"GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE FIRST CENTURY"

Paul In The Synagogue At Antioch

INTRODUCTION
  1. Thus far we have considered five examples of gospel preaching in the first century...
    1. Three by the apostle Peter
    2. Two by the evangelist Philip
  2. From the preaching of Peter and Philip, we turn now to the preaching of Paul...
    1. Formerly known as Saul, who persecuted the church - Ac 8:1,3; 9:1-2
    2. Who became known as the apostle to the Gentiles - Ac 9:15; Ro 11:13

[We shall consider three examples of Paulí preaching, starting with an opportunity to preach to both the Jews and the Gentiles in the synagogue at Antioch...]

  1. THE SETTING
    1. IN ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA...
      1. Paul was on his 1st missionary journey - Ac 13:13
      2. Arriving in Antioch, he attended the synagogue on the Sabbath - Ac 13:14
      3. This became his evangelistic method for reaching Jews - cf. Ac 17:1-3
    2. IN THE SYNAGOGUE...
      1. Invited by the rulers of the synagogue to speak to the people - Ac 13:15
      2. His religious background may have been well-known - cf. Ac 22:3-5; Ga 1:13-14
      3. Paul accepts the invitation to speak to both Jews and God-fearers - Ac 13:16

      [As recorded by Luke, Paul stood, motioned with his hands, and then began to speak to both Jews and God-fearers (perhaps proselytes)...]

  2. THE SERMON
    1. PAUL REVIEWS THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL...
      1. Their deliverance from Egypt and reception of Canaan - Ac 13:16-19
      2. The period of the Judges and the beginning of their Kings - Ac 13:20-21
      3. The promise to David, fulfilled with the coming of Jesus - Ac 13:22-25
    2. PAUL PROCLAIMS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST...
      1. Addressed to both Jews and God-fearers - Ac 13:26
      2. The death of Jesus by the rulers in Jerusalem - Ac 13:27-29
      3. The resurrection of Jesus by God, witnessed by many - Ac 13:30-31
      4. These are glad tidings, foretold by prophecy - Ac 13:32-35; cf. Ps 2:7; Isa 55:3; Ps 16:10
      5. For David saw corruption, while He who was raised did not - Ac 13:36-37
    3. PAUL OFFERS SALVATION WITH A WARNING...
      1. Preaching forgiveness of sins through Jesus, not the Law - Ac 13:38-39
      2. Warning them not to believe, in the words of Habakkuk - Ac 13:40-41; Hab 1:5
    4. THE RESPONSE...
      1. Begged by the Gentiles to preach the same to them the next Sabbath - Ac 13:42
      2. Many Jews and devout proselytes encouraged to continue in the grace of God - Ac 13:43
    5. THE FOLLOWING SABBATH...
      1. Almost the whole city gathered to hear - Ac 13:44
      2. Envious Jews contradicted and blasphemed the things spoken by Paul - Ac 13:45
      3. Having judged themselves unworthy of eternal life, Paul turned to the Gentiles - Ac 13:46-47
      4. Gentiles were glad and glorified the Word - Ac 13:48
      5. "And as many as had been appointed (ordained, KJV) to eternal life believed" - ibid.
        1. "There is no countenance here for the absolutum decretum of the Calvinists, since ver. 46 had already shown that the Jews had acted through their own choice...the Jews as a nation had been ordained to eternal life - they had rejected this election - but those who believed amongst the Gentiles were equally ordained by God to eternal life, and it was in accordance with His divine appointment that the Apostles had turned to them. Some take the word as if middle, not passive: "as many as had set themselves unto eternal life," and in support of this Rendall refers to 1Co 16:15..." - Expositorís Greek Testament
        2. "The verb tatto or tasso signifies to place, set, order, appoint, dispose; hence it has been considered here as implying the disposition or readiness of mind of several persons in the congregation, such as the religious proselytes mentioned Ac 13:43, who possessed the reverse of the disposition of those Jews who spake against those things, contradicting and blaspheming, Ac 13:45." - Adam Clarke
        3. "As many as were disposed to eternal life, as many as had concern about their eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal life, believed in Christ." - Matthew Henry
CONCLUSION
  1. In preaching the gospel in the synagogue at Antioch...
    1. Paul proclaimed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ - Ac 13:26-30
    2. Eyewitness testimony and OT prophecy were used to make his case - Ac 13:31-37
    3. He taught faith in Jesus as the way to forgiveness of sins, not the Law - Ac 13:38-39
    4. One makes themselves unworthy of eternal life by rejecting the Word - Ac 13:46
    5. If you are disposed to receiving eternal life, you will believe in Christ! - Ac 13:48
  2. In making personal application, you might well ask yourself...
    1. Do you accept as truth the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
    2. If not, have you seriously examined the eyewitness testimony and OT prophecy?
    3. Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to forgiveness of sins?
    4. Or have you made yourself unworthy of eternal life by rejecting the gospel?
    5. I pray that you are disposed to receive eternal life!

If you are willing to listen to the Gospel and are disposed to receiving eternal life, you will gladly glorify the Word by obeying it, and continue in the grace of God through faithful service...