Call to Commitment

 

The Jerusalem Council

1.     And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 

2.     Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. 

3.     So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 

4.     And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 

5.     But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." 

6.     Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 

7.     And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 

8.     So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 

9.     and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

10.  Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

11.  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." 

12.  Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 

 In chapter 11, Peter was challenged by a Jewish party in the Jerusalem church, because he entered a Gentile house and ate with Gentile people, something prohibited by Jewish law. Peter explained the total account, concerning a vision of a sheet let down from heaven, containing all kinds of reptiles, birds and animals, unclean according to the law. A voice instructed him to kill and eat, but Peter refused to do so, after which he was commanded not to call anything, which God had cleansed, unclean. There were two elements in this vision, which indicated that it was from God. First, it came down from heaven and then returned three times, demonstrating the heavenly source of the vision. Then, there was a three-fold confirmation of the vision, showing a divine principle… God always confirms His word.

 At the end of the vision, Gentile men, sent from the Roman centurion, Cornelius in Caesarea, buhi arrived at the door of the house in Joppa, where Peter was lodging. Peter immediately concluded that God was sending him to a Gentile house to preach the gospel. It was in obedience to the Lord’s commandment, “What God has cleansed you must not call common,” that he went with confidence, Jews from Joppa accompanying him. Then he told of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, in the same fashion, as he came upon the Jews on the day of Pentecost.  After this, the church of Jerusalem glorified God, seeing that He was granting repentance and eternal life to the Gentiles.

 

 Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

     1.      Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 

           2.  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 

3.     Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

4.     But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 

5.     And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 

6.     they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 

7.     And they were preaching the gospel there. 

 Already in 13:51, Luke told us that Paul and Barnabas went down to Iconium. They would have travelled along the Roman road, la Via Sebaste. They entered the Jewish synagogue in that city, very likely on a Saturday and, as in Antioch, the Jewish leaders gave them an opportunity to speak.  Apparently, both Paul and Barbabas spoke, and then we should take notice of three words… so spoke that… suggesting that they spoke with divine enabling, which penetrated the hearts of Jews and proselytes. In the book of Acts, the preachers spoke under Holy Spirit-anointing and a great multitude in the synagogue believed (v. 1).

 The Jews divided… some, along with Gentiles, heard with ears of the heart and received faith, while others resisted and remained in unbelief. No one was neutral, nor can anyone be neutral, upon hearing an anointed gospel. The unbelievers mounted opposition against Paul and Barnabas and their response was also powerful. It produced a demonic poison in the minds of the non-Jewish population (v. 2).

 The apostles met the challenge and battled valiantly for a long time, pitting truth against the poisonous lies of the enemy. As in the closing verse of the book of Mark, it was the Lord, Who entered on the side of truth, bringing in supernatural power, working through Paul and Barnabas with signs of heavenly support and awesome miracles (v. 3):  They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen (Mk. 16:20). And Jesus made it known, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword (Mt. 10:34). He said that the result would be; “A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD” (Mt. 10:36, quoting Mic. 7:6). The sharp sword of God will always bring division (v. 4).

 

Press to see with large print

 In the synagogue in Antioch, Pisidia

 27. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 

28. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 

29. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 

30. But God raised Him from the dead. 

31. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 

32. And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 

33. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.' 

34. And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.' 

35. Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.' 

36. "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 

37. but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 

38. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 

39. and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 

40. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 

41. 'BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.' " 

 We join Paul again in the synagogue of the Jews in Antioch, Pisidia, where we left off in the last article. He accused the central council of all Jews in Jerusalem that they did not know their God, nor did they understand their prophets. We learned in the last article that the book of Prophets was read every Sabbath, universally, in the synagogues, but Paul knew well from his own experience that they were misinterpreted.

 Their own Scriptures, which they habitually studied, turned against them and they condemned the Messiah, of whom the book foretold (v. 27). Their worship of God corrupted into dead religion and they revolted against the One, Whom they pretended to serve. These deeds have been carried out, not only by the Jews, but by religious hypocrites throughout history. The Jews in Jerusalem went to the despised Roman governor in their supreme hatred of God and looked to pagan Rome to assist them in giving the death sentence, which was required by Roman law. Yet, they had no reasonable or legal accusation to set before Pontius Pilate (v. 28). Jesus confirmed the fulfilling of the Psalmist’s prophecy, “They hated Me without a cause.” (Jn. 15:25 from Ps. 69:4)

  

Chapter 13, part 1

 

Paul's 1st missionary journey

The New Church at Antioch

        1.     Now in the church that was at Antioch there   

         were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas,

         Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,

         Manaen who had been  brought up with Herod

         the tetrarch, and Saul. 

