48. Acts 13-14 | Embarked – Paul Embarks on First Mission

Join Adam and Alison as they explore the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas through Acts 13 and 14. This episode delves into the transformative power of the gospel, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the challenges of spreading Jesus' message amidst opposition. From the diverse leadership in Antioch to encounters in places like Seleucia, Cyprus, and Iconium, the discussion highlights spiritual warfare, the importance of Paul's strategies, and the significance of resurrection in his teachings. The hosts share personal missions' stories and reflect on the need to step out of comfort zones, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding mission work and discipleship.

00:00 Introduction to Paul's First Missionary Journey
00:46 Personal Mission Trip Experiences
04:37 Context and Background of Acts 13
08:10 The Holy Spirit's Guidance
12:34 Arrival and Preaching in Cyprus
15:41 Confrontation with Elymas the Sorcerer
21:38 Paul's Roman Identity and Mission Strategy
22:22 Journey from Cyprus to Perga
22:37 Challenges and Disappointments: Mark's Departure
23:30 Paul's Sermon in Antioch Pisidia
25:05 Emphasizing the Resurrection
29:42 Paul and Barnabas in Iconium
30:31 Miracle and Misunderstanding in Lystra
38:02 Paul's Stoning and Recovery
40:58 Return to Antioch and Reflection
45:46 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

Music used in intro: "Hard Answers" by JK Productions

Transcript

Adam: 0:00

What does it take to spread the gospel to new territories in the face of opposition? Today we'll explore the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13 and 14, where the message of Jesus starts breaking barriers, facing fierce resistance, and bearing fruit in unexpected places.

Alison: 0:18

Adam! What's up, Allison? Well, we're halfway through the Book of Acts through our series, our 10 week series in the Book of Acts. I

Adam: 0:25

cannot believe we're halfway already. It is flowing by.

Alison: 0:27

It's going by fast. This season is going by fast. It

Adam: 0:30

really is. Um,

Alison: 0:31

but we're finally getting to, I think, what most people think of when they think of the Book of Acts, Paul's missionary journey. That's

Adam: 0:38

so true. Actually, I was surprised by that once we started studying. I was like,

Alison: 0:41

oh, this is the first one? Yeah, we're halfway through. We're just

Adam: 0:45

now getting to the, we're just now getting there. Yeah.

Alison: 0:45

Yeah. And so, um, thinking about missionary journeys, you've been on a few mission trips in your time have Yes. Yeah. In fact, we've been on one together.

Adam: 0:53

We, we were, you're right.

Alison: 0:54

We, so we went to the Dominican Republic in 2022, I think. Has it been

Adam: 0:59

two years coming out this November?

Alison: 1:00

Yeah. We spent Thanksgiving there with

Adam: 1:02

Wow.

Alison: 1:02

With, uh, you, with your daughter. And I think my whole, my whole crew came along. And, um, but you've been on some other mission trips Yes. Besides just that one. So do you have like a, what is.

Adam: 1:11

Your

Alison: 1:11

fondest

Adam: 1:11

memory of a mission trip. Oh man, I have so many. Uh, I, I'm gonna have to just go with the most recent one though. Okay. That's the, that's the quickest one that pops into my mind. Uh, sometimes when, when you're on a missionary, uh, a mission, a mission trip, uh, you're stretched, right? Yes. And, and you're flex, you have to learn to be flexible and that's one of the, that's one of the joys of, of going into a mission trip, um, is, is really stepping out of your comfort zone in whatever ways that looks like. A joy

Alison: 1:35

and a challenge.

Adam: 1:36

It is a joy and it's a challenge. Yeah. And, and it's one of those things that, like, it becomes those, Moments that become eye opening experiences and of course this one was extra special because I did get to take my oldest daughter Elaine on it and And for me one of my favorite aspects of the mission trip was the the get the house that we were staying in all together It it just didn't have adequate Like water I can't even call it pressure because like if you went to shower or brush your teeth or anything like when you turn the faucet on it's like There was just a slight drip of water that would come out, which it just doesn't work so well when it comes to bathing however many people we had in that house.

Alison: 2:17

Right, after a

Adam: 2:18

sweaty day.

Alison: 2:19

It's

Adam: 2:19

so true, but we all really needed showers. And so, uh, we rigged up a shower curtain on the porch of the house. Yes, next to a hose faucet. And, uh, yeah, we, we showered in the cold, you know, hose faucet water on the porch. Outside porch of, of the mission trip house. So

Alison: 2:39

that was a memory. I'll remember too. I don't know. I would categorize it as fond. It

Adam: 2:43

was fond. It was fun

Alison: 2:45

for a boy. Like that's just like a badge of honor or

Adam: 2:47

something, but it's like, it's like a roughing it in the wilderness or something,

Alison: 2:51

but we all made it through.

Adam: 2:53

Yeah, we did.

Alison: 2:54

Yeah. So I, I have some funny stories like that to you. I've spent most of my time on mission trips in Haiti because our family, um, has specifically been called to that people group. And so we've gone there a lot of times. We've actually led some teams and my favorite funny story from a mission trip, um, happened probably about our third trip there. We had a big group and we were all, the girls were all staying in this one room. And so it would take us a long time. Like you said, like By the time everybody accuses like that one shower and brushes their teeth in that one sink and things and so this sweet girl I'll protect her name to protect her I won't share her name, but she was one of the last ones to get cleaned up that night She was brushing her teeth in the dark out of kindness to everyone else in the room because people were already asleep Yeah, so long, you know for everyone to get washed up. And so all of a sudden we just hear this like gagging and shouting and just, um, so everyone's like flipping the lights on to see what's going on and the sweet young lady, um, had mistaken her toothpaste for a tube of bingay and brushed her

Both: 3:56

teeth with

Alison: 3:57

bingay. Her tongue was like burning. Oh no. Sounds like it tasted horrible. Oh no. We all, everyone got up.

