as explained in the Book of Genesis, that we can actually understand the forces of nature in this world we live in.

*****Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

There are too many reports that are known that say, "there was actually an altar to an unknown God in first century Greece!

But it has also been shown that "many polytheistic cultures do retain a dim remembrance of a high God", who was much greater and much more powerful than those they worship that day!

They just refuse and reject this truth!

Let's remember what Jesus told that Samaritan woman at the well:

Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

There was a desire for these Greeks to seek out a God, that they knew nothing about and who was the true God.

Jesus brought that knowledge of God to the Samaritan woman.

The Apostle Peter brought that knowledge of God to Cornelius who was a Roman.

The Apostle Paul was now bringing that knowledge of the true God to those in Greece.

And many a missionary are sent to bring the knowledge of God to the uttermost parts of this Earth even today!

That is what a Christian is to do, to bring the knowledge of the Triune God to the world.

It is this God who then must bring conviction and results!

*****Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Paul said this is the God that I bring to you today, the Creator of all the Earth!

Paul said, the city of Athens may be filled with many beautiful temples, many monuments, and many images, but the true God is the Lord of Heaven and Earth and He will not ever dwell in anything made by the hands of man.

Skip to verse 28:

*****Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

The Apostle Paul said, it is the God of Creation that sustains the life of every person.

The same God of Creation even sustains those who do not believe that He exists.

But He is certainly not very far from each and every one of us!

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

*****Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

The Apostle Paul says that since we are all the offspring of God, then we cannot believe that our Creator can be man-made.

The God of Heaven and Earth has revealed Himself as, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

This is to Tri-Une God!

And He can never be represented by any image or any model which man can make either with his hands, or in his mind.

God has given us His model "of the Godhead" in His Creation!

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

And God says there is no excuse for not seeing these things!

*****Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Act 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

God has revealed Himself not only in His creation but also in the Virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the death of, the burial of, and the resurrection of Jesus.

It is this God who created all men who can then be the "only" Judge of His own creation!

Paul points out that the founders and the leaders of all the religions and all other philosophies eventually die BUT the Lord Jesus Christ is alive today!

His tomb is empty!

He has a resurrected body!

And He has ascended back to the Father in Heaven!

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is a fact!

It was witnessed by more than 500 people at one time!

And there are many in fallible proofs!

And just as most of the world does today, these people mocked at the truth!

There are many today that believe in the Creator, but they reject that He is also the Redeemer!

*****Act 17:33 So Paul departed from among them.

Act 17:34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

God does not send us out to dispute with those that we witness to in this the world!

Our job is to teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and in doing this we sometimes have to teach Creation just as it is written in the Book of Genesis.

But no matter which way we start, we must always to go to the Cross.

And there will always be some who believe!

These that believe are the only reason that God has not returned to take us home!

When is the Lord going to return to take us home?

As soon as that last soul that God already knows about is saved!

Questions?

Let's pray!

Church Planting In Philppi

Church Planting In Philippi

Book of Acts Chapter 16

Last week we saw that the "Gospel Message was clarified for the Gentiles and the Jews. Nothing was to be added too or taken away from the truth that is in Christ Jesus.

Today we will look into what is known as the Apostle Paul's second missionary journey. Let's begin by looking at a map.

The purpose of this journey was to deliver the letter from the apostles and the elders of Jerusalem.

When we left off last week Paul and Barnabas and others had returned from Jerusalem to the church at Antioch in Syria and delivered the letter from James and the Apostles and elders of Jerusalem.

These things that were decided did not have anything to do with being saved and they were not part of the original false teaching of those certain Jews.

These were just things that would allow the Fellowship between the Jew and Gentile to improve.

Our lesson is, that our liberty, by the grace of God should never become a stumbling block to others who are weaker in their faith.

Before this journey began there was a great dissension between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark.

Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along but Paul did not. In fact the contention was so sharp that they decided to split up. Barnabas took John Mark and Paul chose Silas who had come from
Jerusalem and decided to stay.

We should realize that John Mark was cousin to Barnabas so they did have family ties. Barnabas was ready to give John Mark another opportunity to prove himself because John Mark had deserted them on the first trip.

The apostle Paul took the stand that the ministry was too important and the word was too demanding to take someone who might prove unreliable.

Obviously we know later that Mark, who wrote the book of Mark, did prove himself worthy to serve the Lord, in the eyes of Paul.

From Antioch Paul traveled first to Derbe and then over to Lystra. Here the apostle Paul found a young man we will later know as Timothy.

Paul knew his mother and his grandmother and he had turned this young man to the Lord on his first trip.

Paul's team now consists of at least himself, Silas, and Timothy.

According to Mosaic Law, Eunice, the mother of Timothy was not permitted to marry a Gentile. When she did her children were not considered legitimate Jews.

 Paul later circumcised Timothy, according to Luke because of the Jews in the area and to point out that Timothy was a Jew because of his mother.

Remember the promised seed was to come through Sarah the wife of Abraham and not Hagar.

We will see that whenever doctrinal issues were "not" at state, Paul was willing to be flexible to encourage the spread of the gospel.

1Co 9:19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. (Vs 19-23)

And before these missionaries moved into Galatia and other areas we know that the church was strengthened by these letters from Jerusalem.

So let's begin with our lesson today:

*****Act 16:6  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Act 16:7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

What we should notice is that it is God who was in charge of missionary journeys. After visiting all the churches that had been founded, Paul tried to enter a new territory but the Lord closed that door.

We should notice that it was never the apostles that decided the direction of the gospel. It was God Himself that showed the direction the gospel should take.

God chose at this time for Paul to introduce the gospel to Europe and not to Asia.

