Section 5: "A Missions Drive" [13]

Review of Outline of Acts

• 12:24 Peace, but the Holy Spirit is about to do another huge move!!!
• Maps of Paul’s missionary journeys

5.1 Journey to Galatia via Cyprus [13-14]

Paul and Barnabas set apart [13:1-3]

• 13:1-3 is very interesting and helpful when it comes to:
  • understanding how leadership functions
  • appointing new leaders
  • starting new ministries
  • In Acts, there is almost always fasting & extended time spent with God before appointing anyone for service
    • e.g. Appointment of elders in Acts 14:23
  • Even Jesus prayed all night before he chose his disciples: Luke 6:12-16

Cyprus: Elymas struck blind [13:4-12]

• from now on Saul is called Paul, why?
• Paul’s first recorded miracle
  • was Paul being vindictive?
    • the same manifestation of God’s power led to his own salvation!
  • What was the proconsul astounded at?
    • Paul’s teaching??
    • same with Jesus Luke 4:32-37
    • it was the combination of word and power
      • The use of the word dunamis (power) in the N.T.

Pisidia: preached in Synagogue [13:13-52]

• Paul preaches in a synagogue
• Note that this first time sets a pattern
  • outline of message
  • The usual pattern: 13:44-52

Iconium: signs & wonders [14:1-7]

• 14:3,4 Do signs and wonders guarantee that people are saved?
  • Even true in Jesus’ ministry!

Lystra: Cripple healed, Paul stoned [14:8-20]

Back to Antioch [14:21-28]

5.2 Jerusalem council about Gentiles [15:1-35]

Dispute about circumcision [15:1-5]

The apostles and elders meet [15:6-29]

• what are we to make of these three rules? Are we still bound by them today?
• Did Jews need to keep the ceremonial law to be saved?
  • How Old Testament saints were saved

The churches are encouraged [15:30-35]

5.3 Paul returns to Galatia & strengthens the churches [15:36-16:5]

• How come Paul and Barnabas had an argument? —who was right?

Response time

• How do you think we should respond to this?
• Was this a man-made crusade?
  • Was there any human wisdom involved? (trick question)
• We can pray for
  • a heart to reach the lost
  • A pouring out of the Spirit’s power
  • To be like the church in Antioch who were so earnest in wanting God to move that they fasted and prayed until they knew his will