Adam: 4:08

Oh, that's hilarious.

Alison: 4:10

Yeah. And so I think after that, I'm, I don't know, I'd have to ask her, that's been about five years ago, but after that every birthday holiday, someone from our group would gift her a tube of bingay. That is,

Adam: 4:22

yeah, that is awful. That is awful.

Alison: 4:25

So missionary journeys do stretch us, right? Oh, they do, yeah, they do, yeah. And we're going to see you. Paul and Barnabas, who are going to be on this first missionary journey, they are going to be stretched in a lot of ways. Um, but let's, let's start with the context, because we always like to, instead of just jump right in, remind our listeners where we left off. So last week we talked about, um, how God freed Peter from prison.

Both: 4:50

Mm.

Alison: 4:51

And, um, Herod, he, he cannot find, Peter after God frees him from prison and so he's going to end up holding the guards who were supposed to keep Peter in prison. He's going to actually give them the death penalty that he had planned for Peter But in an act of God's sovereignty at the very end of chapter 12 We see that God actually had the death penalty planned for her Yeah, and he sends an angel to strike her down and here it dies He's eaten by worms and the chapter ends with God's word You continuing to spread. And so when we open up in Chapter 13, um, Saul and Barnabas are returning from Jerusalem, um, and they're headed back to Antioch. Do you remember why they went to Jerusalem? So they went to Jerusalem. Um, in Chapter 11, it talks about how there was a famine. That was going to be, um, that was predicted. And so the church in Antioch gathered an offering and Saul and Barnabas brought that offering to Jerusalem, to the mother church there in Jerusalem, and then they head back to Antioch. And we see in Antioch when this, when chapter 13 opens, the setting is a very diverse group of leaders in Antioch. And um, We're not going to read those names because they're hard to read and I actually you told me you don't we shouldn't read that Yeah, I always volunteer whole tell you. Yes. Call it volunteer. Yes, you call it. I always volunteer you to read Yes,

Adam: 6:17

I I normally don't have a problem with it. But this time I was like, let's let's not

Alison: 6:22

So, um, but one of the names that it mentioned in this very Diverse group of leaders is a man named Minayan And it says that he's a close friend of Herod the Tetriarch. And I wanted to just mention him and there's an, there's, you know, men from all over the, like, different countries and different ethnicities and different socioeconomic statuses. But this man, Menaen, he, he's actually described, the word they're used for close friend of Herod is like foster brother. It's the same word, like, grew up together, like, very close. And I want to just point out that this Herod is Herod Antipas, the one who had John the Baptist beheaded, the one who presided over one of Jesus's trials leading to his crucifixion. And so what is, from the very opening verses, can of chapter 13 teaches us about God is that the gospel reconciles because the fact that someone who grew up with Herod Antipas is now leading teaching in the church in Antioch just shows us the power of the gospel reconciliation.

Adam: 7:25

Yeah, there's, there's this, uh, underlying theme that we're also, that's interwoven throughout Acts as well that we haven't, haven't mentioned too much, uh, on, and it's regarding the, um, the spiritual warfare that's taking place at the same exact time that, uh, this, the gospel is beginning to spread. So you've got, like, this physical element to all these, these stories, but then you also have this, like, underlying spiritual element that, that you're not seeing. And, and, and the church, or, uh, the church. And, uh, what we're seeing, like, for instance, at the death of Herod, uh, the people are proclaiming that he is, uh, a god. He's not a man, but he is a god. And so we've got, like, the physical, uh, Herod himself, who is placing himself into this, like, spiritual role that he doesn't belong. And then, so then, uh, you know, God, the Holy Spirit, will, uh, the angel of the Lord will come and, uh, strike him down. And we're going to see this spiritual, uh, role play kind of begin to, Uh, intermix into this story as we, as we begin this next section in Acts and, and it's going to be, um, uh, portrayed by the moving of the Holy Spirit itself. So the Holy Spirit is going to, you're going to start to see the Holy Spirit take the driver's seat here and start to, um, call people and, and, and tell people where they're supposed to go. Um, and, uh, then they will set up scenes where they're going to, um, you know, they're Um, meet, meet opposition, um, that's definitely spiritually driven as well, uh, in these places that they go. And we're going to see

Alison: 8:44

the work of the Holy Spirit tearing down strongholds.

Adam: 8:46

Yes.

Alison: 8:47

So that's something that we can learn about the

Adam: 8:48

character. It reminds me so much of what Paul says, like, we don't fight against flesh and blood, but against these things that we can't see. And there's definitely two powers that are at work here, the human element and the spiritual element. And he's, uh, the gospel is pervading through both of those.