*****Act 16:8  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

We can believe that the apostle Paul did not know exactly what to do with his time. Troas was city on the coast of Mysia, in Asia Minor and Troas was named after the ancient city of Troy.

Paul later explained to the Corinthians that this is where the door to Europe was open to him.

2Co 2:12  Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

AND Paul had another vision.

*****Act 16:9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

Macedonia is across the Aegean Sea, over in Europe. The apostle Paul is in Asia. The gospel is going to cross from Asia into Europe.
(Again look at the map.)

Macedonia was the Roman name for Northern Greece and the apostle Paul was quick to respond to this vision.

*****Act 16:10  And after he had seen the vision, immediately "we" endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Since this is the first use of the word "we" instead of the word "they" this seems to dictate that Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, has now joined this group of missionaries.

One of the main things we should see is that the apostle Paul was already active preaching and teaching the gospel in Asia. Paul was not waiting at home for the Lord to give him direction. The
Holy Spirit in some very clear way closed two doors, but then opened another.

It is very possible that if the Apostle Paul had not been obedient to the Lord and directed to Philippi and Greece, at this time that he might never have gone to Europe and Christianity might have remained an Asian religion.

This is why we must follow God's Plan!

As Paul sailed the Aegean Sea, he first set foot in Europe and the town of Neapolis. This was the seaport of the city of Philippi which was the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

A Roman colony would be governed by their own senate and their own magistrates and not come under the rule of the local foreign government.

It is said that Macedonia was a place where Roman war veterans could retire and live under Roman law with freedom from taxes.

And it was Philippi that was the chief city in this part of Macedonia but it was Thessalonica where the capitol of Macedonia was located.

*****Act 16:13  And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

We can see that it had taken a few days maybe to rest or to seek out a synagogue of the Jew, but none was found. But what this group with Paul had found was that there was a group that met for prayer outside the city near the river. This would probably been the Gangites River.

If there had been at least ten men active in Judaism, then normally a synagogue would be built for worship.

The Greek word for "Prayer", [Pros-yoo-khay] "proseuche" means that this place was set apart specifically to offer prayer to the Lord.

If the men were meeting in this location it was not mentioned by Luke, but the women were there and that's where Paul began to witness.

That word "spake" meant that Paul began with an informal conversation.
We will see that the results of this informal conversation was the establishment of first church in Europe.

*****Act 16:14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, [heard us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Act 16:15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Thyatira was the home city of Lydia that was located between Sardis and Pergamos. This area is well known for it's red and purple dye but is known most of all for it's labor unions.

It is probable that Lydia was not a Jew but probably a Jewish proselyte. Lydia, which is also the name of her country, listened to what Paul had to say and she and her entire household became the first Christians in the city of Philippi.

Notice in the words "heard us", it is obvious that the Lord opened Lydia's heart but she first heard the "Gospel" because that was the way of the Apostle Paul.

Paul later wrote to the Church of Thessalonica these words:

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because [God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth]:
2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Even before the foundation of the world God also chose the Gentiles to be a part of His Saving "Grace".

Our lesson again skips some verses where Satan again tried to hinder the Word of God. If we read them we will see some important things.

We will notice every one of Satan's workers know exactly who is the true God. And we know that there are always those that make a living off of the work of Satan.

It was only after losing their income that they complained to the local government. The people of this area worshipped Apollo who was the Greek and Roman Sun god among many other things.

Notice again a government took a stand against the Word of God. Paul and Silas were not accused of violating Judaism but they were accused of violating "the government approved" religion of Rome and Greece.

We do not need government approval for Christianity. Christianity is approved by a much higher authority!

*****Act 16:23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Notice the law of the land did not search for the truth and treated these missionaries as they were already proven guilty. Sounds like America!

In Jewish law, a man could only be given 39 stripes. Now we know that a whip called "a cat of nine tails" was invented to increase this punishment.

But Roman law did not  have a set number stripes. Stripes were not counted by just the number of lashes. Stripes were counted by the number of lashes that left a wound.

The magistrates determined how many stripes were enough and our verse says that there were many stripes.

Paul later tells the Corinthians that "in stripes above measure" which means he lost count of how many times he was beaten. The Roman custom was to make the body bare and beat it with rods then cast in prison without medical attention.

To keep them safely meant to block any and all means of escape!

*****Act 16:24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

That inner prison would be like a cell of solitude. It would be dark and damp. Those stocks were large pieces of wood that would clamp the legs down far enough apart to cause pain.

*****Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
And after all this Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to the Lord.

They were pouring out their hearts to God.
Paul and Silas were bound, placed in a position of pain where they could not move their tortured bodies but they still had the peace of God because they also had peace with God.

And the other prisoners who had heard these things that went on, then heard the praying and the praises. Notice Paul and Silas never complained nor did they ask God to judge their enemies.

God listened and God heard!

*****Act 16:26  "And suddenly" there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

God said enough is enough. God had a plan for the Apostle Paul and that work was just getting started and it was not completed.

We could say that there is nothing strange about an earthquake.

But we would have to admit that there was something strange about an earthquake at this precise time, where Christian missionaries were imprisoned, where there had been a Christian "pray and praise meeting" going on, and all the cell doors opened and all bonds were broken.

Psa 42:8  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, [and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life].

While this praising was going on "at midnight" an earthquake shook this jail.

The foundations of this jail shifted.

The jail cell doors were opened.

And "everyone's" bands were loosed!

*****Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Roman custom would hold this jailer accountable for any prisoner that escaped and we can see how serious this was by the fact that this jailer was more willing to take his own life than face that judgment. Paul's quick response saved this man's life.

*****Act 16:29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Act 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

No doubt this jailer had also heard the songs of praise and he already knew all the punishment these two men had been through. He also knew why they had been imprisoned.

