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Today’s passage is about when Paul and Barnabas go to Iconium and Lystra There they met “a man crippled in his feet” from birth. (8)  Paul said, “Stand up on your feet.” (10) and “the man jumped up and began to walk.” (10) The people that saw that were surprised. They thought that Paul was the Greek god, Hermes and Barnabas was another Greek god, Zeus. Therefore, Paul said to the crowds, “Men why are you doing this?  We too are only men, human like you.  We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” (15) 

              This is a message that is spoken to the Gentiles who did not know the Old Testament.  Therefore, this message is a necessary one for Japanese who sometimes make people god. (For example, the emperor) Today let’s look at 3 aspects of turning to the real faith in the living God.

I.                Those people who believe and those who don’t believe (vs. 1-7)

From Pisidian Antioch Paul and Barnabas set out for the town of Iconium, about 100 kilometers to the East. First in Iconium too they entered the synagogue and preached the Gospel.  As a result many Jews and Greeks entered the faith.  “But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers” who had just believed. (2)  Looking at this we get the image that the Jews were enemies against the Gospel and the Gentiles accepted the Gospel.  However, it wasn’t that simple.  Before when we looked at the Jews in Pisidian Antioch, there were many who rejected the Gospel and persecuted those who did.  However, there were some that joyfully listened and accepted the Gospel.  This time in Iconium is the same.  There were both Jews and Gentiles who heard Paul’s message and entered the faith.  On the other hand, there were come who didn’t accept the Gospel and stirred up problems for those who did.  Therefore, there was no difference between Jews and Gentiles.  Those who believed, believed.  Those who didn’t believe, didn’t believe. The same was true of the Gentiles too.  Some believed and some didn’t.

Therefore, it is clear what Paul was called to do.  That was to preach the Gospel boldly.  This can be seen in verse 3, “Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord.”  No matter who the people that they are speaking to are what is needed is to speak the Word of God boldly.  Then God will work in their hearts and the work of salvation will take place. Here it says, the Lord “confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.” (3)  The miracles and wonders were a sign that what they were preaching was from the Lord.  This means that God was stamping his stamp. It is an encouragement to know that God gives his stamp.

Wherever Paul brought the Gospel not only was there joy of salvation, but there was also uproar.  In this town the people were divided in two: those who supported the Jews and those who supported the apostles.  The Gentiles and Jews, together with their leader made a plot “to mistreat” Paul and Barnabas “and stone them.” (5)  Therefore, Paul and Barnabas escaped to the Lycaonian cities and continued to preach the Gospel there.

From this episode we can see that where the Word of God is preached, it produces divisions.  In Pisidian Antioch when the people heard “the words of salvation” they were divided between those who “were glad and honored the word of the Lord (13:48) and were appointed for eternal life and those who rejected “the words of salvation”.  Here too depending on the attitude that they took towards the Word of the God, the people were divided either with the Jews or with the apostles. 

I Cor. 1:18

The cross divides people into either “the perishing” or “the saved”.  There is no middle ground.  Those who hear the Word are divided into those who believe it and accept it and those who don’t.

Matt. 10:34-37

Some people say that this passage is why they hate Christianity.  They think Christianity causes conflict, not peace.  That is because they don’t understand what real peace is.  Peace does not mean lack of conflict.  It is much deeper than that.  It is obtained through our relationship with God. When our sin is taken away and our relationship with God is right, then we can have peace.  This may cause conflict, but this is only for a short time as part of the process of making peace take root in our hearts. In the end we will always be led to blessing.

Which side are we living on?  God’s side, in other words, the side of the apostles?  Or the side of the Jews who didn’t accept the Word of God?  There is no middle ground.  If you hear God’s word, and follow it then you are on the side of the apostles.  There maybe conflict, but in the end you will be blessed.

II.              Faith to be healed (vs.8-13)

Next let’s look at the greatness of God’s work among those who believed.  First let’s look at verse 10. After the persecution in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went to Lystra which is about 30 Kilometers south of Iconium. In this town there was no Jewish synagogue.  Therefore they preached in the center of town where people gathered.  There they met a man who was crippled from birth. He was listening to Paul speak.  When Paul looked at him, he “saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At that, the man jumped up and began to walk” (9, 10)

In chapter 3 at the beautiful gate Peter healed a crippled man.  The healing at the beautiful gate is very similar to this healing. However there are several differences.  For example the person that Peter healed was a beggar, but the person Paul healed wasn’t.  He was just one of many people listening to Paul’s message.  Also Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (3:6) and then took him by the right hand and helped him up. Paul only said, “Stand up on your feet!” (10) However, the biggest difference is that the person who was healed by Peter as a result of the healing wakened to a faith of praise.  The person that was healed by Paul had “faith to be healed” (9) so he was healed.  Let’s look at what faith to be healed is.

By the way the man listened, the way he soaked up what was being said, Paul was able to tell that he was ready to believe and be saved.  In other words, he was really searching for God.       

However, just because you listen to the Word of God does not mean that you are going to be healed.  The words that are used for “faith to be healed” in the original meaning meant “faith to be saved”.  By looking at verses 11-13 and the event that happens here we can see in what ways he had a “faith to be saved”. In these verses Paul and Barnabas are worshipped as Greek gods.