        2.      As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the

         Holy Spirit said, "Now separate  to Me Barnabas

         and Saul for the work to  which I have called them." 

3.      Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 

In chapter 11 of Acts, we began to learn of the new church at Antioch. Luke said that after the martyrdom of Stephen, persecution broke out in Jerusalem and some Christians arrived at Antioch, preaching only to Jews (Ac. 11:19). However, after Peter´s experience in Caesaria with the Roman centurion, Cornelius, a great breakthrough came and evangelists, from the isle of Cyprus and from the African nation of Cyrene, began to preach to Greek-speaking Gentile people (Ac. 11:20). Luke records that a great number of Gentiles turned to the Lord (Ac. 11:21). There began the history of the church in Antioch, after the salvation of Jews and Gentiles.

 We learned that Barnabas was sent to Antioch from Jerusalem (Ac. 11:22). He encouraged the new believers (Ac. 11:23) and, through his anointed evangelism, many more were added to the Antioch church (Ac. 11:24). Soon, Barnabas left for Tarsus, looking for Saul, as Tarsus was Saul’s native city (Ac. 11:25), and Saul joined him in the edification of the Antioch church (Ac. 11:26). In chapter 11, in fact, in the closing verse, we learned that they had returned to Jerusalem from Antioch, bringing with them an offering for the believers there (Ac. 11:30).  Then, they returned to Antioch and took John Mark, who is Barnabas’ nephew, with them. Mary, Mark’s mother, is probably Barnabas’ sister, for had she been his sister-in-law, his father, being Barnabas’ brother, would be mentioned (Ac. 12:25).

 Besides Barnabas and Saul, prophets from Jerusalem began to gather in Antioch (Ac. 11:27). The first verse of this chapter 13, mentions also Simeon Niger, Lucius from Cyrene (possibly, one who evangelized Antioch earlier… 11:20), and Manaen, interestingly a close acquaintance of Herod Antipas, who assassinated John the Baptist and joined with Pilate in Christ’s trial. Manaen is now a Christian and leader in the church at Antioch, along with these four others, who were prophets and teachers. It is another verse that shows that prophecy was a ministry in the New Testament church, composed of Jews and Gentiles (see also Acts 2:17, 18; 1 Co. 14:1; Eph. 4:11, 12).

 

Rhoda ran to tell that Peter was knocking

 

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

1.      Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 

2.      Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 

3.      And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 

4.      So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 

5.      Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 

 There are several kings named Herod in the Gospels and the book of Acts, so let us distinguish this one in Acts 12. This is Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, who met the wise men and killed the babies from two years old and under, in and around Bethlehem. Herod Agrippa was the nephew of Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist. He was brother to Herodias, wife of Antipas and father to Agrippa, to whom Paul, the apostle, made his defense in Caesarea.

 Having identified this king, we can see the cruelty and godlessness that ran in this family. David’s prophecy in Psalms 2, pointed especially to the two men, who participated in the unjust judgment of Christ… Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas, the murderer of John the Baptist. The disciples identified these two, when they prayed, according to the will of God, by the word of God in Acts 4: “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate” (Ac. 4:27), and then, they added, “with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together.”  The common Roman soldiers and the common Jewish people joined with their leaders against the word and will of God.

 However, Herod Agrippa certainly fulfills David’s prophecy in Psalms 2 also and took his stand “against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bands in pieces and cast away Their cords from us’” (Ps. 2:2, 3).  He comes on the scene later, “to harass some from the church,” and to attack the church, is to attack the Lord and His Anointed (v. 1). He killed James the brother of John, the first of the original disciples to magnify in his body the Lord Jesus, by martyrdom (Ph. 1:20). Apparently, he was beheaded with a sword. James, along with John, were two of the first disciples called by Jesus, when they were with their father and his boat, repairing their nets (Mt. 4:21). He was one of three, who was often separated by the Lord, to more closely observe His works. He was so assured of the truth of the gospel that he was willing to lay down his life for it (v. 2).