Acts 13 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                            Chapter Thirteen

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To trace the route of Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey

2) To give special attention to their evangelistic methods and message

3) To notice that people judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, not
   God; and that people ordained for eternal life are those with good
   and noble hearts, willing to listen and heed the gospel

SUMMARY

With his attention now on the ministry of Paul, Luke narrates the
beginning of Paul's first missionary journey.  It started with the call
of the Holy Spirit, who instructed the prophets and teachers at the
church in Antioch of Syria to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work He
has called them.  With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands, the
two men were sent out on their journey (1-3)

Sailing from Selucia, they arrived at the island of Cyprus, the home
country of Barnabas (cf. 4:36).  Assisting them was John Mark (Barnabas'
cousin who had joined them earlier, and was later the companion of Peter
and author of the gospel of Mark; cf. 12:25; Col 4:10; 1Pe 5:13).  Here
they began what Luke later describes as Paul's custom:  preaching in the
synagogues of the Jews (cf. 17:1-3).  Starting in Salamis, they made
their way to Paphos, where they met the sorcerer Elymas Bar-Jesus along
with the proconsul Sergius Paulus.  When Sergius wanted to hear the Word
of God, Elymas tried to prevent Barnabas and Saul from speaking.  Filled
with the Holy Spirit, Saul rebuked the sorcerer and rendered him
sightless.  Astonished at the power behind the teaching of the Lord,
Sergius believes.  From this point forward, Saul is now called Paul and
also became the more prominent member of the missionary team (4-12).

From Cyprus they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John Mark left them
to return to Jerusalem (later causing contention between Paul and
Barnabas; cf. 15:36-40).  Arriving in Antioch of Pisidia, they attended
the synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbath.  Invited to speak, Paul
preached Jesus by first reviewing the history of Israel from the Exodus
to the time of David.  Noting God's promise concerning the seed of
David, Paul summarized the ministry of John the Baptist and then
introduced Jesus as the Savior who was crucified, buried and raised from
the dead, and seen by eyewitnesses.  Offering further evidence of the
resurrection from Old Testament prophecy, Paul proclaimed forgiveness of
sins through Jesus with a warning against unbelief (13-41).

The response was positive, especially among the Gentiles, and Paul and
Barnabas were invited to speak the following Sabbath.  When unbelieving
Jews saw that the whole city came out to hear, they were filled with
envy and opposed the things spoken by Paul.  Declared themselves
unworthy of eternal life, Paul turned his efforts toward the Gentiles
who were much more receptive.  The word of the Lord spread through the
region, but eventually Paul and Barnabas were forced to leave and thus
went to Iconium.  Their work in Antioch was not in vain, for left behind
were disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit (42-52).

OUTLINE

I. DEPARTURE FROM ANTIOCH OF SYRIA (1-3)

   A. PROPHETS AND TEACHERS AT ANTIOCH (1)
      1. Barnabas, Simeon (called Niger), Lucius of Cyrene
      2. Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod), Saul

   B. BARNABAS AND SAUL SEPARATED AND SENT (2-3)
      1. As the prophets and teachers ministered to the Lord and fasted
      2. The Holy Spirit commands that Barnabas and Saul be separated
         for His work
      3. With fasting, prayer, and laying on of hands, Barnabas and Saul
         are sent away

II. MINISTRY ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS (4-12)

   A. JOURNEY TO SALAMIS (4-5)
      1. Sent out by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul go down to
         Seleucia
      2. From Seleucia they sail to Cyprus and arrive at Salamis
      3. In Salamis they preach the Word in the Jewish synagogue,
         assisted by John Mark

   B. CONFRONTATION AT PAPHOS (6-12)
      1. Crossing the island of Cyprus they arrive at Paphos
      2. There they encounter Elymas Bar-Jesus, a sorcerer and false
         prophet
         a. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, wanted to hear the Word of
            God
         b. Elymas sought to keep him from hearing Barnabas and Saul
      3. Saul (who is also called Paul from this point forward)
         confronts and confounds Elymas
         a. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul looked at him intently and
            saw that he was full of deceit and fraud
         b. Calling him a son of the devil and enemy of righteousness,
            Paul charged him with perverting the ways of the Lord
         c. Paul then foretells his blindness by the hand of the Lord,
            which happens immediately
      4. Seeing what happened, Sergius Paulus believes, astonished at
         the teaching of the Lord

III. PREACHING IN ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA (13-52)

   A. FROM CYPRUS TO ANTIOCH, BY WAY OF PERGA (13-14)
      1. Setting sail from Paphos, they arrive in Perga of Pamphylia
      2. At Perga, John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem
      3. From Perga, they come to Antioch of Pisidia

