Paul's 1st. Missionary Journey

 Acts 12:24-25 - back to Antioch

Acts 13:1-12 - people in Antioch from all over the Roman Empire.  Manaen was raised with Herod the Great's son.  
Vs. 2 - the divine calling

One one hand, Acts = mostly narrative, history, the story.... (contrast w/Ephesians = doctrine & application)
However, this narrative is full of lessons and life applications  

APPLICATIONS 
#1.  The Gospel is for all people and all people groups.  (one of the major points of Acts!)
No one is beyond the need FOR or Reach of the Gospel.  This truth is unfolding here in Acts - started with the Jews, then the Hellenistic Jews, then the Samaritans, Greeks, Gentiles, etc.

#2.  The Gospel is the SAME for all people groups! 
On one hand, language, customs, culture may affect the PRESENTATION
However, nothing is to change the CONTENT  (message)

Therefore:
As Paul crosses geographic, cultural and social boundaries, the Message remains the SAME! 
So... "Jesus Film"  - in many languages, the wordless book, etc.

If you encounter a 'gospel' that does NOT fit all people ... is best to re-examine it!!  Gal. 1:6-9

#3.  The presentation of the gospel will always result in mixed reactions. 
Example:  Sergius Paulus vs Elymas

Maybe:  (1)  Apparent Indifference - not really indifferent but in rebellion against receiving
             (2)   Joyous Reception
            (3)  Violent Opposition - always is opposition.  Not always violent, but opposition nonetheless.

Why such opposition? 
(1)  The Gospel declares the hearer is a sinner 
(ie:  out of God's favor and in need of reconciliation)

(2)  The Gospel implies the presenter is in favor with God! 
Therefore often perceived as "holier than thou"!)

(3)  The Gospel states there is no other way to God (Salvation) 
John 14:6  (exclusivity seen as BAD!!)

(4)  The Gospel declares that apart from Christ you'll spend eternity in hell. 
Compare gospel to "ugly pill"
The message - offensive vs. the messenger - offensive!! 

(5)  The presentation of the Gospel sets the stage for spiritual warfare!  Acts 13:10
   Hence  Eph. 6:12

OBSERVATIONS
(A)  if you're not prepared for difficulty and opposition... you're not prepared to serve the Lord!! 
(if can't handle opposition, can't do ministry)
(B)  if Satan can't turn a person against the faith ... he'll attempt to distract them FROM the Faith!
And distraction maybe the biggest obstacle to American people!!!  (ie:  Both believers an non-believers.)

#4.  There are still false prophets among us.  Sometimes they 'operate' as CHRISTIANS!! with/in the church!!
       Compare:  "Jewish Sorceror" 

How to 'test' for false (beyond predictions that fail)

(measure a false prophet by their about:  (1)  The Person of Jesus Christ
                                                             (2)  The Bible (as God's Word)  (God's Revelation)
                                                             (3)  Orthodoxy ie:  the central, primary, cardinal teachings of the Faith.

Acts 13:12 - Sergius Paulus convinced by the miracle or the Word? 
On one hand, Don't know.
However, compare the Sadducees and Pharisees who witnessed many miracles but would not accept Christ.
Compare Rich man (and Lazarus) = "send Lazarus to my brothers".  "They have the Law and Prophets"
Can't always go by the miracles.  Example:  Rev. 16:10-11

POINT: 
#5.  You may not be able to work a miracle (like Paul) but you can do a Gospel Presentations (like Paul).

Question:  was Sergius Paulus ONLY convert on this leg of the journey?  Was the only one named.  However, NOT LIKELY!!

Point:  #6.  The effective work of the Lord often takes place without notice or fanfare!!  - we don't always notice.
OR... God is often at work even whenwe don't see it.

1 Cor. 15:58

Acts 12 - Bible Story

 Bible Story --> Bible verse --> Spiritual truth.

Romans 8:28?? - But, you remember Joseph. Things didn't always go well, but God worked in all to accomplish His plan.

Psalm 91:1-16, Isa. 41:10, Psm. 138:7

Daniel in the lions' den - angel shut lion's mouth.
Shadrach, Meschach, Abendigo in fiery furnace.  4th. man appeared, and the three came out with not even the SMELL of smoke.