This city of Philippi was committed to Pantheism. A religion that opposed Judaism and certainly Christianity.
God provided just the perfect miracle to provide a breakthrough for the "Gospel".

This jailer recognized this miracle immediately! He knew this was a supernatural happening!

He realized he was lost and in need of such a Savior as who could do these things and who had such a power as this he had witnessed.

We all have to know the answer to this question before we die!

*****Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

There is never a change in the way for anyone to be saved. It is always the same. That word "Believe" means "to have faith"!

The Bible teaches us:

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

And this way:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This is the way for this jailer and the same way for his entire household.

*****Act 16:32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Paul and Silas then led these to the Lord.

*****Act 16:33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

We see that good works and baptism follow salvation.

*****Act 16:34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Now it was time to rejoice in their new life.

We know the remaining verses of this chapter teach us that Paul refused to leave this prison until those magistrates, recognized and apologized for his treatment because he was also a Roman citizen, who had not gotten a proper trial.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Clarifying The Message

Clarifying The Message

Book of Acts Chapter 15

We will see today that Satan had so far not been able to stop the spread of the "Gospel". Just as God uses people to spread the "Gospel", Satan will use everything in his means including people to hinder the spread of the "Gospel"!

AND, there will always be those who stand in front of open doors just to block the way of others from coming to the Lord!

We must remember what Jesus told to the Philadelphian church:

Rev 3:8 says "behold, I have set before thee an [open door] that no man can shut"

We cannot ever allow those false brethren, who are amongst us, to stand in front of that door!

God has already given us all this command:

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We do not need any other command to make us move in obedience of this command to witness.

If this means we must go without the support of our local church then we must still go!

We also have this warning to the church:

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, [and not after Christ].

God has given us the only the means of salvation.

We must beware of anyone adding to or subtracting from, God's plan of salvation!

This is the main thing we must insist on!

The Bible says:

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

All other matters must be left it the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

And, the Holy Spirit will always lead us to Jesus.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send [in my name], he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, [whatsoever I have said unto you].

So let's begin:

*****Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

The question we need to answer within ourselves is whether Christianity is merely an extension of Judaism or a New Dispensation that has taken its place.

We do not have to guess!

Jesus had these words to answer this question for us:

Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the [new testament in my blood], which is shed for you.

So who were these certain men?

The Bible teaches us:

Gal 2:4 And that because of "false brethren unawares" [brought in], "who came in privily to spy" out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, "that they might bring us into bondage":

These were Christians in name only!

These men were not brought in from any of the established church!

They were brought in to the Christian brotherhood to which they did not rightfully belong!

These were really some evil Jews, Satan's messengers, trying to hinder the spread of the "Gospel"!

*****Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

These men were called "Judaizers" who became a real problem to the early church!

This is a form of legalism, and legalism is still prevalent today in many places of worship!

The Bible is specific:

Eph 2:8 [For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God]:

Eph 2:9 "Not of works", lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The church of Antioch of Syria, which was a mission minded church, this church decided that it would be best for a council of the apostles and the elders of the church in Jerusalem to provide the guidelines. Remember the New Testament had not been written at this time.

We now have the completed Word of God and it is the Word of God that has replaced any need for apostles, and any need for further councils. The Bible is our counsellor!

But remember the New Testament that we have is the same as the doctrine of Jesus that He gave to the apostles!

Eph 2:20 [And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone];

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

*****Act 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Notice "it was the church that wanted answers" and it was the church at Antioch that decided it would be best to send Paul and Barnabas and "certain others that believed as Paul".

The Apostle Paul knew the old Mosaic system better than most other men and who better to seek the answers to these questions!

We can determine that the early church certainly wanted to go in the direction set forth by Christ Jesus.

They did not want to make up their own rules or their own doctrine!

AND, Old Testament tradition has no place in the New Testament Church!

The Apostle Peter wrote:

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 "But with the precious blood of Christ", as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Pe 1:21 Who "by him" do believe in God, that raised "him" up from the dead, and gave "him" glory; that your faith and hope might be "in God".

Just what is the "Gospel" the "Good News"?

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you [first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins] according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that [he was buried], and that [he rose again the third day according to the scriptures]:

If Jesus Christ did not do these things then there can be no salvation for anyone!

Paul did not miss this opportunity to tell the Phoenicians and the Samaritans, that even the Gentiles could be converted and this brought great joy unto all the "true brethren" that heard this "good news".

You see the "Gospel" would not be believable if it did not include "whosoever" will believe!

*****Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, "they were received of the church", and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

This group of believers from Antioch were first received by the believers of the Church at Jerusalem.

We must always welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ no matter where they come from.

Only then was there a meeting with the Apostles and the elders of the Church.

BUT, before any questions were asked, a report of how the "Gospel" was spreading was first made.

Paul told them of the wonderful things that had happened in Galatia.

In Galatia "they did not know anything about Mosaic Law", they just believed in the work of Jesus Christ!

You see God must first get the glory!

It was not what Paul had done.

It was not what Barnabas had done.

And it was not what the sending church of Antioch had done.

IT WAS WHAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM ALL!

It takes the entire Body of Christ to spread the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, "are one body in Christ", and every one members one of another.

And then Paul explained it had nothing to do with Judaism or the Laws of Moses.

All true believers understand this!

*****Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Why is there always "a certain group" of people that have to have things their way?

Any believer that has been converted to the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ "must" release themselves to Him!

Some of these were men who felt that Christianity was just an extension of Judaism and they were severely wrong!

Christianity is not the extension of Judaism, Christianity is the fulfillment of the Word of God.

These were people who wanted to add something to the "Gospel".

But the only way to approach the Lord Jesus is by "Faith"!