   B. THE FIRST SABBATH IN ANTIOCH (14-43)
      1. Visiting the synagogue, they are invited to address the people
      2. Paul's sermon to the men of Israel and those who fear God
         a. He reviews Israel's history from the Exodus to the time of
            David
         b. He proclaims Jesus as the seed of David who was introduced
            by John the Baptist
         c. He preaches the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
         d. He offers evidence for the resurrection: eyewitnesses and
            messianic prophecies
         e. He announces forgiveness and justification available through
            Jesus Christ, not the law
         f. He warns them not to despise the wonderful work of God
      3. The response and follow up to his sermon
         a. The Gentiles beg that he will preach the same to them on the
            next Sabbath
         b. Many Jews and devout proselytes follow Paul and Barnabas,
            who persuade them to continue in the grace of God

   C. THE SECOND SABBATH IN ANTIOCH (44-49)
      1. Almost the whole city gathers to hear the Word of God
      2. The Jews become envious, and begin contradicting and
         blaspheming Paul
      3. Paul and Barnabas boldly rebuke the Jews for rejecting the
         Word, and turn to the Gentiles as commanded by the Lord
      4. The Gentiles rejoice, many believe, and the Word of the Lord is
         spread throughout the region

   D. PERSECUTION AND EXPULSION TO ICONIUM (50-52)
      1. The Jews stir up devout and prominent women and chief men to
         persecute and expel Paul and Barnabas from their region
      2. Shaking the dust of their feet against them, Paul and Barnabas
         go to Iconium
      3. The disciples, meanwhile, are filled with joy and with the Holy
         Spirit

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Departure from Antioch of Syria (1-3)
   - Ministry on the island of Cyprus (4-12)
   - Preaching in Antioch of Pisidia (13-52)

2) Who were the prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch? (1)
   - Barnabas, Simeon (Niger), Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, Saul

3) Who told them to send Barnabas and Saul on their journey? (2)
   - The Holy Spirit

4) What activities helped to prepare them for their mission? (3)
   - Fasting, prayer, the laying on of hands

5) From what city did they disembark, and to where did they sail? (4)
   - Selucia; the island of Cyprus

6) Where did they first preach?  Who was with them? (5)
   - Salamis
   - John (Mark); cf. 12:25

7) At Paphos, who wanted to hear the Word of God?  Who sought to prevent
   him? (6-8)
   - Sergius Paulus, proconsul
   - Bar-Jesus, a Jewish false prophet, also known as Elymas the
     sorcerer

8) What did Saul do to Elymas?  What affect did this have on Sergius
   Paulus? (9-12)
   - Caused a dark mist to fall on him, resulting in blindness
   - Caused him to believe, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord

9) Setting sail from Paphos, where did they go?  Who left when they
   arrived? (13)
   - Perga in Pamphylia
   - John, who returned to Jerusalem

10) Where did Paul and Barnabas go next?  What did they do on the
    Sabbath day? (14)
   - Antioch of Pisidia
   - Attended the synagogue

11) Invited to speak, what periods of Israel's history did Paul first
    review? (15-22)
   - The exodus, wilderness wanderings, the judges, the kings Saul and
     David

12) Skipping from David to his descendant Jesus, whose ministry does
    Paul review? (23-25)
   - That of John the Baptist

13) Focusing on the word of salvation, what does Paul proclaim
    concerning Jesus? (26-30)
   - His death, burial and resurrection

14) What evidence does Paul provide for the resurrection of Jesus?
    (31-37)
   - Testimony of witnesses
   - Testimony of scripture

15) What does Paul preach in the name of Jesus? (38-39)
   - Forgiveness of sins
   - Justification not provided by the Law of Moses

16) With what does Paul conclude his sermon? (40-41)
   - A warning against unbelief, as forewarned in the Scriptures

17) Who begged to hear more the next Sabbath? (42)
   - The Gentiles

18) Who followed Paul and Barnabas? (43)
   - Many of the Jews and devout proselytes

19) What happened on the next Sabbath? (44-45)
   - The whole city came to hear the word of God
   - Envious Jews began to contradict and blaspheme, opposing Paul

20) What did Paul say of those who rejected the gospel? (46)
   - They judged themselves unworthy of eternal life (i.e., not God, cf.
     1Ti 2:3-4; 2Pe 3:9; Re 22:17)

21) What happened next, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah? (46-48)
   - Paul turned to the Gentiles, many who gladly received the word

22) What sort of people were ordained to eternal life and thus believed?
    (48)
   - Those glad to hear and glorify the Word (i.e., those of good and
     noble hearts, willing to receive the seed of the gospel which
     produces faith, cf. Lk 8:15; Ac 17:11; Ro 10:17)

23) What two opposite effects did Paul's preaching have in Antioch?
    (49-50)
   - The word of the Lord was spread throughout the region
   - Persecution by the unbelieving Jews forced Paul and Barnabas to
     leave

24) Where did Barnabas and Paul then go?  What about the disciples left
    behind? (51-52)
   - Iconium
   - They were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit
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