Alison: 9:02

So, in Antioch, things are going pretty well, the church is growing, and um, the, the leaders are fasting, and they're praying, and they feel the Holy Spirit tell them to set apart Barnabas and Saul to go out on this mission trip, um, and I think that was a sacrifice for the church, because I would venture to say that Barnabas and Saul were probably some of the most gifted teachers and leaders of the church, so it was probably hard for Antioch, um. I mean,

Adam: 9:28

and nobody wants to send off their They're pastor. Exactly. They're, they're men of faith. Away. Exactly. But

Alison: 9:35

the Holy Spirit prompted them and they were obedient and doing that and they, they sent them off on the first mission trip. And I think the reason that we call this the first mission trip is because the word mission, the kind of the root word there for missionary or mission trip, it has to do with being sent. And the gospel had already been spreading and we're going to see that Paul, um, takes it further than it's gone before, but it had already been spreading to new places. But the, those, um, evangelistic efforts were, were results of persecution, were results of scattering. So this was the first time that it's going to be an intentional sending for the purpose of reaching, um, the world for Christ, which is the purpose that the Holy Spirit lays out in the very beginning of Acts chapter one, eight, and there's. Um, chapter one, verse eight, that the gospel is going to go to the ends of the earth. And we're going to see that start to happen with this first missionary trip. And so Jerusalem, while Jerusalem was the mother church, we're going to see the Antioch becomes the missionary church. Um, all three of Paul's missionary journeys are going to start from Antioch. In the first place, um, that they go after, so they get their, their, their, their, their Leaders lay hands on Paul and Barnabas and they send them off and it says in verse 4 of chapter 13 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed down to Cyprus So I think it's interesting. I really kind of like that. They said they went to Seleucia. Seleucia was only like 16 miles from Antioch. And it doesn't really say a whole lot about what happened there. So this is kind of the, what I imagine happened. So let's see, it was the harbor town. It was where they could catch a boat to somewhere else. And so I always feel like there were, there's some excitement about this and they're like, it would be like us saying, so they got sent on a mission trip and they went to the airport.

Adam: 11:19

Okay. And

Alison: 11:22

from the airport, they, you can take a flight to a lot of places, right? And so I think that's probably what happened to Paul and Barnabas when they got to Seleucia, just that little 16 mile, um, towards the coast from Antioch, towards the coast to catch a boat. And, and it doesn't say if they had a plan or not when they left Antioch as to where they were going. It seems like it's a working plan throughout chapter 13, right? Yeah. It's happened and sent them to other places. So it doesn't seem like they have a whole plan laid out. So they get to Seleucia and they're like, let's go to Cyprus.

Adam: 11:52

All right.

Alison: 11:52

Do you have any idea why they might have chosen Cyprus?

Adam: 11:55

No. Why do you think?

Alison: 11:56

Barnabas was from Cyprus.

Adam: 11:57

Oh, there you go.

Alison: 11:58

Yeah. And so, and they were also taking John Mark with them. So this is Mark who, like we, the Bible calls him John Mark here. It's, it's Mark, um, who wrote the gospel of Mark, who was Our

Adam: 12:10

listeners are very familiar with the gospel of Mark. And if you're not, it's because you started too late. You need to go back. That's right. Go back in our archive. We went

Alison: 12:18

through Mark. So Mark was also from Cyprus. And so I think that probably Barnabas just was like, let's go. Let's go. I know some people in Cyprus. Maybe he had some relatives there. They were familiar. Let's, let's hop on that boat and go over to Cyprus. And so they sailed about 150 miles to Cyprus and they were, they arrived in the port town called Solomus and they go to the synagogues there and they start to preach.

Adam: 12:44

This is a pattern that Paul, Paul, uh, will often go. They go to this. town, then they go right to the Jewish semagogues, they preach, and oftentimes they're not really accepted there. And then from there, they go out into the Gentile area of the towns and start to preach there and you're going to see that kind of pattern go on. It's interesting that you note that it doesn't seem like You're not 100 percent sure that Paul and Barnabas actually have a plan here, and I think that is actually the point because, uh, what that theme that you see throughout, um, uh, Acts 13 is that the Holy Spirit is, is guiding. It's the Holy Spirit tells them to go there, the Holy, the Holy Spirit, they're sent out by the Holy Spirit. So they're just kind of, it's almost like they're testing the waters at wherever they're going and they're trying to be in tune and learn to, learn what it means to walk with the Holy Spirit, uh, in the driver's seat there, so.

Alison: 13:30

I love that you pointed that out because probably a better way is, like, for me to say this, it's not that they didn't have a plan. Yeah. It was the Holy Spirit's plan. Yeah. It wasn't

Adam: 13:39

their plan, right? Yeah, so we're trying to figure that out. Yeah,

Alison: 13:41

they're learning it along the way. There is a plan. Um, and I think the reason that they always start with the pattern of going to the synagogues is because there was something in Bible times and New Testament times called the, uh, the courtesy of the synagogue and in, in the synagogues, which was where the Jewish congregation would meet for services. It was, it followed a similar pattern, probably much like our, you know, just have similar patterns in the way that we host our worship services. So I believe it started, and you probably know more about this than me, but it started usually with an opening prayer, and then a reading from the law, which would be the first five books of the Old Testament, and then a reading from, um, the prophet's division of the Bible. And then after that, someone would normally speak, a rabbi would speak. And if there was, um, a prominent guest in the synagogue that day, then it was customary for the man who presided over that synagogue to invite that notable Jewish guest to speak. And Paul was. Always a notable Jewish guest anywhere he went. And I think that some may have known Paul, but as they get further and further away from Jerusalem, I think that his clothing probably marked, um, distinguished him as a rabbi, a member of the Sanhedrin. They had special robes, special pieces of clothing. And I imagine that he probably made a first name for himself. were those things, um, to give him a platform in order to speak because every time that the man who presided over the synagogue gave Paul the floor, he preached the gospel.

Adam: 15:08

Interesting. This is, that must be the same scene that Jesus, uh, uses when he speaks his, uh, first speaking in the, in, uh, in the, when back in Mark, when he goes in and he declares that he's fulfilling this. Uh, this prophecy today or this saying today, I chased him out of the town. I bet that's the same, the same, uh, uh, church service for lack of better terms, uh, that they're following. They offer him the opportunity to stand up and speak.

