Acts Chapter 13
Just before Paul began the first of his three missionary journeys, he and others at the Church of Antioch were worshiping and fasting, when Holy Spirit set Paul and Barnabas apart on a special mission to the gentile cities. They journeyed throughout much of the Mediterranean coastline of modern day Turkey with John-Mark – a helper who would later be the cause of Paul and Barnabas’s separation in Acts 15.
This first missionary journey is unique because Paul and Barnabas taught the Jews first and then the Gentiles (later on Paul would focus primarily to teaching the Gentiles) and tells of Paul and Barnabas’s response to a sorcerer who tried to lead a Roman Governor away from Christianity.
What isn’t unique however, is how the Jewish leadership stirred up persecution against Paul expelling him and Barnabas from the region.
Paul wanted Timothy to join him and Silas, so he circumcised him in order not to alienate the Jews. Wherever they went, they took the opportunity to strengthen the churches in the faith. As they were traveling, God stopped them from going into certain areas, but rather sent them into Macedonia and preach the gospel to them. During this time on a Sabbath day, a woman named Lydia opened her heart and was saved. They then met another lady, who was a slave and a fortune teller who brought huge profits to her owners. Paul, being annoyed, cast the spirit out of her. This caused her owners to have Paul and Silas arrested for preaching a different religion, which was illegal in Rome. They were beaten with rods and thrown into prison. There they prayed and praised God, and all the other prisoners listened to them. An earthquake occured which opened all the doors and broke the chains off all the prisoners. When the jailer heard this, he tried to kill himself, but Paul told him not to, and the Jailer became saved, along with his entire household.
Paul here is in Ephesus, and he asks some disciples if they received the Holy Spirit. The answered they never heard of this, so Paul lays hands on them and they receive the Holy Spirit. Some Jewish exorcists attempted to use Jesus' name to cast out demons. However, a demon said they heard of Paul and Jesus, but not them. They were then pounced on them and injured them. Then a riot occurred on Ephesus. They held back Paul from going to them, but several of hi friends did go. But when the croud brought them before the town clerk, but since they did not do anything illegal, he let them go.
Peter and John were arrested and put into prison by the Priests and Sadducees, along with the temple guard for teaching against their Jewish beliefs. Who were these priests and Sadducees, what did they believe, and what was the Sanhedrin? What happened to Peter and John as an outcome of this arrest? The results are not what they expected, and we will look, in this chapter, what the outcome was to both the Jews and the apostles.
Just before Paul began the first of his three missionary journeys, he and others at the Church of Antioch were worshiping and fasting, when Holy Spirit set Paul and Barnabas apart on a special mission to the gentile cities. They journeyed throughout much of the Mediterranean coastline of modern day Turkey with John-Mark – a helper who would later be the cause of Paul and Barnabas’s separation in Acts 15.
This first missionary journey is unique because Paul and Barnabas taught the Jews first and then the Gentiles (later on Paul would focus primarily to teaching the Gentiles) and tells of Paul and Barnabas’s response to a sorcerer who tried to lead a Roman Governor away from Christianity.
What isn’t unique however, is how the Jewish leadership stirred up persecution against Paul expelling him and Barnabas from the region.
Show More
Sign In To Comment
Comments
Show Transcripts