You are never to old to learn from a Bible story.  Sunday School teachers - you will never know what the outcome of your lessons may be.
Example:  Edward Kimball - leading D.L. Moody to Christ.

Today = one of those stories.  You've got a wicked ruler, an innocent inmate, angels, a prison escape, evil man gets what's coming to him.

Acts 12:1 - Herod Agrippa (grandson of Herod the Great who had all the babies 2 and under killed when Jesus was born.) began persecuting the disciples.    Now, HA has followed his grandfather's footsteps   Pro. 22:6 - Herod blazed the trail.  

Acts 12:2-4 - had the Apostle James killed.  Saw that it pleased the Jews  so had Peter imprisoned as well with the intent to execute.  HA loved man's praise.  However, couldn't execute during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, so had Peter imprisoned under heavy guard. 
What a hopeless situation - James and now Peter.

Acts 12:5   BUT the other disciples (believers) were in earnest, fervent prayer for him.  Fervently = fully stretched, no slack . 
Have you ever prayed like that?  for other people? 
James 5:16  Is prayer the first option or last resort?  We need to pray for other people!!

Note:  Most of our battles are spiritual. 
  Examples:  David - you come at me with sword, spear, and Javelin, but I come in the name of the Lord of Hosts, God of the armies of  Israel.
Eph. 6:12 - for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood

Do you act accordingly?

Acts 12:6  Peter's last night, and he was sleeping?  Peacefully although guarded by 4 x 4 soldiers keeping 3 hour watch under threat of death if he escaped.

Acts 12:7-10 - God - angel = supernatural rescue. 
Question:  What about James?  Why did Peter get rescued and not James?  Paul & Silas?
Answer:  God has different plans for different people.  He also has different plans for the same people at different times.

Isa. 55:8-9 - Why do they get this?  Why me?  Ever been there?  What do you want from me?  What are you teaching me?  How can I be faithful in this?

God loved James and Peter and Stephen and Paul, etc.  but lives Rom. 8:28
Sometimes God cares for his people by bringing them home.

Examples:  All the disciples were martyred with the exception of Jude (who killed himself) and John.  They were a testimony to the truth of the resurrection, the teaching of the scripture. 
God was glorified through the ages in these deaths.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

Acts 12:11-17 - God answers prayer!!
Do you believe Him?  Do you give Him credit?  thanks?
Rhoda believed ... no one else did.  And, they were praying for Peter.  

Brings up and interesting question:  Does this teach that we have guardian angels?

Our Wed. night Bible Study - Jewish belief  and Matt. 18:10 = Maybe??

Multitude of angels ... many things they can do.

* fight in spiritual realm against evil.  Dan. 10:1, Jude 1;4, Rev. 12:7-9
* deliver messages (Dan. 8, Luke 1-2)
* Worship the Lord and offer praises to Him. ( Psm. 148:2, Luke 2:13, Heb. 1:6, Rev. 8:11-12)
* Can be sent to answer prayer  (Dan. 10 and here)
* Serve and protect God's people  (Psm. 34:7, Dan. 6:22, Heb. 1:14)
* rejoice when sinners repent  (Luke 15;10)
* I believe they care for believers at time of death ( Luke 16:22)
* serve God and obey His commands  (Psm. 103:20)
* bring judgment and death to the wicked

Acts 12:18-21  

According to Josephus, Herod Agrippa wore garments of silver when he delivered this oration at a time when the sun was just right to shine.  Trying to set himself up as God.

Acts 12:22-25 -  got his reward.  Josephus wrote that he suffered 5 days in agonizing pain before he died - judgment from God.
He wanted worship and praise of men.  Contrast with Peter and Cornelius.

Who are you trying to please?  living and dying?

Closing Scripture:  Psm. 23:1-6

Spreading the Gospel

Last Time - Peter takes gospel to the Gentiles  - example Cornelius
Explains how/why this happened to the leadership - Acts 11:18

Now the gospel spreads even further - (BOTH geographically and socially) mainly to the Jews
Acts 11:19 - "scattered" - Acts 8:1,4

But Acts 11:20 - probably = Hellenistic Jews ... (not strong Jewish traditionalists, spoke Greek) - took gospel to NON-Jews ie.  Gentiles.  Went to Antioch - 3rd. most influential city in the Roman Empire

Why??  (1)  excited about the gospel ??
            (2)  Inherent knowledge - (Holy Spirit) that salvation is available to ALL people!!
Acts 11:21 = God Present and active.  Hence  "many turned"

Acts 11:22 - this made a "big splash!:  The news carried  (approximately 225 land miles)
So.... the Apostles send Barnabas to "check it out".  - Compare:  Acts 8:14

Acts 11:23 - Barnabas SAW evidence!! and therefore encouraged them... Acts 11:24 implies even MORE turned because of his presence and ministry.

