Introduction

This week we see the branches of the tree begin to spread out across the Mediterranean Sea. The seed was planted in Jerusalem. The strong trunk of a unified Israel grew as the barriers between Hebraic Jews, Grecian Jews, and Samaritans were torn down in the power of the Holy Spirit. The seed of the Kingdom crossed the great divide of nations as the Holy Spirit came upon a Roman household. Now, with a new base camp in Antioch, under the leadership of a multicultural dream team, the church launches its campaign to bring the good news of Jesus and the invitation to the Kingdom of God to the rest of the world.

This first recorded missionary journey is one that is full of intrigue, adventure, and inspiration. On the island of Cypress, Paul and Barnabus tear down the enemy’s stronghold as they confront Elymas and open the door for the good news of Jesus. Then, on the mainland, in the regions of Pisidia and Galatia, Paul and Barnabus plant the first churches for gentile nations. In this maiden voyage we are given examples of how to confront the enemy in spiritual battle, present the gospel in culturally relevant ways, proclaim the truth, heal the sick, and keep an eternal perspective in the face of cruel opposition. These are all the essential components of any missionary endeavor, both then and now.

Outline

Monday: The Journey Begins

Tuesday: The Message for Jews

Wednesday: Expect Opposition

Thursday: The Message for Gentiles

Friday: Leaving Churches, Leaving Leaders

top

Acts 12:25-13:12

What descriptive title was given for the leaders in Antioch? (in other words, what kind of people were they...what was their function?)

What activities did the leaders engage in during the process of appointing Saul and Barnabus?

What was the first activity that Saul and Barnabus engaged in when they landed on Cyprus (and in every other city as we will see)? Why do you suppose this activity came first?

In your own words, describe Paul’s approach to dealing with Elymas.

vv. 11-12 are a contrast of vision. What happened to Elymas’ vision? What happened to Sergius' vision? Why?

What was Sergius Paulus amazed about?

The Journey Begins

Observations from this passage:

1. The leadership of Antioch was a multicultural melting pot. It is highly unlikely that Luke’s list of leaders at the church of Antioch was a haphazard sampling. He has a point to make. Look at these men: Barnabus represented the core bunch of believers in Jerusalem. Simeon was a black man (we can deduce this because his nickname is “ Niger” which is the Latin term for black). Lucius was a North African, and most likely of darker skin. Manaen was from Syrian/Hellenistic roots with political experience and ties (we deduce this from the fact that he was raised with Herod the Tetrarch and would have been a good friend with him). Finally, we have Saul who, within his own personal profile, was a mixed bag, combining Roman citizenship from Tarsus, Greek cultural influences, and a strong passion for the Word of God found in his training as a Pharisee. These five leaders of the church in Antioch stood in contrast to the homogeneous group of Hebraic Jews that formed the core of leaders in Jerusalem. It’s not that the Jerusalem leadership was bad, but Luke was emphasizing for us that God was about to do something radical in the world so he assembled a team that was suited for the job. The Kingdom of God was no longer centered in Jerusalem and aimed only for those who were genetic descendents of Abraham; it was centered in Antioch and was now open to the entire world as it was originally intended to be.
2. Fasting and Prayer was a key element for discernment. Luke made sure to mention that it was in the context of a season of fasting and prayer that the leaders in Antioch were receptive to the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is when we quiet our hearts and minds through these spiritual disciplines that we will be able to hear the still small voice of the Spirit speaking into our lives.
3. Saul adapted his presentation to the culture. Saul did not change his name to Paul. Having been born a Roman citizen in the city of Tarsus, he would have had at least three names, each from the dominant culture of his region. Saul was his Hebrew/Jewish name. Paul was his Greek name. We don’t know his third name. When Saul moved away from Palestine, where the Christians were predominantly from a Jewish background, and started operating in primarily Greco-Roman cultures, it only made sense for him to be referred to as Paul rather than Saul. We will see throughout this study that Paul was very good at adapting his presentation to the culture in which he found himself.
4. The stronghold must first be broken. When Paul and Barnabus reached the island, the first thing they did was to proclaim the Word of God from the Scriptures in the Synagogue. That is an important example for us to follow. Paul didn’t preach his word; he simply opened Scripture in the synagogue and began explaining to the Jews about how Jesus had fulfilled the Scriptures that they claimed to follow. Those who were open to the truth saw the logic of their arguments and came into a fuller knowledge and relationship with God.