In John 14:6, Jesus says, He is the only way to Heaven and we must believe Him!

God only has one question for all of us:

God ask, "What are you going to do with my Son Jesus"?

We must answer this question before we die a physical death!

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

*****Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

The answers could not come from the public or from that certain group of men, who wanted things their way.

The answers had to come from the Apostles of Jesus and the church elders and the Body of Christ.

This was an important issue that had to be resolved or the early church would fail.

God had already said that this was impossible!

*****Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago "God made choice among us", that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

We now see the rest of the lesson that the Apostle Peter had learned from his time spent with Simon the tanner and Cornelius and his vision.

Let's look at how God had used Peter already:

1.) God had chosen Peter to present the "Gospel" to the Gentiles, ["Note" Cornelius and his family and some others].

Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

2.) Jesus had given Peter the keys to the Kingdom to build the Church on the "Rock of Jesus":

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

3.) Peter had opened the door of "faith" to the Jews:

Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

4.) Peter had opened the door of "Faith" to the Samaritans:

Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Peter had made it very clear that all these had been saved by the hearing and believing of the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

AND, None of these things had anything to do with the Mosaic Laws or any other man-made laws!

*****Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

God had made it very clear "by sending the Holy Spirit" to the Gentiles just as He had done on the day of Pentecost to the Jews.

God was truly no respecter of persons!

The message was to "whosoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ"!

The message was not to "whosoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and obey the Laws of Moses" or any other man-made laws!

*****Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

It is by "faith" that the heart is purified!

Not by works!

Not by ceremonies!

Not by traditions!

You see we are all sinners and saved only by the "Grace" of God!

1Co 6:11 And "such were some of you": [but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God].

There is no other means of salvation!

Salvation has been about "faith" from the time of Adam!

Salvation has never been about any law!

Rom 4:16 Therefore "it is of faith", that "it might be by grace"; [to the end the promise might be sure] to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

*****Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of "the disciples", which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Why do people, even in our day tempt God, by trying to add works to His plan of salvation and just as bad, why are there those that tempt God by taking away the blood, or the virgin birth or the bodily resurrection or the truth of the cross or anything else from the Lord Jesus Christ?

It was a fact that not one Jew, but Jesus, was ever able to keep all the Laws of Moses!

We see that the Apostle Peter stood boldly with the Apostle Paul and Barnabas!

How can this world associate Peter with any of the false doctrine of Rome and read these scriptures?

*****Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [we shall be saved, even as they].

Notice that Peter says the Jew will be saved just like the Gentiles are saved!

Peter does not say the Gentiles will be saved just as the Jews!

The Gentile never had the Law and are saved by "faith" in The Lord Jesus Christ which brings the "Grace" of God!

The Jew will also be saved just as though they never had the Laws of Moses, "by faith" which then brings "Grace"!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is the gift of God]:

It is a "GIFT" that cannot be bought by any means!

Skip to verse 14 to the words of Paul:

*****Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, "to take out of them" a people for his name.

We see that this verse makes no mention of circumcision.

This verse also indicates that the saving of Gentiles was part of God's plan from the beginning, in fact before the beginning!

We know that "whosoever" believes will be saved BUT this verse indicates that only a portion of Gentiles will be believers, taken out of a large group of Gentiles, not all.

It is not that God would not save them all, but that most Gentiles will still reject the truth of the "Gospel".

Jesus had said:

Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, [until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled].

The time fulfilled would be the end of what we call the "Church Age".

Again Paul explained it like this to the Jewish believers:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in".

The Apostle Peter added:

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1Pe 2:10 Which in time past [were not a people], "but are now the people of God": which had not obtained mercy, "but now have obtained mercy".

The time of the Gentiles is slowly coming to an end! AND "after this", God says:

*****Act 15:16 "After this" [I will return], and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

This the prophesy of Amos 9:11-12.

In other words after the time of the Gentiles, the Church Age is over, The literal kingdom of Israel, "on this Earth", will indeed be restored under the Messiah, at the second coming of the Lord to this Earth.

The Church composed of Jews and Gentiles will already be "Raptured" out of this Earth when Jesus comes in the clouds as a thief.

*****Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

These are things that the rest of the world will take notice of after the "Rapture" of the Church.

Today, God is calling out a people, which is the Body of Christ.

After the Rapture of the Body of Christ there will be a great many turning to the Lord during the terrible time of the tribulation period:

*****Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

God had revealed all these truths gradually to the world through His prophets, BUT now we have the entire Word of God which explains these things to us all.

BUT, this has been God's Plan from the beginning of Genesis 1:1.

*****Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

James, the half-brother of The Lord says, that since it is evident that this was God's plan from the beginning, "it would be foolish of them" now to hinder God's plan by insisting the Gentile should follow Jewish practices and traditions!

*****Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

James added that the Gentiles "could have a better relationship to their Brother Jews and have their greater respect" IF:

1.) If they avoided food used in idolatrous practices of false religion.

2.) Rejected food that came from strangled animals.

"When an animal is strangled, some of the blood will stay in the animal and could make the meat unfit to eat".

Every hunter knows to get a clean shot to keep the animal from being in a panicked state.

3.) Refusing to consume blood as food.

God had given this command before the Laws of Moses were ever written. Genesis 9:4 says that, Blood is used to make atonement for the "soul" and blood must be poured out before God.

Jesus shed His own blood on Calvary's Cross. To drink of any blood, showed no respect for God's Word!

4.) Abstain from sexual immorality.

God has also commanded this from the beginning. BUT the world has never considered this to be sin.

And even less in our day!

But God says to keep our bodies pure. God has called us to be a clean and a holy people.

1Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

These were things that would allow the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians to grow in harmony and these things pleased the early church.

