Studies in ACTS

1. Studies in ACTS Chapter 13:13-39 Apostle Hill Ronald

2. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. Acts 13:13

3. Paul and his travelling companion leave Cyprus for Perga in Asia Minor. John Mark decides to leave the party. Paul considered his withdrawal such a defeat in service that he refused to allow John Mark to travel with him on the second journey. Paul was angry with John Mark.

4. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. Acts 13:13

5. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. Acts 13:14

6. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Acts 13:15

7. B. They then travel from Perga to Antioch and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

8. The custom of the Jews when they gathered to worship was to read the law and the prophets. • 2. They invited Paul to speak after the reading. This liberty of proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogues was not to continue for very long.

9. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. Acts 13:16

10. C. Paul begins his sermon at Antioch. The theme of his sermon is salvation by faith. Paul addresses his sermon toward the men of Israel and those that fear God. The Gentiles that attended the Jewish Synagogues were called “God Fearers

11. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as Acts 13:17

12. as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 17

13. D. The message begins with God’s choice of the nation of Israel as His earthly people. It quickly moves on to the time when they were strangers in the land of Egypt. He then magnifies how God’s grace delivers them from the oppression of Pharaoh.

14. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. Acts 13:18

15. E. For forty years God puts up with the ways of the people of Israel in the wilderness. The verb translated “put up with”; while it means just that by usage, is derived from a word that may suggest a more positive note, namely, “taking care of somebody’s needs”. This, the Lord certainly did for Israel in spite of all their complaining.

16. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to them by lot. Acts 13:19

17. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. Acts 13:20

18. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. Acts 13:21

19. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he Acts 13:22

20. gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 22

21. F. The four hundred and fifty years that Paul mentions is probably meant to go back to the time of the Patriarchs and so would be inclusive of that period of the judges.

22. G. Following their entrance into Canaan, God gave the people judges until the time of Samuel the Prophet. The people of God then asked for a King; they wanted to be like the other nations.

23. 1. God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin; he ruled over them for forty years.

24. 2. Because of the disobedience of Saul he was removed from the throne, and David was raised up to replace him.

25. 3. God paid high tribute to David as a man after His own heart and a man who would do all of God’s will.

26. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have I Samuel 13:13,14

27. established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the   I Samuel 13:13,14

28. LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. I Samuel 13:13,14

29. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: Acts 13:23

30. H. From the subject of David, Paul made an easy and swift transition to Jesus, David’s seed. All of Paul’s preaching would always lead to Christ. Paul showed great courage by announcing in a Jewish synagogue that Jesus was the

31. H. • savior whom God according to His promise had brought to them.

32. When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Acts 13:24

33. I. After this brief introduction of Christ as Lord, Paul went back to the ministry of John the Baptist.

34. J. John the Baptist announced the coming of the Messiah. John was the last Old Testament type prophet. He told the people to repent in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

35. 1. • They were to signify their repentance by being baptized in the Jordan River.

36. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. Acts 13:25

37. K. John never allowed anyone to mistake him as being the Messiah. In fact he stated, “He was not ever worthy to loose the sandals of the one who would come”.

38. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? St. John 1:19-23

39. 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. St. John 19:19-23

40. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. St. John 19:19-23

41. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? St. John 19:19-23

42. 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. St. John 19:19-23

43. L. John the Baptist was the last prophet who announced the coming of the Messiah. He was also the first one to announce that he had arrived.

44. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. St. John 1:29

45. Acts 13:26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. Acts 13:26

46. M. Paul reminded the Jews that the word of salvation was sent first to the nation of Israel. It was to them that the disciples were instructed to first preach the message of the gospel.

47. 27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. Acts 13:27,28

48.  28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. Acts 13:27,28

49. 1. • But the people in Jerusalem, and their rulers did not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah.

50. 2. • They heard predictions concerning the Messiah from the scriptures each Sabbath, but they did not link them with Jesus of Nazareth. Instead, they themselves were the means of fulfilling those very scriptures by condemning Him.