The church is growing among the Gentiles and in Antioch we learn of new teachers and prophets, and these are from very different backgrounds. Yet, here they were, all together in Acts 13:2 “And while they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said”. It is the Lord that leads his disciples and directs their work as happens here. Paul and Barnabas are commissioned by the Lord to carry the gospel as it says in Acts 13:47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you would bring salvation to the end of the earth.’ There are though, always those who because of jealousy or fear, oppose the things of God. For us though, it is easy, in 1 John 4:2 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God”. For us, we simply keep the word of God in our mouth and keep ourselves as the disciples did in Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit”.
While They Were Serving The Lord and Fasting
Acts 13:1-3
The church in Antioch is thriving. Early on, Barnabas had brought Saul (Paul) from Tarsus and Saul they had been in Antioch teaching for a year in Acts 11:26. They then went to Jerusalem carrying a gift from Antioch Acts 11:30. Some time later, they are back in Antioch and now, there are others named as prophets and teachers along with them in
Acts 13:1 “Now there were prophets and teachers in Antioch in the church that was there: Barnabas, and Simeon (who was called Niger), and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.”
These came from diverse backgrounds, “Simeon … Niger—of whom nothing is known. Lucius of Cyrene—(Ac 2:20). He is mentioned, in Ro 16:21, as one of Paul’s kinsmen. Manaen—or Menahem, the name of one of the kings of Israel (2 Ki 15:14) which had been brought up with—or, the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch—that is, Antipas, who was himself “brought up with a certain private person at Rome” [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 17.1.3]”.1
Yet, their hearts were all together and just as the Spirit said to Philip “Approach” the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:29 and as the Spirit said to Peter in Acts 10:20 “go with them”, the Holy Spirit is again leading these actions in
Acts 13:2 And while they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart now for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
So, from this first missionary journey of Paul, churches are planted, and established with elders as one commentary notes, “It was from Antioch that teachers were first sent forth with the definite purpose of spreading Christianity, and organizing churches, with regular institutions (Ac 14:23)” [OLSHAUSEN].”2
The Hand of the Lord Is Against You
If There Is Any Message of Exhortation, Say It
Acts 13:13-20
It was the custom in the Synagogue to invite visitors to introduce themselves and offer a message to the congregation. This was done in an orderly way in Acts 13:15 “after the reading of the law and the prophets”. So, Paul, not being shy or reserved began to address the “Israelite men” who are those of Jewish descent and circumcised, and also “those who fear god” who would be any gentile converts that were following the law of moses by keeping the Sabbath and following the dietary laws, in
Acts 13:16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, “Israelite men, and those who fear God, listen!”
Then Paul connects with their common history, not that they did anything great to deserve God’s goodness, it was that God was delivering them into “an inheritance” in Acts 13:19 and in
Acts 13:20 “This took about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet”.
Paul is preparing them to hear about the fulfillment of God’s promise to them, “forgiveness of sins” in Acts 13:38, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead in Acts 13:37.
A Man in Accordance With My Heart
Acts 13:21-29
God Raised Him From the Dead
Acts 13:30-41
Nearly the Whole City Came Together to Hear
Bring Salvation to the End of the Earth
Acts 13:47-52
The message of salvation through Jesus Christ was widely received, so much so that, in
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting what was being said by Paul by reviling him.
This is often the reaction of people who feel their position is threatened, they try to undercut the person they feel challenged by. Paul and Barnabas recognized that in Acts 13:46 “since you reject it (the word of God) … we are turning to the Gentiles!” This was what the Lord had told Paul to do and he restates it in
Acts 13:47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you would bring salvation to the end of the earth.’
The Gentiles received this word gladly and in
Acts 13:48–49 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of the Lord. And all those who were designated for eternal life believed. 49 So the word of the Lord was carried through the whole region.
Sadly though, there is opposition in the world and often comes through jealousy and to preserve position as in
Acts 13:50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high social standing and the most prominent men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their district.
These who oppose can’t stop the gospel and here, the Gentiles rejoiced and Paul and Barnabas went on to the next city as they had been instructed by the Holy Spirit. As it says in
Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit”.
Study Verses
- Acts 13:1-3 While They Were Serving The Lord and Fasting
- Acts 13:13-20 If There Is Any Message of Exhortation, Say It
- Acts 13:47-52 Bring Salvation to the End of the Earth
Today’s Reading
- Acts 3:1-25
- Acts 4:1-18
References
- 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 190). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- 2. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 190). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.