The crowds were surprised at what Paul had done and shouted, “The gods come down to us in human form!” (11) and then they called Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes.  Both of these names are names of Greek gods. Then in front of the city gates they brought bulls and wreaths because they wanted to offer sacrifices to Barnabas and Paul.

According to legend, a long time ago in the area of Lystra, the two gods, Zeus and Hermes, became men. They didn’t tell who they were so no one would let them stay in their home.  They stayed in a very broken down poor house owned by an elderly couple.  Even though the couple was very poor they showed hospitality to their guests whom they met for the first time.  Therefore, Zeus and Hermes told the couple who they were.  Then they flooded the whole town except for this couple.  The crowd was afraid of making the same mistake so they wanted to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.

Paul and Barnabas said that they were just men like them and that the healing was just a sign to them to turn to the living God. They said that they didn’t have any special power.  In other words, this crippled man from birth, while listening to Paul’s message, a faith in the living God began to grow in his heart.  The religious heart in Lystra was to sacrifice to idols made by man, and look for their own profit that could be seen with their eyes.  In order to obtain that they were willing to do whatever they thought was necessary. However, the crippled man didn’t put his faith in such worthless idols because he had faith in “the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” (15) While listening to Paul’s message, he began to have such a faith.  This faith saves. This type of faith not only saves us but also heals our body. This is “faith to be healed.”

This is the same now and in every age.

Hebrews 13:8

If we today listen to God’s Word, and have faith like this crippled boy, we will be saved. Then we too like this crippled boy will experience the unbelievable work of God. This will be more wonderful than the crippled boy jumping up and walking.

III.            Turn to the living God (vs. 14-18)

Paul told the crowds who were trying to sacrifice to them, “Turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” (15) Japanese too, worship idols made by humans, look to religion for their own profit, check on the direction they should build when they build a house, check about what name they should name their children, check the calendar for a good day before they plan an event, etc.  Our lives are controlled by these things and we are no different than the people of Lystra.  However, the Bible teaches that these kinds of things are worthless. We are to turn from these things and turn “to the living God.” (15)

In the past, God “has not left himself without testimony; He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (17) In this age besides the general testimony, God has shown his mercy by sending his son, Jesus Christ, to this world so that all that believe in him might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

John 3:16

God’s grace has been given so let’s believe and accept God’s grace and turn to God and seek to be with this Living God. This is salvation. We need to believe in Christ and return to Him.

              According to verse 44, the next Sabbath almost all people in town came to hear the word of God.  That was because the week before when Paul preached many people believed in Christ and were set free from their sins.  This news spread throughout the town and everyone wanted to hear the word of God.  However, not every one believed.  There were some people that were against what Paul was preaching.  This is the same in all ages.  There are always 2 groups, those who believe and those who are against the Gospel.   In other words, there are those who receive eternal life and there are those who don’t.  According to Ephesians 1:4,5, it was decided “before the creation of the world” those who would believe and be saved. However, this doesn’t mean God sat down and hand picked who was going to be saved and who was going to be eternally punished.  Therefore, it is important that we understand this concept more fully.  Today let’s look at 3 aspects of being appointed by God for eternity.

I.                Remaining in God’s grace (verses 44-47)

According to verses 44-47 those who have eternal life are those who remain forever in God’s grace.  Paul’s message had a great impact on those who lived there.  According to verse 43 a lot of Jews who worshipped God, followed Paul and Barnabas, and the next week almost the whole town came together to hear the Word of God.  However, there were some that saw all the people following Paul and Barnabas. They became jealous and thus spoke against what Paul and Barnabas were saying. Even though they themselves had believed in Christ the week before, when they saw the Gentiles coming to know the Lord, they couldn’t accept Paul and Barnabas’ teaching.  This was because they thought that they were the center of the world. Their thinking about faith was self-centered too.  They thought that for the Gentiles to be saved that they needed to be circumcised and follow the law first.  They thought that the Gentiles first had to become Jewish before they could be saved.  However, the Gospel that Paul preached wasn’t teaching that.  Paul taught that anyone who believed in Christ could be saved.  A Gentile could be saved as a Gentile.  A sinner, no matter what he had done in the past could be saved if he believed in Christ and repented. However, they couldn’t accept this teaching.  As a result of jealousy they threw away their new faith.  Jealousy is really a dangerous thing.

According to verse 46, Paul and Barnabas clearly stated that the Gospel first needed to be preached to them.  However, they themselves decided that they were “not worthy” for eternal life.  Therefore, Paul and Barnabas will start their ministry to the Gentiles because that is what God has called them to do. 

God’s plan was that the Gospel would first be preached to the Jews.  Then through those who accepted the faith, the Gospel would be spread to the Gentiles.  However, the Jews didn’t accept the Gospel.  Therefore, Paul says that he himself is going to go to the Gentiles because that is what is commanded in the Old Testament. The words in verse 47 are from Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6. “You” refers to the Jews who had been chosen to be a light to the nations, and through them the other nations were to be saved.  In fact “chosen people” does not mean that they were chosen to have salvation.  It means that they were chosen to bring the Gospel to other peoples.