However, there were many who, even though they read the scripture and claimed to follow them, were blinded by a distorted vision and understanding of God. Now comes the really important piece. Whenever we attempt to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus we will encounter a direct conflict with Satanic forces. Peter experienced it when he brought the gospel to Samaria and had to deal with Simon the Magician. In today’s reading we see that Paul went toe-to-toe with Elymas the Sorcerer. Notice how Elymas was identified. He was a Jewish sorcerer. In other words, he was a man who claimed to know the truth of the Torah but had blended biblical teaching with the magic arts that we discussed two weeks ago. This man had been deceived by Satan to believe that God was some kind of energy or power that could be manipulated for personal gain and was being used to keep the political leader of the region in the dark. When Sergius Paulus became interested in Paul’s teaching, do you think the enemy was going to stand for that? No way! He brought on a frontal attack against Paul.

Here is the lesson for today. Our enemy’s only power, and his primary tactic, is to cleverly distort God’s truth. Notice the approach that Paul takes in this conflict.

First, Paul takes a position of authority against the enemy; he “looked straight at Elymas.”

Then, he didn’t mince words, but simply identified and named the enemy at hand; “you are a child of the devil, full of deceit and trickery, perverting/distorting the right ways of the Lord.”

Next, he claimed the power of God, not his own; “the hand of the Lord is against you.”

Finally, he bound the enemy so that he could no longer do his work in the life of Sergius Paulus; “you will be blind.”

As we progress through the study of Acts together, we will see that every time the truth of Jesus was coming into a new region there was a serious flurry of Spiritual Warfare. The enemy attacked Paul repeatedly. Yet, on the flip side, people were set free from spiritual oppression and delivered into the Kingdom of God. As 21 st century believers, living in a society that is under the strong influence of the great deceiver, it is important for us to not lose sight of the fact that we, too, will constantly be engaged in this type of spiritual struggle. Let’s follow Paul’s example. We do not need to be afraid of this battle, because the victory has already been won through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are simply soldiers on a reconnaissance mission, sent to liberate the captives and proclaim the victory! As we progress through this study, may the eyes of our enemy become dark and misty while we join Sergius Paulus and see the truth of Jesus' power for salvation in our world.

Just for Kids

Today it might be fun to make a poster of the five leaders mentioned in our reading today, but design it like a superhero poster. You could call them something like the A-Team (for Antioch team), or the Antioch 5. Have fun with it. Read the following description to base your drawings on.

It is highly unlikely that Luke’s list of leaders at the church of Antioch was a haphazard sampling. He has a point to make. Look at these men: Barnabus represented the core bunch of believers in Jerusalem. Simeon was a black man (we can deduce this because his nickname is “ Niger” which is the Latin term for black). Lucius was a North African, and most likely of darker skin. Manaen was from Syrian/Hellenistic roots with political experience and ties (we deduce this from the fact that he was raised with Herod the Tetrarch and would have been a good friend with him). Finally, we have Saul who, within his own personal profile, was a mixed bag, combining Roman citizenship from Tarsus, Greek cultural influences, and a strong passion for the Word of God found in his training as a Pharisee. These five leaders of the church in Antioch stood in contrast to the homogeneous group of Hebraic Jews that formed the core of leaders in Jerusalem. It’s not that the Jerusalem leadership was bad, but Luke was emphasizing for us that God was about to do something radical in the world so he assembled a team that was suited for the job. The Kingdom of God was no longer centered in Jerusalem and aimed only for those who were genetic descendents of Abraham, it was centered in Antioch and was now open to the entire world as it was originally intended to be.

Are all these men exactly alike? How are they different?

What does this tell you about the Kingdom of God?

top

Tuesday

Acts 13:13-43

Where is the first place Paul and Barnabus went when they entered Pisidian Antioch? Why? What did they do there?

In this passage Paul delivers a gospel message that is tailor made for a Jewish audience. Let’s break the message down into sections. For each section listed below, answer the question and create a basic outline. In the end, try to determine Paul’s line of reasoning.

vv. 17-22 What are the key historical events that Paul highlights leading up to King David?

vv. 23-25 What role did John the Baptist play in the process?

vv. 26-37 How is Jesus presented?

In what way was the promise to Abraham fulfilled? (v. 33)

vv. 38-41 What promise is made? What warning is given?

How do the people respond to Paul’s message?

