These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Filled with the Spirit…
- Confronting…
- Barnabas and Saul traveled across the Island of Cyprus till they came to the city of Paphos…
- The Proconsul [Sergius Paulus] of the region desired to hear the WORD of God…
- But a WISE man [magi] called Bar-Jesus – a FALSE prophet – tried to keep him from the faith…
- SAUL [seeking] who is also called PAUL [little] – filled with the HOLY Spirit…
- Confronted ELYMAS [power] – calling him the son of the DEVIL…
- He told him he would be physically BLIND – hoping that he would SEE his need for Jesus…
- When Sergius saw that his WISE man was BLIND – he decided NOT to follow him…
- And instead put his FAITH in Jesus – convinced by the WORD of God!
- The Calling…
- Then PAUL and his party departed for Antioch of Pisidia [Turkey]
- Marking a huge change – Paul [full of the spirit] now LED the group…
- Possibly because of this – John [Mark] – left and returned to Jerusalem – Colossians 4:10
- When Paul arrived in Antioch he went into the Synagogue of the Jews…
- Because he had a BURDEN for his people – though he was NOT called to reach them!
- Confronting…
- 1st – Always ready… vs. 15-16
- 1st – Open door… vs. 15
- Law and Prophets…
- After the reading of the Law and the Prophets!
- Paul and Barnabas were just attending the Sabbath service…
- They listened as the leaders READ from the OLD testament…
- READ [ἀνάγνωσις] – to have their UNDERSTANDING [γινώσκω] lifted UP [ἀνά]!
- The Jewish Bible – is what we call the OLD Testament…
- Their bible is called the TANACH – an acronym…
- Torah [Law] – the Nevi’im [prophets] – and the Ketuvim [writings]
- Although it has only 24 books [22 Josephus] – the content is the same as our OT!
- Exhortation…
- The rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying:
- Men and brethren if you have any word of exhortation for the people – say on!
- AFTER the reading – the leaders turned to Paul and Barnabas…
- If they had a WORD to ENCOURAGE [παράκλησις] the people with…
- Then they NEEDED [imperative] to share it!
- I can almost see the look – as a HUGE smile came across the face of Paul…
- That was like telling a HUNGRY man – he HAS to eat…
- There was NO need to ask twice – for sure he was going to PREACH!
- We never know when someone might ask us to SHARE – we need to be READY …
- Which is why we take the time to STUDY the Word – II Timothy 2:15
- That does NOT mean we have to be able to quote every verse…
- But we should get to know the BASICS – important verses – to be prepared!
- I Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks.”
- 2nd – History lesson… vs. 16
- Always ready…
- Then Paul stood up and motioning with his hand.
- [He] said: Men of Israel – and you who fear God – listen:
- Paul STOOD up – and began to wave with his hands [quiet the crowd]
- Recognizing his AUDIENCE was primarily from ISRAEL [Synagogue]
- But also noting there might be NON-Jews there who FEARED [present] God…
- He told them they MUST [imperative] listen to what he had to say!
- Know your audience…
- This is the first teaching of Paul recorded in the book of Acts!
- Given to a mostly Jewish audience – he shared the history of Israel from the Old Testament…
- But when he came to the city of Athens – were there were NO Jews – Acts 17:22
- He taught them about the foolishness of IDOLS – the UNKNOWN God…
- Because Paul was aware of his audience – and his teachings were curated to reach them!
- One of the first things we should do when we meet someone…
- Is find out what they have the most INTEREST in…
- Not that we are concerned about the NEWS – or SPORTS – or FASHION – or FOOD…
- But if we can get them talking about something they LOVE – they will LISTEN…
- From that starting point – we can then turn the conversation to Jesus!
- I Corinthians 9:22 – “I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.”
- 1st – Open door… vs. 15
- 2nd – Rebellious people… vs. 17-23
- 1st – Forty years… vs. 17-18
- Chosen people… vs. 17
- The God of this people Israel chose our fathers.
- And exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt.
- And with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it!
- God CHOSE [ἐκλέγομαι] the people of ISRAEL…
- He did so while they were STRANGERS [πάροικος] in Egypt [slaves]
- And He brought them out with an UPLIFTED arm [Moses at the Red Sea] – Exodus 14:16
- God did NOT chose Israel because they were the GREATEST…
- He CHOSE them because they were the LEAST [slaves] – Deuteronomy 7:7
- Therefore – when they defeated the SUPER power of the day [Egypt]
- All the GLORY went God to God – NOT to them!
- Not perfect… vs. 18
- Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness!