Alison: 15:31

So after they go to Salamis on the island of Cyprus, they stay on the island of Cyprus and they go to the west side of the island to a town called Pathos. And something really interesting happens in Pathos.

Both: 15:45

Um,

Alison: 15:45

do you want to read, um, versus, you know, Well, let me, let me give a little context so we don't have to read quite so much. So in Pathos, they're going to face opposition and a Roman official is going to hear about what Paul is preaching and he's curious. Yeah. And, um, one of the governor's advisors, his name is Elymos, I think he tries to keep the official from believing.

Both: 16:07

Yeah.

Alison: 16:07

Um, so what happens when this official is like, you know, Tried to, you know, Elymash tries to keep this official from

Adam: 16:14

bullying to read from 8 to 12. Perfect. Okay, but Elymas the magician for that is the meaning of his name opposed them seeking to turn the Proconsul away from the faith But Saul who was called Paul Filled with the Holy Spirit looked intently at him and said you son of the devil you enemy of all righteousness Full all of all deceit and villainy Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time. Immediately, mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teachings of the Lord.

Alison: 17:02

So does that echo anything?

Adam: 17:04

Uh, it sounds like when Paul himself was, uh, was blinded.

Alison: 17:08

Yeah. Do you think that's intentional? I

Adam: 17:10

do, yeah.

Alison: 17:10

Tell me about it.

Adam: 17:12

Well, you tell me. I want to know what your theory is. I think, I think he's on a journey, and we're meeting people. Uh, a believer who is seeking to stop the teaching, the message of the gospel. Um, and at this, uh, here we're seeing both the physical man and the spiritual side, the darkness that's trying to silence things. Um, and so Paul is utilizing the same thing that, um, would ultimately turn him towards the Lord. Um, they're utilizing that towards, uh, Elimus.

Alison: 17:39

Yeah.

Adam: 17:40

You

Alison: 17:40

tried to throw that ball back into my court. I did. You had such a good

Adam: 17:43

answer. Well, I know, I panicked for a second.

Alison: 17:46

So, um, yeah, I agree with you. And, you know, I think we might, um, Initially read this and think, Oh my goodness, how hypocritical of Saul maybe to, um, you know, cast want to cast blindness on someone. Um, you know, but actually think you could think of it as an act of mercy. Like the fact that that would have obviously the Lord was working. So what didn't have the power to make anyone blind?

Both: 18:09

Yeah,

Alison: 18:10

but I think that, um, yeah, Saul was excited to do that through the Lord because I think he probably saw his experience going blind as his opportunity to repent and repentance the opportunity to repent is an act of mercy, right? And so I think that he probably not I think it was angry and passionate and wanted Elemas to stop but I think he wanted Elemas to believe.

Both: 18:35

Yeah,

Alison: 18:35

and and he Let the Lord speak through him to cause Elymos to be blind as an act of mercy, knowing that that was what drew Paul to repentance and hoping that the same might be true for Elymos.

Adam: 18:48

Now, the word, the word magician in my Bible, did your Bible have something different for that?

Alison: 18:52

No.

Adam: 18:53

Um, this would actually be more, I think, appropriately, uh, kind of deemed a sorcerer. This is like one who is dealing with like, Um, like what we would call like the black, black arts or, or the, you know, he's enchanting, he's, um, uh, playing with the dead and that kind of thing. And so, uh, he's sort of like this stereotypical or, or prototypical, um, uh, human, uh, Who's playing in the spiritual realm, um, and the spiritual realm is darkness and this is why he so heavily is going to try to stop, uh, the spread of the light because he exists in the darkness, so his, his own, uh, you know, the outcome of this is literal darkness, which I think is kind of funny, but, uh, this is where that, this is where if you begin to become attuned to the spirits, spiritual warfare that's taking place, you're going to see like, Um, like a convergence of the physical and the spiritual there, you're going to see just simply by this random guy who happens to be a sorcerer or magician, you're, you're watching like, what happens? Is anything able to stop this? Is the human means or the spiritual means going to be able to stop the spread of this gospel?

Alison: 19:58

I love that you pointed that out for us because I think that Particularly in the Western world. We're not as we don't see that spiritual warfare as easily. We're not like as comfortable talking about

Adam: 20:08

experience that a lot in Haiti. Yeah,

Alison: 20:10

I have experienced that a lot. You know, voodoo is very prevalent in Haiti. And so I think that would be pretty equivalent to like a black magic like you're talking about. And they're much more comfortable with talking about that spiritual realm of darkness than we are. But it is It very much exists in America, just like it did in New Testament Bible lands and just like it does in other parts of the world today. So I think it's, I'm glad you pointed that out. And I think we need to keep our eyes open to that spiritual warfare throughout the book of Acts, um, and, and train our brains to, to do that and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal that to us here in the Western world, because it is such an important part of what the Holy Spirit is doing. And so, um, yeah. Unfortunately, Elymos doesn't seem, it doesn't seem like he believes, but the governor does. Yeah. Um, he does believe, and it's not just the sign that he believes, it says he was actually astonished at the word of the Lord.

Both: 21:03

Yeah.

Alison: 21:03

And I think that's pretty cool. The Bible's clear to say it's not just about the sign. Um, it was also about the word of the Lord.

