Lesson 1 – Jesus Christ, the King, Evangelizes Asia Minor

Jesus Christ

Holy Spirit

Apostles

Paul

Believers

Barnabas,

John Mark

Jews

Non-

believers

believers

Gentiles

Scene Two: 13:4-12: Paul, Barnabas and John Mark preached all over the isle of Cyprus until they came to Paphos. There they converted the proconsul, Sergius Paulas. They blinded a false prophet by the name of Bar-Jesus (Elymas).

Scene Three: 13:13-51. John Mark returned to Jerusalem when they arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Paul and Barnabas went to Pisidian Antioch and joined the Jews and “devout converts to Judaism” (religious proselyte) on the Sabbath.

Paul addressed the synagogue attendees as “Men of Israel and you Gentiles (proselytes) who worship God.”

1. He started his speech with the children of Israel in Egypt and brought

the story of their history up to David, the king.

1. Next point: “From this man’s descendants God brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.” V.23.
2. Then Paul took his story to the end of Jesus’ life and death in Jerusalem. “But God raised Him up from the dead, and for many days He was seen by those who had traveled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.” 31.
3. “Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” 38.

“Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could

not be justified from by the law of Moses.” 39.

The next Sabbath many people gathered to hear the word of God. 44.

1. When the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with jealousy.
2. Paul quoted from Isaiah that Jesus was the light for the Gentiles and “they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” 48. See Luke 2:32.
3. “But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city.” 50. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet in protest and left the region. 51.
4. “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” 52.

Scene one: 14:1-7. At Iconium the preaching

program was, as usual, “first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Even though the preachers showed miraculous signs and wonders, the Jews, for the most part, did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. The church had started to be built after some time but the preachers left town under the threat of being stoned.

Scene two: In the Laconian cities of Lystra and Derbe the preachers went straight to the Gentile population

with the gospel.

1. In Lystra they healed a crippled man and

were welcomed as gods.

1. The preachers shouted, “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.” 15.
2. “We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth…”
3. Their point: Even though God had let the Gentiles go their own way since the time of Abraham He still was the One who provided for their physical needs.
4. The foundation for a church was laid but Paul took a terrible beating at the instigation of the Jews. Even then they pushed on to preach in Derbe with great success. 21.

Scene Three: 14:21-28. “Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.”

watch what each member of the cast is doing.

The Holy Spirit directed the program we are reading about in chapter thirteen.

We must always keep in mind how the Holy Spirit does what Jesus desires and

Jesus does what His Father desires. See John 5:20; 16:13. Read Romans 1:16.

Note the doctrine of justification by faith is first mentioned here in Acts. 13:39.

Elders were appointed with prayer and fasting.14:23. Don’t miss this point.