- It takes around ELEVEN days to walk from Egypt to the Promised Land…
- But it ended up taking Israel FORTY years to get there [long way around]
- Because the people were CONTINUALLY rebelling against the Lord!
- One MONTH after the Red Sea – they COMPLAINED about no water [Meribah] – Exodus 17:7
- FORTY days after Moses went up the mountain – they made a GOLDEN calf – Exodus 32:4
- They DOUBTED when the TEN spies came back with a BAD report – Numbers 13:31
- They REJECTED Moses as their LEADER [rebellion of Korah] – Numbers 16:41
- And the WORSHIPED the gods of the MOABITES – Numbers 25:1
- I Corinthians 10:11 – “All these events… were written down to warn us.”
- It is really encouraging to know that the CHOSEN people – made a LOT of mistakes…
- From the beginning they were CONTINUALLY rebellious…
- Yet God in His Grace never rejected them [and never will] – Jeremiah 31:35
- And if God was that GOOD to Israel – we know He will also be with us…
- The Lord does NOT expect to us to be PERFECT – He knows we make mistakes [a lot]
- But His GRACE continues to reach out to us – teaching us to come back to Him!
- Romans 5:20 – “Where sin abounded – grace abounded much more.”
- 2nd – Cycle of Sin… vs. 19-20
- Promised Land… vs. 19
- When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan.
- He distributed their land to them by allotment!
- God raised up Joshua to lead Israel into the PROMISED Land…
- And through many WONDERS [walls of Jericho – sun standing still]
- He gave Israel VICTORY over SEVEN kings of Canaan – Deuteronomy 7:1-2
- And divided the Land among the TWELVE tribes of Israel – Joshua 13-19
- But God did NOT let Israel conquer EVERY nation!
- Judges 2:22 – “Through them I may test Israel whether they will keep the ways of the LORD.”
- If we ever wonder why God does NOT make life easy [give us total victory]
- The answer is because He uses our TRIALS to TEST us…
- To see WHERE – or better said WHO – we go to in times of TROUBLE!
- Not consistent… vs. 20
- After He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years – until Samuel the prophet!
- Sadly – Israel chose NOT to keep the ways of the LORD!
- Over the next Four HUNDRED and fifty years – they went through a CYCLE…
- Israel would sin and be conquered [consequence] – then they would call to God for help…
- He would raise up a leader [Judge] to save them – and they would return to the Lord…
- But it NEVER lasted – after a short period of time – they would rebel again…
- This cycle was repeated SEVEN times in the book of Judges!
- It is the same CYCLE we see repeated in our lives today…
- When we are walking with the Lord – we have victory and blessings…
- But over time we tend to get COMPLACENT – and do NOT stay as close to Jesus…
- Therefore things start to fall apart – we experience LOTS of trials…
- So we cry out to Jesus – and in His grace He comes and saves us…
- And we start walking again with God – for a time – until we start to DRIFT again!
- 3rd – Choosing a King… vs. 21-23
- Human king… vs. 21
- Afterward they asked for a king – so God gave them Saul the son of Kish.
- A man of the tribe of Benjamin – for forty years!
- After the time of the Judges [Samuel being the final one]
- The people of Israel demanded that they have a KING [like the other nations]
- The problem was Israel already had a KING [the Lord]!
- I Samuel 8:7 – “They have rejected Me that I should not reign over them.”
- Israel was supposed to be a THEOCRACY [ruled by God]
- But they instead chose to be LIKE the other nations – so God gave them SAUL…
- And he reigned for FORTY years – the number of TRIALS!
- When we insist on getting our way – it is to our own hurt…
- Although God will let us – it is rarely for the best!
- Godly king… vs. 22
- When He had removed him – He raised up for them David as king.
- To whom also He gave testimony and said:
- I have found David the son of Jesse – a man after My own heart – who will do all My will!
- But early in his reign Saul disobeyed the Lord [burnt offering]
- Therefore God would REPLACE him with a man after His own heart [David] – I Samuel 13:14
- But when we compare SAUL and DAVID – the later was much worse…
- He had an affair with Bathsheba – and then murdered her husband…
- Yet David was a man after Gods own heart because he REPENTED – Psalm 51:4
- When we insist on our own way – the solution is simple…
- Confess our sin – stop going the WRONG way – turn around and come back to the Lord!
- I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins – He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”
- The Promise… vs. 23
- From this mans seed – according to the promise – God raised up for Israel a Savior Jesus!
- And it was to this REPENTANT King – that God made a PROMISE!