Adam: 21:09

Yeah. You know, uh, one of these verses also talks about Paul. Paul, but, uh, it, it refers to him as Saul, who's known as Paul. Um, I think this kind of gets a, a little bit of a, a different skew to it. I think this is often portrayed as he's changing names, and we've talked about this, how Saul and Paul are actually, they're both his name, and it's not that he had a name change necessarily, but that one. Um, Saul, uh, happens to be his, uh, his Hebrew name and Paul happens to be his Greek name. Um, and so here we're in Roman Greco, Greco Roman, you know, uh, very much Greco Roman land. And so what we're seeing is we're watching Paul use, you know, his side of connections in the, at being a Roman citizen and with a Roman name. And he's kind of portraying that all things to all people thing that he'll, he'll kind of discuss. And he'll use those. Um, bridges that he has with this Gentile world being that he's both Roman and, uh, and very high up in, in Judaism to help begin to bridge all those gaps and create those, you know, bridges to help lead people to the gospel. And so Saul will be Paul from now on, because we are in very much Rome.

Alison: 22:19

So he seeks to reach people where they are. Awesome. So, um, so after Paphos, um, they're going to actually leave the island of Cyprus and they're going to sail north to Perga. Um, today Perga is known as mainland Turkey, basically. Um, and they go, just Barnabas and Saul go now. Um, Mark actually, um, He leaves them after Cyprus and we talked some about that when we went over the gospel of Mark. We're not exactly sure why Mark left and people think he might have gotten homesick. People think he might have gotten to Perga and was like, this was not what I signed up for. He was more familiar with Cyprus. You know, we're not really sure why. But we know that now, I think it was probably a disappointment to Paul in Barnabas though, that he left. We know that was a disappointment to Paul because kind of something he holds against Mark for a while there. But you know, Mark would have been the only eyewitness to Jesus's ministry. And so I think that although he was younger and didn't hold the stature in Jewish world that Paul did, and probably that Barnabas did, he was, it was probably helpful for them to say, Mark was there, you know, and so now he's abandoned them and that was a disappointment. But the mission continues and they go, um, they go 135 miles north to, um, Antioch, Pisidia. Now this isn't the same Antioch that they set out with. This is like, I heard a commentator describe Antioch, Pisidia as more like the wild, wild east. You know, we say the wild, wild west. Um, it's just, you know, um, up in the mountains, more of a rugged area, less developed, probably, you know, not as big towns, those kind of things. But it's going to be the setting for the rest of chapter 13. Um, and I, I think that you probably will really appreciate verses 17 through 23. There in chapter 13, because it takes him those seven verses, Paul is speaking to the church, or to, at a synagogue there in Antioch, Pisidia, and it takes him seven verses to go from Exodus to Jesus.

Adam: 24:21

He does it, he does it a lot more succinctly than I would ever. It would take me seven, you know, uh, classes to do that. He does it in seven verses.

Alison: 24:29

But you've recognized what Paul is teaching in that the whole Bible points to Jesus.

Both: 24:34

Yes.

Alison: 24:35

And Paul, um, talks about the law a lot, but he talks about the law. He starts with the law, um, there, you know, in the Old Testament because he uses it as a mirror and he uses it to reveal their condition, but it's not a remedy. for their condition. And so he, after he talks about, um, the law and how it wasn't sufficient to remedy their condition, he shares the remedy.

Both: 25:01

Yeah. He

Alison: 25:02

shares about Jesus in the next 15 or so verses. And every fourth verse, when he's talking to the people in Antioch, Pisidia, he says, every fourth verse, he says, and God raised Jesus from the dead. And I really noticed that. It's in the good news. Paul wanted to emphasize the resurrection, and I think that's important to us when we're thinking about sharing the good news. All of this, the story of Jesus, his perfect life, his death, his resurrection, all of that is good news. But I think oftentimes we do fall short. of emphasizing the resurrection. Yeah. I mean, I teach children's, you know, Bible store study. And if you ask the kid, like, what did Jesus do for you? They're going to right away. I think you're going to say he died on the cross. Yeah. And he did. But, um, I think it's interesting to see how much Paul also stresses that he was. Rose again, because that proves that he is God, that he is the Messiah. I've always thought,

Adam: 25:54

I always thought it was kind of funny that we, we utilize like the cross as symbol, you know, of, of that representation of what he did and not, uh, why don't, why aren't people just wearing like tomb neck necklaces, you know, open tomb necklaces. I always thought that was way more interesting.

Alison: 26:08

You should start that. I'll

Adam: 26:10

get one. You'd get a tomb necklace.

Alison: 26:13

Like there's all kinds of companies that will make your idea. That's

Adam: 26:16

true. I'm sure it's out there. I probably haven't.

Alison: 26:19

But, uh, and so the people They, um, here in Antioch and Pisidia, they do not want Paul and Barnabas to leave. Um, and I love verse 44. Would you mind reading chapter 13, just reading verse 44?

Adam: 26:34

just think it's really good. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

Alison: 26:39

Okay. So, I just like that verse because they go from speaking in the synagogue there in Antioch and Pisidia and they don't, the people in the synagogue, they don't want them to leave whole town is excited to hear the word of the Lord.