Paul later wrote:

Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, [that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way].

*****Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Act 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

We can see that it took a compromise on both the Jew and the Gentile in order for there to be harmony in the early church.

Though we can never compromise on the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must be aware of cultural differences of the Body of Christ and all strive to be in one accord with all our brothers, no matter where they are located:

Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, "that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind".

*****Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: [to whom we gave no such commandment]:

Those Judaizers that had shown up in Antioch of Syria had not been sent by the church in Jerusalem!

James also realized the turmoil that false doctrine could bring to the Church!

False doctrine could subvert the soul of the believer making them useless witnesses for the Lord!

James had finally understood the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, with whom he had spent so many years not understanding.

*****Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, [to send chosen men] unto you with our "beloved" Barnabas and Paul,

Act 15:26 [Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ].

Things can happen when the local church is in one accord but even greater than that is when the entire "Body of Christ" can be in one accord.

Those Judaizers were considered to be deceivers.

"Chosen men", these are men who chose to serve the Lord but also chose to not try to profit from their opportunities!

These two men would confirm the written letter sent from the Apostles and the Church at Jerusalem to those at the church of Antioch in Syria.

Barnabas' name is mentioned first because he is the elder of Paul and more well known at the church in Jerusalem.

AND, the sufferings of Paul and Barnabas was recognized by the early church.

*****Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Judas: Not a whole lot is known of Judas accept he is later called a prophet, which probably means he was preacher.

After preaching in Antioch for awhile he returned to Jerusalem.

It is possible that he was a family member to Joseph Barsabas who was one of the two selected by the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot.

[Act 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.]

Silas: Silas became well know because he chose to travel with Paul on his mission trips. He is later known as Silvanus.

This does not make one man greater than the other because we know the Holy Spirit is the one that must guide all our lives.

*****Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

We can see that we must allow the Holy Ghost guide us in every decision we make and we must follow His lead!

These things that are mentioned were given so that the Gentiles would not cause the Jews to fail.

Gentiles are never required to meet any demands of the Mosaic system, but they are to exercise courtesy to those that do!

And no one is to commit fornication, which is sexual behavior outside of marriage!

But it can also include placing an Idol before the Lord!

*****Act 15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Act 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

These things that happened to the early church are written for us that we learn from them and not make the same mistakes.

We are never to become stumbling blocks to believers in our own place of worship but also to those of another culture!

There is only one means of salvation and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14:6)

But problems and differences of opinion are best brought before the church and be based on the Word of God and quickly resolved.

Most church problems are not caused by doctrinal differences but from headstrong leaders, or headstrong followers.

Listen to the prayer of Jesus:

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, "but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine".

Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word";

Joh 17:21 "That they all may be one"; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

It is when the entire "Body of Christ" is in one accord that the Church will have it's real power in this world.

But this must happen in every local church at one time.

We cannot separate ourselves by denominations!

Every group of believers may be diverse but we must use this as a tool to make a unified church and this begins with Jesus and the work He did on the Cross.

If we cannot get to the Cross THEN we cannot get together.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus-----Sweetest name I know!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Preeminence Of The Gospel

The Preeminence Of The Gospel

Book of Acts Chapter 14

We already know that not everyone who hears the "Gospel" will believe it's "life giving" message.

AND, non-believers will not sit back and allow Christianity to take over, what they see as their world!

Christians should seek every way to spread the truth of the "Gospel" but Christians should not avoid politics.

We saw a pattern in chapter 13 of a sending church that we should follow even in the day we live now. But we also saw a pattern of the actions of non-believers that also continue and are getting worse.

First non-believers will dispute the truth of God's Word "then" they will bring legal action against those that live by God's Word.

Paul and Barnabas had some success in Cyprus but that same success had not come in Antioch of Pisidia. A group of jealous and zealous Jews had stirred up the people.

Again as we still see today non-believers will stir up "women of power" and "politicians" in deceptive ways! Paul and Barnabas were forced to leave Antioch of Pisidia for other places but now we will see a change.

The people of Antioch of Pisidia, had deprived themselves of an opportunity to hear the "Gospel" and be saved!

There were some who did believe and were left behind and it was these who would start a church in Antioch of Pisidia.

Christian brothers and sisters can still have joy in the midst of this turmoil.

Chapter 13 ended with these words:

Act 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

Act 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Let's begin:

*****Act 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

(Show Map)

Iconium was a large city about 90 miles east of Antioch of Pisidia. It is still an important place called Konieh. Iconium was a province of Galatia at this time.

We might ask our selves if Paul was turning to the Gentiles, why then would we see him always beginning at the synagogue of the Jews?

This was the place where the leaders of Judaism gathered but this was also a place where spiritual matters where discussed.

In most cases this would also be a place where intellectual and affluent people would gather but there was also another reason!

Paul later wrote to the Romans:

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

That word Greek "meaning Gentile" as opposed to the "Jew".

Paul also wrote these words:

Rom 10:12 For there is "no difference" between the Jew and the Greek: for "the same Lord" over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Paul knew the difference between the two, but in the eyes of God, the Gospel must be preached to the lost, "whosoever" they are, because this is the real command of Our Lord!

*****Act 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against [the brethren].

Notice that word "Brethren".

Here again we see the results of the preaching of the "Gospel".

First there are many that will believe and be saved and in turn there will be those unbelievers that stir up trouble for God's missionaries.

*****Act 14:3 Long time "therefore" abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Act 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

At Antioch, Paul and Barnabas had been expelled from not only the city but the entire area but this had not happened so far at Iconium.

Paul and Barnabas abode in Iconium for a long time! The longer they stayed and preached the more divided that city became.