- When David asked to build a TEMPLE [house] for God…
- God instead told him – He would build David an everlasting KINGDOM [house] – II Samuel 7:11
- One of his SEED [son] would sit upon the throne of Israel FOREVER…
- The fulfilment of that promise – came in God raising up Jesus as the SAVIOR!
- 1st – Forty years… vs. 17-18
- 3rd – Right solution… vs. 24-41
- 1st – Repent… vs. 24-25
- Baptism… vs. 24
- After John had first preached before His coming.
- The baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel!
- John the BAPTIST came before Jesus – preaching ALL [πᾶς] of Israel needed to REPENT…
- REPENT [μετανοέω] – to think [νοέω] about their sins – and CHANGE their ways…
- He did so by encouraging the people to be BAPTIZED…
- He used the picture of needing a BATH – so show people they were spiritually DIRTY!
- Not the Messiah… vs. 25
- As John was finishing his course he said: Who do you think I am? I am not He.
- But behold there comes One after me – the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose!
- When John had fulfilled his PURPOSE [δρόμος] – II Timothy 4:7
- SHOW the people they were SINNERS – so they would see their need for a SAVIOR…
- He told them – I am NOT the one you are looking for [Messiah]
- But John told them to LOOK [imperative] – because the Messiah was coming!
- Paul found TWELVE men in Ephesus [nearby] – who were baptized with the baptism of John…
- Telling us this part of the world had heard of the message of REPENTANCE – Acts 19:3
- But the message of SALVATION [Jesus] was something they did NOT know!
- We live in a world that has PART of the story – they know there is a PROBLEM…
- They see the world is DIRTY – and needs to be CLEANED…
- But it is NOT enough to know the PROBLEM – they need the SOLUTION!
- 2nd – The Plan… vs. 26-31
- Fear God… vs. 26
- Men and brethren – sons of the family of Abraham – and those among you who fear God.
- To you the word of this salvation has been sent!
- Paul was here to give them that SOLUTION…
- The PLAN of God had to bring SALVATION to those who REPENT…
- Paul declared this WORD [λόγος] is for Israel and those who FEAR [present] God [τὸν θεόν]!
- Not knowing… vs. 27
- For those who dwell in Jerusalem – and their rulers – because they did not know Him.
- Nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath!
- The Jews in Jerusalem – along with their LEADERS [Pharisees – Sadducees]
- Did NOT know [ἀγνοέω] who Jesus was – or the voice of the PROPHETS [Word]
- Even though they were READ [ἀνάγνωσις] every SABBATH!
- If we read a book on how to drive a car – it does NOT mean we are suddenly in Dumaguete…
- We actually have to get into the CAR – and know how to DRIVE it!
- In the same way – it is NOT enough to just come to CHURCH…
- If we just sit and LISTEN to the READING of the Word – but do NOT experience Christ…
- Then we miss the power of the Word – and will likely not get to HEAVEN!
- James 1:22 – “Be doers of the word – and not hearers only – deceiving yourselves.”
- Fulfilled… vs. 27-30
- Have fulfilled them in condemning Him – and though they found no cause for death in Him.
- They asked Pilate that He should be put to death.
- Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him.
- They took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb – but God raised Him from the dead!
- Because they did NOT know Jesus – they JUDGED [κρίνω] Him…
- And even though they could NOT find a REASON [αἰτέω] to kill Him…
- They told PILATE that he SHOULD [αἰτέω] put Him to death…
- And when they had COMPLETED [τελέω] all [πας] that was written [perfect] about Him…
- They put Jesus in a TOMB – but God RAISED [indicative] Him from the dead!
- The emphasis of Paul is that all of this was the PLAN of God…
- Jesus was the LAMB of God slain before the world was created – Revelation 13:8
- And everything that was done to Him – was according to what had been WRITTEN!
- The witnesses… 31
- He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
- Who are His witnesses to the people!
- This was NOT done in secret – there were WITNESSES [μάρτυς]
- For FORTY days Jesus spent time with His disciples [men from Galilee]
- And in all over FIVE hundred would see Him after His resurrection – I Corinthians 15:6
- There are TWO powerful WITNESSES to the message of the Gospel…
- There is the WORD of God – that lays out the plan of God to DIE for us…
- And the TESTIMONY of those who lives have been transformed by Jesus!
- When people want proof that God is real – and that Jesus is the answer…
- We give them WORD – because the power of salvation is in the Gospel – Romans 1:16
- And we can give them our testimony – because we are a LIVING Bible!
- II Corinthians 3:3 – “You are a letter from Christ… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.” [NLT]
- 3rd – The Word… vs. 32-37
- Good news… vs. 32-33
- And we declare to you glad tidings – that promise which was made to the fathers.