Adam: 26:54

You know, I, I get this picture throughout all of this because like, like you said at the beginning, we're, we're, we're progressing through the Acts 1. 8 idea of going Jerusalem, Judea, all of Samaria, we're out in the edges of the earth, you know, we're moving towards the edges of the earth. And it's awesome. It's always funny to me, and purposefully so, um, that the Jews always seem a stiff necked, hard hearted people, unwilling to listen, blind in their faith, but the Gentiles are so eager. It's like they've been waiting for All, all of human history for this moment, and they're like, they're ready to jump on it. And of course, it's going to make the Jews jealous, which, again, if you, if you're familiar with, uh, Romans, um, and Paul's writings in Romans, uh, you'll notice that God will utilize that jealousy. Um, to help stir the hearts of the, of the hard hearted, um, Jews as well. But I, I just think it is funny how eager and willing people are, and I, I'm sure you've experienced that on mission trips too, because I know it's been an experience of mine whenever we've gone somewhere. That is one thing that I walk back, uh, or come back with is the eagerness of the people to hear the good news.

Both: 27:59

Yeah. I

Adam: 28:00

mean, it's like, they're just like, they've been waiting for it, you know, and, and these might even be people who've been, I'm, I'm sort of somewhat aware of it, but for some reason when, when you utilize, um, individuals who will come and speak it openly from a different country or whatever it may be, it seems to stir the heart of the people to, um, excitement and eagerness in, in accepting the good news.

Alison: 28:20

Yeah, absolutely. and you're, you're right, exactly what you said is the result is often that the jews get jealous and the gentiles receive it and That's exactly what happened.

Adam: 28:29

Yeah. Oh, it's almost like I had known what was going to happen.

Alison: 28:33

In Antioch Pisidia. Um, and, and so, um, the leaders, like, they try to cause trouble and they start arguing with Paul and they start saying evil things about them. And so Paul and Barnabas recognize their work is done there in Antioch Pisidia and it says that they, um, shake the dust off from their feet and they move on to God's next place for them. Mm hmm. And, um, shaking the dust off from their feet. That was something that, um, was done in Bible times when Jews walked through a Gentile land, they didn't want to take anything from the land with them because it was unclean. And so they would literally like dust off their shoes before they walked from a Gentile land into Israel. And so, in other words, they were just saying, like, you know, if you're not going to receive God, we're just gonna, we're gonna move on and shake the, shake that off of our feet and they go 80 miles, um, to the east to Iconium and then Iconium is where we are in chapter 14 and I gave us, I kind of led that really speedy travel through chapter 13 and lots of places. You want to. Help us, inform us on what happens in chapter 14 when they get to e Iconium.

Adam: 29:46

Yeah. They're gonna, they're gonna do what they have been doing. In fact, um, they're gonna go right into the Jewish, uh, Jewish synagogue as well. They're gonna speak it speak. And a gr uh, this time a great number of both Jews and Greeks are gonna believe. Um, and, uh, it's the same pattern. Uh, we're gonna see as there's a mixture of the success. Um, there's also gonna become a, a massive amount of re uh. Uh, of opposition that takes place or resistance that takes place. And, uh, while they're there, uh, I want to read, uh, one section of chapter 14 here just to kind of give you a little bit of a picture into the story or the narrative that's taking place. And so I'm going to read. Verses 8 through 18, and then we'll kind of talk about it. Okay, sounds good. Now at Lystra, there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking, and Paul looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well. Said in a loud voice, stand upright on your feet. And he sprang up and he began walking. And when the crowd saw that Paul had done, they lifted their voices saying, uh, in Laconian, uh, the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men. Before I go on from that, um, that is a phrase that we are familiar with. If you recall just two chapters before this, they were, they were declaring, uh, of Herod That he is a God who has come down in the likeness of man. And Herod accepts the worship and is killed immediately. Here, verse 12, Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul Hermes because he was a chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance of the city, brought an oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer a sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and they rushed out into the crowd crying, men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you, and we bring you good news that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. And past generations, he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways, yet he did not leave himself without a witness. For He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. Even with these words, they scarcely restrain the people from offering sacrifice to them. So here we get another mix of this spiritual, uh, um, warfare that's taking place. These individuals are, are here, um, demanding that they offer worships to these two men because they're, they've ascribed that they are part of these Greco Roman mythologies, these gods, these gods, uh, in their belief system. So what are your thoughts? What, what, what do you know about this?

Alison: 32:36

Well, I know that. Um, one of the things I love about the, the miracle that kind of spurs this on is in verse nine, it says Paul looked right at the man and then he healed him. And we see that a lot in scripture. And I think sometimes we kind of miss that again in our Western culture. You know, this was an honor and shame culture and people didn't look. I didn't make eye contact with people who were of lower social status than them and a lame person would certainly have been of the lowest social status in the culture. And so, but we see what's true about God from Psalm 3, 3, that God is the one who lifts up my head. Psalm 3, 3 tells us. And we see Jesus acting that out time and time again in the way that he looks at people to heal them. And we see Paul following in the example of Jesus

Both: 33:23

when

Alison: 33:23

he looks at this man and lifts up his head and then he heals him. But the crowds are not going to react in the way. That Paul and, and Barnabas had intended. Um, so why, why is it that they react so violently, do you think?

Adam: 33:36

Well, um, one, uh, in studying for this, I didn't realize that this, this was, there's actually some like kind of legend or mythology that would have been familiar to the people of the time that, that would cause them to, to do this. Um, there was a well known local legend, uh, that was recounted called Ovid's Metamorphosis. And it tells this story about Zeus and Hermes themselves. And what they did was they visited this, this region and they disguised themselves as mortals and they showed up at this house and they asked for food. Um, and, uh, after being fed this food, these people, uh, who had taken them in, uh, were basically treating them right. So Zeus and Hermes started showing them, uh, signs that they were gods. They would, and, and this will sound familiar. Um, uh, these two, uh, mortal human beings, Philemon and, uh, Bacchus, uh, both noticed that, hey, we keep pouring wine, but wine keeps filling up. They, it's, it's never ending at this point. And they start to realize who these individuals were. And so, um, this myth or legend kind of grew over time in the area that, um, really showed that, um, you should, you should accept these foreigners in because you just never know. It's, it's actually, it's. It's the same myth that, uh, Paul will, uh, I think it's Paul, or is it Jesus? Somebody who, ah, you'll have to Bible check me on this one, who says, um, you should always accept like the foreigner who's knocking at your door and asking for food and stuff because you never know when you're entertaining angels.