 PORTRAIT OF BARNABAS

Acts 4:36-37, 9:26-28 = well known, highly respected, TRUSTED!! 
Great influencer!!

BUT...He was NOT a theologian!!  So... Acts 11:25-26 - That's when they go after Paul.

Question:  Why is a theologian needed?
Answer:  "we believe death, burial, resurrection and current reign of Jesus Christ: 
But ... what else???? 
(1)  NO New Testament at this time
(2)  these converts without Jewish (Old Testament) background!!

So..... what kind of Belief and Practice might evolve?  All kinds of heresies could form..

OK.  Why Paul??
(1)  Barnabas knew him!!
(2)  Paul well schooled in Old Testament Hebrew Tradition  (studied under Gameliel)
(3)  also had "liberal arts degree" = therefore could identify with both Jews AND Gentiles (customs, philosophies, etc.)
(4)  personally schooled bu the Risen Christ!!  (2 Cor. 12, Gal. 1)
(5)  (eventually) recognized BY the Apostles as a fellow apostle!!  (2 Pet. 3:15-16)

Acts 11:26b  "Christian" almost certainly not a SELF designation!!  Words used by Christians in the New Testament to describe themselves = believer - Saint - Disciple - Servant - Brethren
The non-Christians in Antioch called them 'Christian' (little Christs)

Suggests... Christians' numbers and influence in Antioch was sufficient to merit a Name tag! 
A designation as an identifiable people group!
Which means ... they were making a Big Splash in Antioch.

APPLICATION
Let's look at....

I.  The process of Gentile Conversion

     A.  They HEARD the Gospel

     B.  They were CONVICTED by the Holy Spirit  

    C.  They BELIEVED  (or not!!)   Paul in Romans Chap. 1 says ALL know!!!  Just a matter of choosing, deciding!!

    D.  They TURNED 
         turned FROM --- not necessarily from great evil!  maybe from indifference, selfishness, self-sufficiency, preferred lifestyle, etc.
        turned TO == this is always the same in Christian conversion.  ie:  turn TO Jesus (as Savior and Lord)

This process has not changed!!  Is always the same.

II.  True conversion has visible results  Acts 11:23
      hence "fruit" - Gal. 5:22-23
and so .. James 2:14, 26 - fruit is result of having been saved.

III.  The early Church needed to embrace Apostolic Authority.  men trained BY Christ Both Before and After Resurrection!!  TO PUT the church on the right track and Keep church on the right track!!

The Church today needs that same Apostolic Authority.  (for the same reasons!!) 
Where is this authority found? 
Answer = Scriptures  Eph. 2:19-20  Doesn't change through time.

Zeal without Knowledge is a recipe for error.  (faith without a head)
However,
Knowledge without zeal is a passionless faith  (faith without a heart)

IV.  THE church today needs BOTH Zeal and Knowledge!!
Zeal to ward off APATHY!
Knowledge to ward off HERESY!!
We NEED BOTH - Pauls and Barnabas's!!

REVISIT:  Not everyone can be a Paul!!
But (nearly) everyone can be a Barnabas!!  Example:  Robert Sheffey - circuit riding encourager

V.  The people who carried the Gospel to Antioch remain unknown, un-named  (to us)

POINT:  You don't have to be known to be influential!  

example = Billy Graham - thru crusades/radio & TV preached gospel to more than 2 billion people. 
Chain of conversion? 
Billy Graham led by Mordecai Ham
Mordecai Ham led by Billy Sunday
Billy Sunday led by Wilbur Chapman
Wilbur Chapman led by D L Moody
All these men = well know and very successful evangelists!

BUT... who led D L Moody?
Answer:  a virtual 'unknown' ie.  a Sunday School teacher by the name of Edward Kimball!!

So... again... You don't need to be known to be influential.  You need only be Faithful to the calling God gives you  to be influential.