The Message for Jews

Today we see an example of the normal pattern of Paul’s mission to a new city. The first thing he would do is go directly to the local synagogue and engage in regular worship there. It was common practice in the synagogues that whenever there was a visiting rabbi (teacher) present, the elders of that synagogue would invite him to bring the message from the scripture reading for that day. This happened to Jesus when he was in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth. Paul, being a Jewish rabbi from the tradition of the Pharisees, would naturally accept the offer to preach. Thus, he would begin with the scripture of the day, and move into the sweeping story of the Old Testament and how the whole story points to the person of Jesus Christ.

The important thing to note today is that the crux of his message was not merely centered on the person of Jesus Christ, but, more exactly, on the resurrection of Jesus. From the beginning of the Old Testament story, God had made a promise to Abraham that, through his family, all nations would be blessed. Up until the coming of Jesus the nation of Israel had done very little to bless the world. In fact, they had blocked out the world and condemned it to Hell. Had Jesus been just another rabbi with some nice ideas about world peace there would be nothing to talk about. The center of the good news of Jesus is that he died for the sins of the world and, more importantly, rose from the dead as a demonstration of God’s power over sin and death. Now that Jesus is eternally resurrected there can be a true King on the throne of God’s Kingdom and the doors can be thrown open for the whole world to enter into God’s grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.

As we share this good news in our world, let’s never forget one simple fact. We are not teachers of a new philosophy, we are simply witnesses to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. In that resurrection power, we, too, can overcome the effects of sin and death in our lives and live in the fullness of life today and the assurance of life eternal.

Just for Kids

When Paul preached about Jesus to the Jews in Pisidian Antioch he told the quick history of the Old Testament first. Why do you think he did that?

Here are the key characters that he mentioned. See how much you know about each one. Where would you go to learn more about each one?

Israelites in Egypt

Wandering in the Desert

Judges

Samuel

Saul (the King, not the apostle)

David

According to vv. 30-33, what is the most important part of Jesus’ story? Why?

Make up a cheer that tells how important the resurrection is for salvation.

top

Wednesday

Acts 13:44-14:7

vv. 44-50. Summarize the conflict between Paul and the Jews.

Read Luke 9:1-5 and Luke 10:1-12. In what ways is Paul following Jesus’ instructions in these passages?

How did the Lord confirm the message of Grace the Paul and Barnabus preached?

Summarize the events that happened in Iconium.

How did Paul and Barnabus respond to the opposition?

Expect Opposition

Yesterday we saw a wonderful example of Paul’s standard message to the Jews. The Jews were (and are) a blessed people because they have had the direct revelation of the one true God from the beginning of their history. They had been waiting and anticipating the coming of the Messiah for generations. When presented with the clear truth of Jesus’ resurrection and his position as the Messiah and the Son of God, many, many of them made the natural transition from being an Old Testament Jew to being a New Testament Jew as they simply accepted Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.

Many, however, after hearing the same message, did not receive this message warmly. Here is the lesson for us today – anytime the gospel is presented it is going to polarize a crowd. Those whose hearts are ready will come toward the healing light of the good news. Those whose hearts are calloused and are riddled with the twisted roots of the distorted truth, will become hostile to the truth and work with a vengeance to see the preaching of the good news get shut down.

There are many reasons for this resistance. Some who are in leadership of the local system fear losing control and feel compelled to squash the competition. Others may have invested great amounts of money into the current religious system and are afraid of losing their fiscal viability if the status quo is upset. Still others may be under the direct control of Satan and, having their minds darkened by a syncretistic folk religion, are under orders to destroy the proclaimers of Jesus’ good news.

As followers of Jesus we need to be prepared for this mixed reception. Being a proclaimer of Jesus is probably not going to win you a popularity contest. More than likely it may cost you your job or reputation. It may even cost you your life. Yet, when you consider the true healing and transformation that will come to those who embrace the good news and step into the healing and transforming power of God’s Grace, then the opposition fades into an irrelevant issue in the eternal perspective.

As we fight the fight and proclaim the truth, let us never give up hope. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)

Just for Kids

It’s map time again. Get out your maps and chart Paul and Barnabus’ journey in chs. 13-14. Here are the major cities to plot.