Some of these Gentiles held with the Jews, and part of the Gentiles held with the Apostles. These non-believers out numbered both the Jews and the Brethren and it is still this way today.

*****Act 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

That word "assault" means this divisiveness of the multitudes came to such a point that they turned and came upon Paul and Barnabas intending to them harm. In fact if they could have gotten their hands on Paul and Barnabas they intended to stone them to death.

This of course meant that it was the Jews who led this assault. "Legally" these Jews could not do anything so they chose to do things "illegally"!

*****Act 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

Act 14:7 And there they preached the gospel.

These cities that are mentioned are in the area called Galatia in the days of Paul but we now know this area as modern day Turkey.

Notice that Paul and Barnabas were not intimidated by the opposition to the Gospel and we cannot be either.

This is a lesson every believer needs to learn. Though we get discouraged from time to time we cannot be intimidated by this world we live in. We must keep busy spreading the "Gospel" in every way that we can!

We have no control of the results! The results are in God's hands and in the hearts of all those that hear the "Gospel"!

God's message has not and does not change no matter the opposition to it!

*****Act 14:20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Before we get to this verse God had healed a lame man through Paul in verse 11.

These people of Lycaonia had mental pictures of their false gods and all of a sudden they believed that Paul and Barnabas were those gods and began to worship them.

We can see that they also were expecting their false gods to come to Earth as men. They were and still are expecting a false messiah and we know that this will also happen. We call him the Antichrist.

Jupiter was a Roman false god, and would be the same as "Zeus" to the Greeks. Mercury was another Roman false god would be the same as "Hermes" to the Greeks.

These people had been taught that these pagan gods had once appeared before men and they thought that they had returned.

It does not take much to convince an unbeliever of a false messiah!

Paul told them that their gods were vain and non-existing!

He told them that what they considered as works of their false gods were actually only natural forces that were under control of the true Living God.

These people would have to be taught "Creation" by God's Word in the Book of Genesis.

We find that the modern church is still confused about creation and fail to preach Genesis as the truth and it is the truth.

Our world was created in 6 days just as God said and is only about 6000 years old.

When we witness to the lost, we must have a clear understanding of "Creation" according to the Word of God.

We cannot be swayed by the false science of "Evolution" nor any of it's teachings of an old Earth.

These evolutionists will do anything in their feeble attempt to prove the Book the Genesis to be wrong. In fact when they cause doubt, they have already succeeded!

God had winked at this false worship for a while because these people had seen the evidence of the true God and had been taught lies.

BUT, now was time to hear the truth of the "Gospel" and "Creation".

We are wrong when we do not teach Jesus from the beginning and in every book of the Bible.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world "are clearly seen", being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; [so that they are without excuse]:

Men who cannot realize that "Creation" did not happen by accident have closed their mind, that God gave them, to the truth.

It takes a closed mind and blinded eyes to believe that everything in this world we live in happened by accident.

Every accident I have ever seen brought destruction and not life!

We saw Satan and the enemies of the Gospel have traveled more than a 100 miles to try to stop the spread of the "Gospel" and attempted to murder Paul, which brings us to the verse we are on now.

We should not miss this for the miracle that it was.

We know that Paul later wrote these words:

2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) [such an one caught up to the third heaven].

2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2Co 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

If Paul was caught up to Heaven, it did not happen on the Damascus road.

It is quite possible that this was the occasion of Paul's vision. It is very possible that Paul was stoned to death and God brought him back to life.

It is also very possible that a young Timothy was one of those that stood around Paul that day.

2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

And Paul tells us all that it is going to get worse than it was this day in Lystra:

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

We can see the truth of this in the day we now live!

Paul and Barnabas and some other believers then left and went to Derbe.

*****Act 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

What we see in this verse is that "Doctor Luke" did not give any details of opposition in Derbe.

AND, We do believe that Gaius joined Paul at this time:

Act 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and [Gaius of Derbe], and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

Paul and those with him, then went back to to all those cities they had been run out of and gave them additional proof of the "Gospel" by the Word of God.

This was a time of establishing the local church in each area.

These places needed to be organized in order to continue in the faith.

*****Act 14:23 And when they had "ordained" them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

The Greek word used for "ordained" in this verse means that they elected the leaders of the local church by a showing of hands.

In other words they had a church meeting and they voted. These elders could have been teachers and leaders but they were not Pastors. They were organizing the local body of Christ and we know there are no unimportant parts of this body.

The qualifications for these positions are given in the Book of Timothy:

1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

We should notice that to be "the husband of one wife" would by these words of scripture eliminate "all female" church elders!

It is God Himself who calls His pastors, "not the church" and it is the Holy Ghost who distributes the gifts to each believer and no one else!

We can also see that the Apostle Paul was "a church planter" and though he tried to strengthen each local church, they would have to depend on God to lead them!

*****Act 14:24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

Act 14:25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

Act 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

Act 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas had retraced the steps of their missionary journey.

They preached in each local church and established each one.

They were eyewitnesses to the power of God in the lives of these Gentiles.

AND, They now had returned to the church that had sent them out and supported them and gave them a full report.

We are now witness to the first missionary conference in the New Testament!

Notice how it was God who got the "Glory". They rehearsed "all that God had done", because we can be God's messengers BUT it is God's Word that does all the work of Salvation.

Then it is each individual who must believe!

Salvation is still a personal, "one on one" relationship with the Lord!

The Church at Antioch of Syria became the first headquarters for missions and there have been many since that time.

In fact every group of believers that gather together as the "Body of Christ" should be a headquarters for missions!

AND, If we cannot have joy in the good news of God's work, then how can we call ourselves Christian!

This is the mission of the every local church to send God fearing men and women out into the world to spread the "Gospel".

