Bible Studies

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For chapter 13, I am going to leave my usual expository teaching through the Book of Acts. This chapter is difficult to define both in outline form and in content. Therefore I am going to draw attention to key phrases and verses. Observation, though, is a simple form of Bible study, and much can be gained from it. You need to read this chapter on your own to put these observations in their proper context.

     The chapter opens with various teachers ministering to the congregation in Antioch. Verse 2 says, "And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" 

    
     The first observation is that the Holy Spirit calls people to specific ministries. The word "calliing" must not be taken lightly. It is a very serious and sacred matter. Christians too often use it in a very flippant manner, saying they are called to do this, do that, or everything else. 

     Along with calling will come opportunity. Verse 7 says that Saul and Barnabas came into contact with a magician who "sought to hear the word of God" but who was actually opposing them, "seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith." Saul (also known as Paul), called him out, saying "You who are full of deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?" Talk about name-calling! It is not considered proper and nice to call people names today, but Paul did it. He called out the people who were opposed to God or were engaged in evil practices. 

     The second observation is that we, as Christians, must not be timid about calling evil what it is, or calling out those who are in opposition to God. But in the culture of today, it is called not be politically correct or intollerant. 

     However, the man had a very dramatic experience, and the people were "amazed at the teaching of the Lord" (12).

     Paul and Barnabas then moved to a different locality. Paul gave another gospel message to the people (17-41), but verses 42-44 say that "the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath... And the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of God." Imagine that! The word of God had such an effect the whole city turned out to hear more!  But the Jews were not welcoming this huge gathering and started causing trouble. So, Paul turned to the Gentiles, many of whom became believers.  The Jews continued to cause trouble, and even "instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district" (50). They moved on and went to Iconium. 

     The third observation is to expect opposition and persecution when sharing the gospel. But there will also be those who receive it. Focus on those who are receptive to it. 

     Question: To what point are you interacting with, and engaging the culture?
  

     

      

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