And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, (22) strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”  (23) So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended  them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (24) And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.  (25) Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went  to Attalia.  (26) From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. (27) Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke as a history of the early church. This history was in many cases a first hand report of the spread of the gospel in the first days from Jerusalem to Rome. To me in particular this book gives the believer facts of history on which to base his/her belief in Christ Jesus.  If the historical resurrection is not true our belief is futile.  We are assured though Acts that this resurrection of Christ is true – and something sure was going on in that time of incredible and extraordinary growth of the church.

Our verses take up when Paul and Barnabas decided to close their first missionary journey. They had begun this journey in Antioch and were to return there – but instead of returning directly to Antioch – a straight shot from Derbe where they last preached – Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps which showed remarkable faith and courage as they had been reviled, scorned, thrown out from these cities and Paul had even been stoned at Lystra and dragged from that city by men who thought he was dead. When the Christian disciples gathered around his body, he”rose up and went into the city.  And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe ” – a miraculous recovery indeed.

Our verses use the word disciples three times emphasizing the strong faith of the newly converted. This return journey to Antioch was pastoral on Pauls part and records his practice to establish a church and to always keep in touch with them and provide counseling and encouragement.  His goal was to provide for disciples and to strengthen their souls.

Our verses finally tell us that God is the hero of this story.  When Paul and Barnabas reach Antioch the Scripture tell us that “they reported all that God had done with them” – not all that they had done.  And that God “opened the door of faith to the Gentiles”.  Not only was this explosion of faith unprecedented, the inclusion of the Gentiles was revolutionary – and ultimately the inclusion of the Gentiles in Gods plan of salvation was what the first missionary trip of Paul was all about.  Acts of the Apostles is so understated and each word so nuanced that we sometimes miss the wild excitement of those times. I’m not sure if there ever was or will be again such an overt and miraculous time in the history of mankind.

(14) But when they departed from Perga, they cam to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. (43) Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.  (44) On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.  (45) But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. (46) Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said “It was necessary that the word of God be spoke. To you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves I worthy of everlasting life, behold we run to the Gentiles.  (47) For so the Lord has commanded us:  ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’  (48) Now when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.  And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (49) And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.  (50) But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.  (51) But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.  (52) And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke; physician, historian and dear friend to the Apostle Paul. In our verses today Luke is telling us of Paul’s strategy for evangelism – when he would arrive at a city he would seek out the Jewish synagogue and – as was the custom- when men were invited to address the gathering, Paul would step up and use the Old Testament and Israel’s history to prove that Jesus was the Christ – the promised Messiah of scripture.

Our verses tell us that Paul and Barnabus attended synagogue at Pisidian Antioch during their first missionary journey. Some of the Jews believed and followed the gospel but others rejected the gospel violently and drove Paul and Barnabus out of town. This was predictable as the Jews – the devout synagogue attendants – would have been threatened by what they heard. Their pride and jealously,  stirred by thoughts of loss of power and income and influence turned them from freely offered eternal saovation. Their eyes and ears were hardened.But the most thoughtful point in this passage concerns the the doctrine of election And this should have been familiar to the Jews. Their history is a history of a people chosen by God to be His people.

In verse 48, Luke tells us that as “many as had been appointed  eternal life believed”.  The Bible is very clear on this point. We are being told that God is active in  historY – that it is always up to God electing men and not the reverse.  It is up to us to respond and how can we respond if we have not heard?  And more important, our choice to believe the gospel is not why God chose us.  God chose us before we were born and God’s election is WHY we choose to believe.  Salvation is from God. From beginning to end

And when they had brought them,  they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, (28) saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?  And, look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us! ”  (29) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:  “We ought to obey God rather than men.  (30) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. (31) Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  (32) And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. (40b) and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were  worthy to suffer shame for His name. 

The Acts of the Apostles was a written account by Luke of the first years of the early church.  The historical context of our verses today tell us of a period of great power, popularity  and energy of the church by the Holy Spirit. Opposed to this growth were the Jewish leaders who were fearing for their power as religious leaders of a people and also for their status as a protected religion under Roman law.  The Sanhedrin (the leaders of the Jewish people) was irrationally angry because of the threat to their power and position.  For them to co-exist with this new religion they would also have to acknowledge their terrible act of killing the Christ – and they chose this world rather than the eternal life of the gospel.

Our study today tells us that the apostles were thrown into prison by the order of the Sanhedrin – they were freed by an Angel of God and were told to return to the Temple in Jerusalem to speak the gospel to the people.  despite their miraculous delivery, they were rearrested and rebuked by the High Priest but Peter – full of the Spirit – told the Sanhedrin that “We ought to obey God rather than men.”  The Apostles were reluctantly released – but first flogged – and commanded by the Jewish leaders to speak no more of Jesus. But our verses today tell us that nothing could deter these men from speaking the gospel.

Also the Sanhedrin was accused by Peter – for the second time – of murdering Jesus who he describes as the author of salvation. JEsus was the Savior of the Jews but the Jews didn’t think they needed a savior.

Not all of our problems present such a clear cut solution as the Apostles faced. As Christians we are expected by God to be obedient.  Whatever the cost we are to obey God. I know that at the end of my life I don’t want to hear the words spoken by Jesus:  “depart from me; I never knew you.”

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.  (13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.  (14) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (15) so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.  (16) Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke, physician and historian.  Acts tells us of the acts of great men in the early church and also the letter records material found nowhere else in the New Testament – the history of the first three decades of the church.  We are told of the explosion of energy and the powerful workings of the Spirit in that ancient world.

Our verses today follow the story of Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife, who sold property and pretended to give the entire proceeds to the poor. Both were questioned by Peter, and both were struck dead on exposure of this lie. We are told this was a judgment of God or qualified as “death at the hands of heaven” which was a recognized penalty in the Old Testament and in Jewish Law.  This event happened at a critical time for the early church and Gods judgment was quick and terrible and inspired great and holy fear among converted and non converted Jews.

Our verses today tell us that the Apostles and some of the early disciples were performing mighty acts of miraculous healing. They had great power of the Holy Spirit and we are told they were held in high esteem by those who were afraid to confess Christ as messiah.  None of the rest dared to even associate with the apostles in those immediate days at Jerusalem but still the church grew:  what was going on??  Peter was preaching to those who had just murdered Jesus and Luke shows him as bold, articulated and clearly inspired by the Spirit.

There was powerful witnessing resulting in powerful conversions – the purpose of the miracles was to confirm the Gospel message and to authenticate the Apostles as God’s messengers.  It was a serious thing to be a Christian.  People were so convinced of the reality and power of what Christians believed that they brought their sick to be healed. Even to the point of placing the sick in Peter’s shadow – we don’t know if they were healed but clearly the people thought they could be healed. People of Jerusalem believed what Peter was saying was blessed by God.