Antioch (beginning point)

Seleucia

Salamis

Paphos

Perga

Antioch in Pisidia

Iconium

Lystra

Derbe

Attalia

Draw arrows to indicate Paul and Barnabus’ journey.

top

Thursday

Acts 14:8-20

When Paul and Barnabus entered Pisidian Antioch ( 13:14) and Iconium (14:1) what the first thing they did?

What was the first thing they did in Lystra? What does this tell you about the population of Lystra?

How did the crowd respond to the miracle of healing?

In vv. 15-17 we find the first gospel message to a completely non-Jewish audience. Compare this message to the message preached to the Jews in Pisidian Antioch ( 13:13-43) In what ways does Paul change his approach for this new audience?

Who upset the crowd in Lystra and turned them against Paul? Why?

How did Paul respond to the fact that he was stoned and left for dead?

The Message for Gentiles

In this first missionary journey we are given examples of the two types of approach when presenting the good news of Jesus. On Tuesday we saw how Paul presented the good news to the Jews. He started with scripture and their current theological understanding and built a logical argument from the scripture as to why Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. With the Jews he could do this because he shared a common cultural heritage with them and was able to make natural connections to images and ideas that totally registered with their worldview.

In today’s reading we witness the first truly pagan encounter. There were obviously no synagogues in Lystra because Luke does not tell us that Paul went there first to preach. The absence of a synagogue means that Lystra was entirely populated buy Greco-Roman people who knew nothing of the Hebrew scriptures and were most likely fully engulfed in the worship of a pagan god or a pantheon of deities.

Here are some observations from Paul’s Cross-cultural missions experience that will help us as we interact with the “unchurched” in our daily lives, and with the cross-cultural experiences that you may get to have in your life.

1. It begins with power. Please don’t misunderstand. It doesn’t begin with a big showy display of theatrics or an overture of dominance, either politically or ideologically. The power, in this case, is the power of God to bring healing to broken lives. When Jesus sent the disciples on their training missions during his ministry, he sent them with three objectives: Teach about the Kingdom, heal the sick, and cast out demons. When you come into a culture (whether it is your atheistic neighbor or the village in Africa) that has no common context in the Scripture with you, then it is vital that they see a demonstration of the healing power of God’s love at work through your life. There are many people selling things in our world. There are a lot of talkers. People, in our culture especially, aren’t really listening to words anymore. What they need to see is action. They need to see unconditional love. They need to see authority over the darkness that controls their lives. They need to see fear, doubt, and sickness driven out from their presence and the miraculous power of God demonstrated before their eyes. When they see this, being carried out by a simple, humble, servant of Jesus, then they may…may…be willing to listen.
2. Meet them where they are. Paul was the master of meeting people at a common place and beginning with language that would make sense to their worldview. When he spoke with Jews he reasoned from the scripture and spoke of the resurrected Messiah. When he spoke with the Greeks who thought he was a god he spoke of the God above all gods who created all things and gives grace to all people. As ambassadors for Jesus we must always remember to respect and understand the worldview of the person to whom we are speaking and trying to communicate the transcendent truth of Jesus in words that will connect.
3. Expect opposition. Many of us in the American Evangelical church have grown dull in our experience of the power of God. We may have even lost faith that God can and does even work through his people like he did in Acts. When we honestly read this book and allow ourselves to become excited about the potential power that we could experience when we trust in God, we can get lulled into an equally disabling lie. We can believe that if we have enough faith then God will work (and must) work great miracles through us and that all people will flock to us and we will do great things for God’s Kingdom. Keep in mind one thing. While it is true that you can do great things for God’s Kingdom and that great ministry can, and will, happen through you, that does not mean that you are suddenly going to have a stress free and happy-go-lucky life. When you start boldly proclaiming God’s truth and lives are being changed, then you had better believe that the enemies attack will come on harder than ever. You need not look any farther than Paul’s life to know the truth of this statement. With all the great things that God did through the vessel of Paul, he was never without violent enemies who sought to kill him at every turn. Eventually they did kill him. So, before you run into battle, remember Jesus’ words  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”(Luke 14:26-30)

Just for Kids

Have you ever studied Greek mythology? If so, who were Zeus and Hermes?