In return everyone that is sent out needs to report back on the things that God has accomplished!

A church that does not support missions that spread the "Gospel" of "the Lord Jesus Christ" have little need to exist!

A church that spreads any other message is a house of Satan!

Jesus gave us this command:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 [Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you]: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

If Jesus did not teach it, then we should not teach it!

We have a "completed" copy of the Word of God. We are not to add words to it and we are not to take away any words from it!

*****Act 14:28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

We can be sure that much had been learned from this first mission trip and plans were made for another.

Paul and Barnabas had shown that access to the Savior was as free to the Gentiles as it was to the Jews and this would continue to cause disagreements in the early church.

The first trip lasted for about two years and it would be another two years before another would begin.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Pattern Of A Sending Church

The Pattern Of A Sending Church

Text Acts 13

We find as we get further into the Book of Acts that the "Gospel" is finally moving. It is easy to say that the Church at Jerusalem was holding things up but we cannot blame anything on a building nor entirely on a group of people until we accept the blame on ourselves also.

We should all ask ourselves "are we being obedient to God's command"?

The "key" to the Book of Acts is still Acts 1:8:

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This command given by Jesus was not to a building or a gathering place called a church, BUT to each individual that has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

It was to begin in Jerusalem then all Judea, on to Samaria, and then to the uttermost places of this entire globe we live on, called Earth.

We will see that the Body of Christ that was located and that gathered at a place at Antioch of Syria, finally understood, "with the help of the Holy Ghost", what God meant about spreading the "Gospel"!

What we may not realize it but at this time but Antioch of Syria was one of the largest cites of the known world. It's population was near that of Rome and even Alexandria of Egypt.

Though the title missionary is not found in the Bible it is clearly understood and "it can be said", that at Antioch missionaries were sent out, sponsored, and supported by a group of believers in a local church.

Those that had gone out from Jerusalem had done so, because of persecution!

We can also see that the church at Jerusalem was not considered to be a home church but that all houses of God are on the same level of equality!

This group of believers in Antioch of Syria. gladly accepted the task of sending God's Word out to the world!

This is the same task that every group of believers have, no matter their location, on this Earth!

Let's begin:

*****Act 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

We should notice immediately that the church at Antioch, is a "whosoever" church.

We have Barnabas from Cyrus.

We have Simeon who was a black man but also a teacher in the early church.

We have, Lucius from Cyrene, who is listed in the Book of Romans as a kinsman to the Apostle Paul. This could mean that he was of the tribe of Benjamin or possibly some closer kin.

We have Manaen who had been in the company that traveled with Herod Antipas who was the governor assigned by Rome and who had beheaded John the Baptist.

And not the least of them but we also have Saul, already at this time considered at least a teacher of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

*****Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, "the Holy Ghost said", "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them".

Notice, these men were already busy. They were already serving the Lord and committed to His Word at this time!

They were committed to fasting and prayer!

We don't hear a whole lot about fasting in the modern church but maybe we should!

Fasting is giving something up for the Lord! It is more than just missing a meal, though nourishment is the means for this flesh we live in, to live.

Jesus said:

Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Jesus sent the devil packing with these words, SO, we we can certainly send the devil packing by fasting along with our prayers!

Satan hates to see anyone give up anything for the Lord, because he used to get all that affection when we were all out in the world with him.

1Co 6:11 "And such were some of you": but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

It is only when we are already busy about the work that the Lord has given us to do, that the Holy Spirit will come calling for His special work.

When we just sit around waiting on something from the Holy Spirit, our wait will be long and He will not be forthcoming unless in chastisement!

The Holy Spirit calls people who have proved themselves to be in God's Army by being on the front lines!

We can also see that there was no guessing as to what the Holy Spirit was saying. The Holy Spirit had already been working on Paul and Barnabas for the work He was calling them to do!

*****Act 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The Holy Spirit is very clear when He calls, but we should still pray and fast to get His latest instructions!

Paul and Barnabas knew what they were to do, but the entire "Body of Christ" must also get involved!

When the church sent them out for God's work, "they knew they would have to provide as much as they could for them".

The first thing they needed was prayer but they would also need to meet their physical needs!

"To be sent" also means to carry the message of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

"To be sent" also means that there would be some accounting of these men that were sent.

"To be sent" also means that there would be some accounting of those that sent them!

This whole church at Antioch, was behind this action and not just Saul and Barnabas!

You know we have two men, Nathan Sears and Scott Davis, that were sent out from our church that we totally support but sometimes that support is not enough because we get lax in giving for them.

*****Act 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Act 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

Seleucia was the seaport of Antioch but it was about 15 miles from the city limits.

Cyprus is an island and it was the native land of Barnabas.

Salamis was on the eastern coast of Cyprus and the chief city of Cyprus at that time.

Cyprus was about 130 miles by sailing ship from Seleucia.

We might not understand all we need to know about John Mark at this time but what we do know is that he was probably an eyewitness to the death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

SO, His information to Paul would be firsthand, eyewitness information.

Cyprus was a good choice because it was the native land of Barnabas and also of Manaen.

AND, we can also know that the Holy Spirit would have already been working in Cyprus.

There were many Jewish synagogues located there, because Rome did allow freedom of religion for many years, at least until Christianity began to grow and spread!

In a lot of cases, without those "certain" Jews from Jerusalem causing problems, these synagogues welcomed Paul and this also gave he and Barnabas access to the Gentile population!

Skip down to verse 26

*****Act 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

It is best to keep in mind though we call these missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas they were much more than hasty dashes from one city to the next.

When the Apostle Paul entered a city he established a foundation for a local church. He only moved to another city when he came under pressure from the local authorities or by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Barnabas was with Paul throughout this entire first journey, BUT John Mark had departed when Paul and Barnabas left Cyprus.