- God has fulfilled this for us their children – in that He has raised up Jesus!
- Paul was here to give that GOOD news [εὐαγγελίζω]
- The PROMISE God had given to the FATHERS – and fulfilled for us their CHILDREN…
- What was the PROMISE – that He would RAISE up Jesus…
- Paul went on to quote from THREE verses to validate his point!
- The Son… vs. 33
- As it is also written in the second Psalm: You are My Son. Today I have begotten You!
- FIRST – quoting what was written by King David – Psalm 2:7
- God would bring forth His SON – referring to Jesus…
- We know it was NOT David – because God gives Him all the nations – Psalm 2:8
- Jesus is the SON of God – NOT because He was born to MARY…
- His title [used over forty times in the NT] – is NOT a reference to His BIRTH…
- It speaks of His POSITION in the Godhead [Father – SON – Spirit]
- By Grace… vs. 34
- That He raised Him from the dead – no more to return to corruption – He has spoken thus:
- I will give you the sure mercies of David!
- SECOND – about raising Jesus from the dead – NEVER to die again [see corruption]
- God told us that we MUST [imperative] listen if we want to LIVE – Isaiah 55:3
- Because if we do He will give us the same PROMISE [בְּרִית] as he did to David…
- We will be given GRACE [חֶסֶד] by FAITH [אָמַן]!
- This is the GOSPEL in the OLD Testament…
- We are NOT saved by what we DO – we are saved by what God did for us…
- If we are willing to LISTEN – if we are willing to BELIEVE [πιστός]
- Then God will give us the PROMISE – eternal life!
- Resurrected… vs. 35-37
- Therefore He also says in another Psalm:
- You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
- For David – after he had served his own generation by the will of God.
- Fell asleep – was buried with his fathers – and saw corruption.
- But He whom God raised up saw no corruption!
- THIRD – therefore God said in different place [ἕτερος] – Psalm 16:10
- A passage also quoted by Peter on Pentecost – Acts 2:29-31
- Where King David was given an INCREDIBLE truth…
- He BELIEVED God would NOT leave HIS soul in the HADES [שְׁאוֹל]
- How did he KNOW that – because God would first RAISE up the [חָ] HOLY one [חסיד]
- And although King David did DIE – and his body did DECAY [corruption]
- Jesus – whom God raised up – never saw corruption [was only dead for three days]!
- The resurrection is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the Gospel message…
- Because through His Resurrection – we see DEATH has been defeated – I Corinthians 15:57
- 4th – Do not miss… vs. 38-41
- Justified… vs. 38-39
- Therefore let it be known to you brethren.
- That through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.
- And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things.
- From which you could not be justified by the law of Moses!
- THEREFORE [οὖν] – in light of what the WORD of God says…
- That the PROMISE of Eternal life – is through GRACE – by FAITH…
- You must [imperative] KNOW [γνωστός] – that only through Jesus can we be FORGIVEN…
- And that the LAW of Moses does NOT have the power [δύναμαι] to make us RIGHT [δικαιόω]
- But FAITH [πιστεύω] in Jesus can make [passive] ANYONE righteous [δικαιόω]!
- Trying to be right with God [righteous] – by keeping the Law does NOT work…
- We might keep most of the LAW [613 commands] – most of the time…
- But the moment we break just ONE – we are not righteous – James 2:10
- Beware… vs. 40-41
- Beware therefore lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
- Behold you despisers – marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days.
- A work which you will by no means believe – though one were to declare it to you!
- THEREFORE [οὖν] – these Jews needed to [imperative] WATCH…
- So that what was written by the PROPHETS did not happen to them – Habakkuk 1:5
- BEHOLD [imperative] – look at the NATIONS [גּוֹי]
- Because God was going to do a WORK in them that the JEWS would NOT believe…
- Even though He DECLARED [pual] it to them – they would NEVER [οὐ μὴ subjuntive] listen!
- As we will see next week – these Jews did NOT listen…
- Because they assumed they were GOOD – because they had the LAW…
- But the GENTILES [nations] were VERY interested in what Paul had to say…
- They KNEW they were NOT good – and were looking for the answer!
- Putting the whole SERMON together – gives us a powerful picture…
- Like Israel we are REBELLIOUS – CYCLE of sin – because we have REJECTED the King…
- And God has a PLAN to SAVE us – He sent Jesus…
- If we are willing to REPENT [turn] – putting our FAITH in His Word – He give us GRACE…
- But – we need to be CAREFUL not to miss out on the PROMISE…
- Because if we think we are GOOD – then we will NEVER believe!
- 1st – Repent… vs. 24-25