If you haven’t studied these Greek gods, read the following:

Zeus -- the chief deity of the Greek pantheon, often described as ‘the father of gods and men.’ Zeus as the ‘sky god,’ who wielded the thunder bolt and was responsible for weather and rain while enthroned on Mount Olympus, was of Indo-European origin. By Homeric times (ca. 800 b.c.) Zeus was the highest civic god, protector of justice and morals. The circle of twelve gods and goddesses established as a family on Olympus is evident in Homer. Other elements in the Zeus mythology appear to have had a different origin. Zeus’s father, Kronos, was said to have swallowed his children until he was given a stone instead of Zeus, which also freed other gods of Zeus’s generation, Hera, Poseidon, and Hades. Other features of the Zeus legend include the overthrow of the earlier generation, the Titanc, ‘sons of Earth,’ and the unions with various goddesses and mortal women.

In Hellenistic times (ca. 300 b.c.- a.d. 300) Zeus was identified with the chief deity of any non-Greek religion. The Stoics spoke of the highest principle, fire or reason, which animates the universe, as ‘Zeus.’ Barnabas is taken to be ‘Zeus’ by the people of Lystra (Acts 14:12).

Hermes The divine messenger of the Greek gods. Originally a demon that haunted the piles of stones set up as roadside markers, Hermes was the messenger of the greater gods, especially Zeus. He was also a trickster who stole Apollo’s cattle and was thought to have invented the lyre. Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for Hermes and Zeus when they visit Lystra and Paul heals a cripple there (Acts 14:12).

How does Paul teach the people about God (vv. 15-17)? Does he use the Bible? Why or why not?

The lesson for today is to remember that it is possible to talk to people about God that may have never read the Bible before. God’s greatness can be seen in the wonders of creation. Many times it is good to start sharing with people about God by talking about creation and the fact that there must be a creator who is above all the things that have been created. When a person realizes that there must be one ultimate God, then you can share with them what the Bible has to say about Him and his plan of salvation that comes through Jesus.

Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (Page 1163). San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (Page 384). San Francisco: Harper & Row.

top

Friday

Acts 14:21-28

Where did they travel in v. 21? Why? Keeping in mind the events that took place in those cities, how do you think Paul and Barnabus were received in those cities?

What was the message of “encouragement” that Paul delivered to the disciples? Do you find this encouraging? Why or why not?

Read the following passages. How does Paul describe his life?

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 and 11:22-33.

What did Paul and Barnabus leave in each church? Why?

How was this decision made?

What did Paul and Barnabus do when they returned to Antioch?

In vv. 26-27 how does Luke describe the purpose of the mission that had just been completed?

Leaving churches, leaving leaders

Here are two thoughts for today:

1. Hardships are part of the package. Yesterday we ended on an intense note. The christian life is an intense one that is full of battles. It is not for the timid or the weak. As you read Paul’s autobiographies in 2 Corinthians 6 and 11, there was, most likely, a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, wondering if you could endure such things. The irony of this passage is that Paul’s words, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” were intended to be an encouragement. If we could just break into the perspective that Paul had, then we, too, would be able to see them as such. Read his words that he wrote to the church in Philippi,

" I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:10-13, NIV)

1. It is important to have spiritual leaders. When Paul planted a church he was leaving behind a group of young and vulnerable believers. The best analogy for the church in this instance is to remember Jesus’ words when he said we were his sheep (John 10). Paul and Barnabus created a herd of sheep and left them behind, knowing that they were surrounded by ravenous wolves who would like nothing better than to tear this fledgling flock to shreds. In order to protect these young churches it was vital that they leave behind godly men who would be able to guide and protect the church in the generations to come.

If you would like to learn more about the role of an elder in the local church, read the following passages. These passages were written for the men mentioned in today’s stories, and they are instructive for our churches as well.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

1 Timothy 5:17-19

Titus 1:5-16

James 5:14

1 Peter 5:1-11

Spend some time today praying for the elders in your church. Do you know who they are? Do you know how to specifically pray for them? Do you realize that they are major targets for the enemy’s attacks? This is true because of the old saying, “strike the shepherd, scatter the sheep.” Pray that the elders would be in submission to God, committed to prayer and fasting, and open to the leading and power of the Holy Spirit.

Just for Kids

On this first missionary journey, Paul started a new church in every city that he visited. Before he left those brand new churches he established a group of leaders, called “ elders,” in each community to take care of the church.

Do you know who the elders are in your church?

The elders are the men who are responsible for taking care of the people in your church and making sure that everyone loves God, learning from the Bible, praying for each other, taking care of each other, and taking care of the poor and needy. It’s a big job.

Spend some time today writing a little note of encouragement to your elders. They’d really appreciate it.

top