This first journey had begun with success, but there was some unexpected trouble from a sorcerer. These men were just magicians as we have in our day but these men were counted as "wise men" in most cultures of this time.

What did God say?

Pro 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

We may not know why John Mark departed from them but the Apostle Paul was not impressed much with him at this time.

AND, Mark did not return to Antioch of Syria but went back home to his mother in Jerusalem.

Paul later changes his mind about Mark and he makes that clear in his epistles.

At the time of this verse Paul and Barnabas had arrived in Antioch of Pisidia which is an entirely different place than Antioch of Syria.

Paul would usually try to to begin his ministry in the local synagogue, if one was available.

Paul had a never ending burden for his people and he usually always found at least some of them that were ready to hear the Word of God.

*****Act 13:29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

Act 13:30 But God raised him from the dead:

Paul presented the ministry of Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy that it was!

Paul used the same Old Testament scriptures that these people had a copy of, and preached Jesus to them.

Paul appealed for them to avoid the error that Jerusalem had made, by rejecting Christ Jesus.

But Paul emphasized to all of them, that those in power at Jerusalem had done all these things, BUT "God had raised Jesus from the dead" which was the fulfillment of prophecy of the Messiah!

Jesus' life as a man in the flesh was taken away from Him and He certainly died!

Jesus was taken off that cross as a dead man!

Jesus was buried as a dead man!

And even in death the flesh of Jesus was not allowed to see sin! He was only in that grave for 3 days and not 4!

But as God, "He could not be held in a man's grave", because God the Father raised Him from the dead by the Power of the Holy Spirit!

The Bible says:

Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

And:

Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

You see God had also promised that "He would swallow up death in victory"! (Isa 25:8)

God had also said that His redeemed, would live together with the dead body of Jesus which did rise from the dead. (Isa 26:19)

And Job said:

Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Job 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

This is the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

*****Act 13:31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ "was the great proof" of His being the true Son of God with power!

The resurrection "was the fulfillment" of all that was written about Him.

The resurrection "was His confirmation" that the Bible is the true Word of God and cannot be denied!

*****Act 13:32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

Act 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, {Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee}.

We should see that the prophecy of the second Psalm (2:7) is specific when it says that Jesus was "begotten" at His resurrection and not at His birth!

This term is used 15 times in the New Testament and can also be used to describe the "Rapture" of the Church!

1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him "that begat" loveth him also that "is begotten of him".

And the Apostle Peter:

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath "begotten us again" unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Another thing we should not miss in this verse is what Paul says:

He uses the words "the second Psalm".

This teaches us that the division of at least the Psalms, then was "not done" many years later by Bible scholars but were already done in the day of Apostle Paul.

*****Act 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Notice Paul was not preaching a deliverance from Rome.

Paul was preaching a deliverance from sin!

Paul was preaching that Jesus was the expected Messiah!

Paul was preaching that those highly revered Laws of Moses could not justify anyone from sin!

Paul was preaching that not just Jew and Gentile but "whosoever" would believe these things could be justified from all sin forever!

Paul was preaching the "good news", the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

"Justification" is an act that only God can perform and this was the method God had chosen!

It is God's "plan" and not for us to question His plan!

The Jews were taught that God justified the righteous and punished the wicked BUT the "Gospel" says that God will justify "the ungodly" who will put their faith in Jesus Christ "because there are no righteous" people on this Earth!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

NO Law can ever justify the sinner!

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Paul closed his sermon with a word of warning, He said these words from God:

Act 13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; (Habakkuk 1:5)

Act 13:41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, "though a man declare it unto you".

*****Act 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

Notice it is always the same, some believe, some do not believe, and some are curious enough to want to come back.

Jesus explained this to the Apostles:

Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

Mat 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Mat 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Some were persuaded to continue in God's Grace. And from where comes God's "Grace"?

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, "but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ".

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and "in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ". To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

When we can be persuaded of this fact of "Grace" we can then, get on that path of righteousness:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

*****Act 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

We can see that there was much discussion of Paul's message. BUT, The topic of that discussion was the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

These Jews here were those same Jews who were zealous of Judaism.

As we go through the Book of Acts we will see this group over and over again trying to stop the spread of the "Gospel".

Jude the half-brother of the Lord Jesus wrote these words about this group of non-believers.

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

They were extremely jealous. They had not seen this much interest in the God of the Hebrews and were certainly not willing to share Him with all these Gentiles.

They regarded the Law as the standard of salvation and would not agree to any other means.

The Apostle Paul was preaching blasphemy in their eyes!

*****Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Paul informs this entire congregation that he was being obedient to the Word of God.

AND, Paul later wrote to the Romans:

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

When we reject the truth of the "Gospel" we are saying that we are unworthy of God's "Grace"!

When we refuse the free gift of God's "Grace" then we have rejected the results of that "Grace" which is eternal life!

It was Jesus Himself who said to preach the "Gospel" to the Jew first but He then said go to the uttermost parts of the world which included "whosoever" would believe.

*****Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

It was now time to fulfill the prophecy of the Old Testament:

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

We will see this pattern develop and continue even in our day. There are many Jews who have come to the knowledge of the saving "Grace" of the "Gospel".

This will continue until the "Church Age" has been completed and God will then turn His attention back to the Jew.

Paul would continue to plant churches until God called him home.

We see that Paul and Barnabas played a great part in taking the "Gospel" to the Gentiles but more important "they were sent by the Holy Ghost"!

We will continue to see that there is no power on this Earth that can stop the spread of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

But we can also see that Satan, the Devil, will not cease to hinder God's Word even though he cannot ever prevail!

We are on the winning side if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Questions?

Let's Pray!