Both: 35:05

Yes.

Adam: 35:06

Right? It's like this same mindset that you're seeing, like the divine that's showing up and you should always treat the foreigner and those, uh, uh, you know, at risk and stuff, uh, with God's, uh, with God's love and loyalty towards people. Well, anyways. Uh, they were fearful of, uh, cause some did not accept these two individuals, um, uh, who were Zeus and Hermes, uh, in this legend, and, uh, it cost them, and so now these people are growing and watching the, um, two human individuals in their town. that just healed a man and of course what's going to come to mind are these stories that they've been told since they were kids of of you know, entertaining um, you know, these gods and so they start demanding that they are gods. And here what we're seeing is Paul is going to set the record straight. They're not going to accept the worship. They're going to they're going to be so Um, uh, against it or opposed to it. They tear their clothes, which was like a ritual or a outward appearance showing their dismay that's occurring in their heart. And they're going to demand, they're going to run into the crowds and demand not to be worshiped and whatnot. So there is like. I think it's easy for us because we're so disconnected to read this story and be like why in the world would they do this, you know? This seems like a massive jump or oversight. This was, this was like, you know, I can't think of a modern context. Like, this is like if you saw a wolf laying in your grandma's bed. Yeah. You know, like this is a story that you recognize and you've heard your whole life whether you thought it was true or not. But here you're watching the divine take place. So, there is a spiritual aspect to this where the people's hearts are open to the divine. Um, they're just, they're just not realizing who the true God is. And so, Paul, uh, Paul and, uh, Barnabas are, are gonna work towards showing them who the true God is. They're gonna start to differentiate between their false gods and this, uh, the one true God here. Um, uh, uh, regardless of whether the people want to keep sacrificing to them or not. But this doesn't end well.

Alison: 36:59

No, so your explanation about the legend and their culture kind of explains to us why they were so overzealous to worship Paul and Barnabas, and it ends with basically them, despite Paul and Barnabas pleading, I mean, they, they cannot get the crowds to stop worshiping them. And then it says, um, right after that, about this time, Jews from Antioch and Iconium, um, come over. And these are Jews who are not happy with Paul and Barnabas. And, um, my heart dropped a little bit when I read that verse. Like, right after Paul and Barnabas cannot stop, um, the people, from trying to worship them. About that time, some Jews who are unhappy with Paul and Barnabas come over like 100 miles. They travel like 100 miles. Yeah. Chasing them. And doesn't that speak to how the devil works? Yeah. Like just trying to capitalize on our weak moments. Um, and so they do, they capitalize on the crowd. They capitalize, um, on what's going on in the crowd. They get the crowd to stone Paul and they thought Paul was dead. In fact, they drug him out of the city because they thought he was dead. And we're not really sure. It says in verse 20 that the believers gathered around Paul and then he got up and he went back into the city. So some people believe that maybe he was dead and then God raised him back to life. The Bible doesn't say that specifically, but regardless, he was in very, this was, this This was supernatural in the way that he was able to get back up and walk into the city. And, and that's all it tells us, and Adam, I want to know what happened when he got back into the city. Like, and would you walk that direction if you were Paul? Because I think I would head the other way.

Adam: 38:41

Yeah, I mean, this bloody, beat up, bruised, broken Paul walking back into the city would be such a, I mean, that would be such a, a picture right there.

Alison: 38:50

Yeah, so we're not sure exactly what all were the impacts of Paul walking back into the city, but we have a clue of what possibly could have been one. We know from later in the book of Acts that there is a man named Timothy who became a believer in Lystra, the city that Paul walked back into after having been stoned. And Timothy becomes a pretty major player in the Christian church. And so I just wonder. If maybe Timothy was, um, the Holy Spirit used Paul's courage, Paul's bravery, Paul's commitment to the word. Um, and when he was stoned and then walked back into the city, if maybe Timothy didn't see him and that didn't lead to Timothy's trusting the Lord.

Adam: 39:33

Interesting. Yeah.

Alison: 39:34

Yeah, and so, um, but he's going to go back in, I think, I think his trip back into the city was pretty brief because the next day it says he and Barnabas leave for Derby, um, and Derby is 60 miles east of Lystra, and things go better in Derby.

Both: 39:49

Yeah.

Alison: 39:49

Thank goodness. It says that, um, verse 21, they won a large number of followers in the city, and then they were thrown Turned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, Pisidia in order to strengthen believers. So they like go back again. So this is now their trip home and they go back to every city that they had visited except for the island of Cyprus. They bypass the island of Cyprus and they take the ship on back to the Antioch that they started with. And the thing that struck me was two things really. Once that was brave because things didn't go well in every city and most of the cities they left because things were near death. Yeah.

Both: 40:23

Yeah. Yeah.

Alison: 40:23

Um, but it also tells me that, um, God's desire in Making disciples is to make disciples not just evangelize, but disciple converts. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Not just converts. And so they go back and the reason they go back to each of those places is, um, to, to grow not just the Christian, but the church.

