Bible Study: Acts Chapter 13

First Supported Missionaries

Introduction:

Antioch was the first church in recorded history to send out foreign missionaries. Previously, the Christian doctrine had spread through believers moving to avoid persecution. Believers at Antioch prayed and fasted. The Holy Spirit spoke and anointed. Saul and Barnabas went forth and preached. The believers at Antioch didn’t stop at that point they continued to support the missionaries in prayer and monetary gifts.

Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of prayer. When coupled with fasting, it becomes a strong agent in the Christian’s life. God reveals His divine purpose for us and for those we pray for when we diligently seek Him.

Core of the Lesson:

Verses 6 through 12 remind us that miracles are not always for healing. God uses His divine power to chaste and punish those who deliberately defy His authority. Ananias and Sapphira were also recipients of God’s wrath (Acts 5). The Old Testament is filled with examples of divine punishment through miraculous means – the plagues of Egypt, Sampson’s retaliation on the Philistines, the fall of Jericho, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to name a few.

God is a loving, merciful Father. But, let us not forget that He is also just. He does not seek to destroy. He seeks to save. However, God will not hesitate to discipline those He considers His children. Nor, does He withhold His divine judgment on those who defy Him.

Our churches do a grave disservice to God and to the people when God’s love and mercy is the only aspect of His character that is preached. As we study the early church, we find the apostles preached repentance and fear of God as much as they preached about His love.

It was also customary in Biblical times for the speaker to address his audience with a confession of faith through the history of God’s work in Israel. Paul began his discourse in verse 17 with the reminder of God’s deliverance of Israel out of the hand of the Egyptians. Paul was speaking to Jews who were already familiar with the Law. He immediately pointed to the events and prophecies concerning the Messiah. Therefore, Paul preached the gospel of grace – Christ crucified and raised from the dead. When speaking to Gentiles, Paul began with their need for the Law, which leads to the need for the Savior. If people don’t understand that they have not only broken the Law, but have no way of keeping it, they will not understand their need for redemption.

The apostles’ purpose in beginning with the history of Israel to preach the gospel

ÿ To recognize God’s interaction with individuals, His intervention for His people, and His intensions for all humanity

ÿ To show God’s faithfulness to His promises and prophecies. We can trust Him for our future because He fulfilled His promises in the past.

ÿ To show the fulfilled prophecy through Jesus Christ.

There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled all of them. To give us an idea of what that means: It has been estimated for one person to fulfill just eight of those prophecies it would be the same ratio as covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep. Then mark one of those coins with an X and drop it out of an airplane into the pile. Blindfold someone and tell him/her to pick up one coin. There is one in one quadrillionth of a chance that person will pick up the marked coin. That’s the odds of one person fulfilling only 8 of the prophecies in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled over 300.

The end of chapter 13 gives us a clear picture of judgment. Jealousy caused the Jews to become hostile toward Barnabas and Paul. The missionaries boldly proclaimed God’s word: It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46 emphasis mine). God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b). Therefore, sinners are without excuse. They judge themselves unworthy by rejecting the Truth. God honors their decision.

In verse 51, Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust of their feet against them. This was a command Jesus gave His disciples when He sent them out to preach. He said that it would be better for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for those who reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:14-15).

The threat of persecution did not discourage the first missionaries. In fact, Paul later wrote to Timothy concerning this event: everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:12-13). Paul wanted his readers to expect and accept ridicule and hostility.

Jesus prepared His closest followers for persecution: Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; (John 15:20). Quite a different proclamation from what many churches preach today.

Even though Paul and Barnabas were persecuted and ridiculed, they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. While suffering for Christ’s sake can be expected by God-fearing Christians, only the Holy Spirit can fill us with joy during our trials. It is necessary as well as beneficial to share how God has delivered us from the bondage of sin, the ways He has sustained us through difficulties, and the promises He has fulfilled in our lives. Recognizing God’s interaction in that past builds our confidence in Him for the future.

Melinda & Barry and family, Jenn, Jordan, Joey, Phyllis and husband, Barb, J.J., Joyce, Donna, Jackie, Nora, Karen and Raph, Ann, Trinity, Ayden, Nick, Darlene, Wyatt, Johanna, Irene, Harriet, Carol, Enos, Chelsea, Helen, Mildred, Norma, our Monday Bible Study, special unspoken needs, and remember me, Brenda Hendricks.

Cassi, a twelve-year-old who recently had surgery with severe complications, is now restored to good health. Aaron, a fifteen-year-old who recently had surgery on his feet, is enjoying the wonder of walking without aide. We are looking forward to more praise reports. Please keep us informed so we can share the wonderful grace of Jesus.

Although we have not chosen to be, we are all born into sin because of the fall of man. Sounds hopeless and unfair, but God in His infinite wisdom and abundant love has provided a choice for us. We can choose to repent of our sinful nature and believe in Jesus Christ. He is faithful and will cleanse us from sin and give us His Holy Spirit to equip us to live for Him. If you’ve made your choice to repent and believe in Jesus, we’d like to hear about it.

If you are free in Christ Jesus, pray for those who remain captive. And tell others, Christians as well as non-believers, what Jesus has done for you. Your testimony will benefit them and help you to strengthen your confidence in Christ’s work in your life and in the future.

If you’d like to participate in our Monday Bible Study, please contact us with your comments, questions, and prayer requests or at twosmallfish@twosmallfish.org.

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May God grant you safety, reassurance of His love, and the revelation of Jesus Christ,