Both: 40:44

Yeah. To

Alison: 40:44

grow a place where the Christian can be discipled and, um, they take, I think they take some of the same kinds of risks for discipleship as they do for evangelism.

Both: 40:53

Yeah. That's so true.

Alison: 40:53

Yeah. And that really struck out, you know, stuck out to me when I was studying this passage. And, um, so they finally make it back to, um, to the city of Antioch, where they started. And I think we should just end with reading Acts 26, 28, because I think I'd like to consider it almost like a happy ending, if that makes sense, to, um, Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. So do you mind reading? 1426 28. Yep.

Adam: 41:20

And from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith to Gentiles. And they remained, uh, no little time with the disciples.

Alison: 41:39

So God's going to give them rest back in Antioch. They're going to report. You know, if you've gone on a mission trip and reported to your church afterwards with the slideshow and the story, I mean, hey, that's. Yeah. Happened at the very first mission trip, right? So true. I don't know that they had PowerPoint, but they definitely shared with the church what God had done. You know,

Adam: 41:55

what, what I noticed is we've been talking about like, um, the plans of the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit has really been guiding here. Oftentimes, I think we rely too much on, on human plans because I'm certain it wasn't Paul's plan, uh, to one, get stoned and then second, to go back, you know, um, I think there's a distinction being made here and showing that, that, look, the Holy Spirit's plans are there, following them is really what matters, even if it means you got stoned. I mean, I think a lot of times people will be like, well, You know, the Holy Spirit wouldn't lead my family into discomfort or distress or, you know, uh, potential danger, but, but that's not the model that we see. We see that the, the gospel is going to reach where, where the Holy Spirit wants it to reach. And, um, we, we have to be faithful and, and listening for that call to be in a tune with the Holy Spirit, to walking with God every day. And being willing to accept whatever outcome because it's for the greater good of, of the people, um, who need to hear the gospel.

Alison: 42:56

So comfort and safety are not necessarily criteria for the Holy Spirit.

Adam: 43:01

Yeah, you know, I mean, it is fitting that all the mission trips that I've been to seems to have been in like, um, tropical beautiful paradise places that happen to also be third world countries. Um, but you know, uh, it's in those discomforts, um, where I come back with a greater understanding of, um, that the temporary discomfort that, that I may feel doesn't even begin to compare, um, to the, the eternal glory that God has in the words of Paul. And so those discomforts are a reminder of Two things. One, the things that God has blessed us with here in this country. I mean, I take for granted every single day I'm sitting in an office that is, is beautifully, you know, uh, decorated and well, you know, heated and air conditioned. And I, I just don't, I'm not in a chair that costs more than, you know, I care to even admit. Uh. Uh. You know, we don't exist in these third world countries where we're surrounded by so, such outward spiritual darkness like voodoo and that kind of thing, and, and being able to go and preach the gospel and teach and evangelize to these other nations are as much of a teaching experience for me as it is for anybody who would hear the gospel, because It's a reminder that, um, you know, God's work pervades all of our comforts. You know, it goes, it goes, um, it, it, the gospel needs to get to everyone, you know, and that we are blessed with what we have here. But we also, uh, understand that, uh, those who are, you know, less fortunate, um, they, they need to hear the gospel and, uh, we need to be, uh, obedient and following the, the Lord's lead in, in going into these uncomfortable situations, um, for the sake of the gospel.

Alison: 44:52

And so when, um, Paul and Barnabas get back to Antioch, it says that, um, they got to rest, and they, and, and they needed that time of rest because God wasn't done with them yet. Yeah. And so we're going to continue on. I think next week to see what he does with them next.

Adam: 45:09

It's interesting, I, I, I, you know, you just said that, that's two Sabbaths in one chapter. I wonder if, uh, what if there's a bigger theme? I'm gonna have to look into that. A Sabbath theme, or our listeners can do that.

Both: 45:20

Okay.

Adam: 45:21

If you're interested in looking for something different, uh, go and look and see if there's a big Sabbath theme in, in the Book of Acts. Uh, go use, utilize whatever, or if you want some help utilizing, uh, online resources or something, reach out to us, because we'd love to start that conversation.

Alison: 45:35

Yeah, because Sabbath, which, um, is rest, is an important part of ministry. Yes. Sometimes it's often overlooked. It's

Adam: 45:42

very much overlooked, yes. All

Alison: 45:43

right. Yes. Well, do you want to close us in a word of prayer? Sure.

Adam: 45:46

Yeah. Father God, we're thankful for the opportunity to dive into your word again today. God, we're thankful for the model that's being laid out here. Um, of having a heart for missions. God, as we understand missions, um, to be, you know, heading out with the gospel, teaching those who need to hear, preaching, and evangelizing, there's a discipleship aspect to it as well. But God, this can all take place. Um, in our backyard, or the state over, or the next country. And God, we're thankful that, um, you, you give us a gifting of the Holy Spirit's guidance and leading. Father, I pray that, uh, we can be more attuned to, um, wherever you want us, or wherever you've called us to go. Even if it means, um, it could be uncomfortable for us, um, or even potentially, um, dangerous. Father, we know that the things that take place on this earth, uh, to our physical selves, um, uh, are only temporary. Father, uh, for the reaching of the, the, or the spreading of the gospel, they're worth taking place. God, help us to, uh, be more attuned to the, uh, blessings that you've gifted us and blessed us with here in the comforts of, of the United States. Um, but also I pray that we don't take, uh, just advantage of that, God, that we are willing to suffer for the case of Christ. Um, but you've called us to God be with us this week. Um, keep us safe. We ask these things in your name. Amen.

Alison: 47:06

Amen. Right.