I Peter 2:19

The Jews were a chosen people, priests, a holy people, God’s people.  That was so that they could become a light in the darkness, and share God’s works with others.  However, they were jealous about the Gentiles being saved. This was against the will of God. This was proof that the Jews were not remaining within the grace of God.  This is Paul and Barnabas meant in verse 46.

When we talk about what it means that God has chosen or appointed us to be saved, we tend to think of God decided “before the creation of the world” who would be saved and who would not be.  It as if God hand picks some people to be saved.  However, this is not what this passage is saying.  Here it is saying that in verse 47 that they themselves made themselves unworthy for salvation.  It was their own responsibility.  Of course God knew from “before the creation of the world” that they would reject the Gospel so in that respect it was decided on from “before the creation of the world”. Therefore, Paul urged them in verse 43 to remain in the grace of God forever.  Those who remain forever in the grace of God are those who are appointed to have eternal life.  In other words, it is those who remain in the faith to the end who are appointed to have eternal life. It is those people that we can say are chosen.

Hebrews 12:2

Let’s not be like these Jews who one time had faith, but as a result of jealously they weren’t able to continue in their faith.  Let’s no matter what, be careful to keep our eyes focused on Christ and remain in God’s grace.

II.              Rejoice in God’s Word and praise God (verses 48 and 49)

There were men who became jealous and opposed Paul and Barnabas.  At the same time there were others who heard God’s Word and rejoiced in it and who praised God. These were the Gentiles.  Then those who were to have eternal life, who prepared themselves for eternal life, entered the faith.

They prepared themselves by rejoicing in the Word of God and praising God when they heard the Gospel message.  Real faith rejoices in the Word of God and praises God.  Real faith doesn’t praise the church or the pastor, but rejoices in the Word of God and praises God.  No matter what happens in the church or if the pastor leaves, or what storms come in life, real faith stands on the Word of God.  This type of person rejoices in the Word of God, praises God and lives by the Word of God.

Psalms 1:1-3

III.            Be filled with the Holy Spirit (verses 50-52)

There were those who rejoiced in the Word of God and entered the faith.  But there were also those who opposed Paul and Barnabas.  They roused up the powerful leaders in the city. They had Paul and Barnabas thrown out from that area.  Paul and Barnabas shook the dirt off their shoes and left for Iconium.  This is a sign that they are shaking the dirty sin of people off of them. In other words, they are cleansing themselves from the sin of the people.  The fact that these Jewish people were against the Gospel that Paul and Barnabas preached means that they were not really men of faith.  They were no different from nonbelievers. To have had people enter the faith and then not continue in the faith, turn against you, persecute you, and then be thrown out must have been a bitter experience for the disciples, but verse 52 tells us that disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

When those who have believed in God wander from the faith or when we are heavily persecuted, or when we have deep troubles, if in the midst of these things, we can rejoice, then we have real faith.  We are able to do this through the Holy Spirit. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit so they were able to rejoice. In other words, God was living within them.  God was controlling their hearts.  This is the secret to a victorious life.  In other words, they were able to remain in God’s grace, rejoice in the Word of God, and praise God because of the work of the Holy Spirit.  We are not able to do that by our own strength.  It is only through the Holy Spirit controlling our hearts, helping us and supporting us that we are able to do so. It is only by the Holy Spirit living in us that we are able to stand.

John 14:16,17

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is the greatest proof that we are appointed to have eternal life.　We need to realize that God has all authority, and at the same time walk by the Holy Spirit. A person that is appointed for eternal life walks rejoicing in the Word of God, praising God, and remains in the grace of God.

In our lives we run into many problems, but in the midst of these problems we can walk in joy and the filling of the Holy Spirit. We don’t follow the conditions we live in, but we follow the Word of God and we are filled by the Holy Spirit so we can walk in joy. We need to be led by God’s Word which never changes and be filled by the Holy Spirit. Then by walking looking at Jesus’ back, we will be able to overcome the problems.  By having faith in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ is the secret to a victorious life on this earth. Let’s remain in Christ’s grace to the end of our life.  That type of person is appointed to have eternal life.

              Verse 4 starts with “The two of them, set on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.”  From here Paul and Barnabas begin their world evangelism. The Holy Spirit sent them out so this evangelism was by the work of the Holy Spirit. First they “went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.” Cyprus is about 100 kilometers from Seleucia. God led them to Cyprus and there Sergius Paulus was saved.  Today let’s look at three aspects of this work of God’s salvation.

1. I.             The battle with Satan (Vs.4-8)

According to verse 5, when Paul and Barnabas went to Cyprus, they weren’t by themselves.  John was also with them. John had accompanied them earlier when they returned from Jerusalem. (Acts 12:25)  He was the cousin of Barnabas. (Col. 4:10). He later became the author of the Gospel of Mark, the second Gospel in the New Testament.  

When they arrived in Cyprus, the first place they went to was the major city in Eastern part of the island of Cyprus, Seleucia.  The first thing that they did there was to go to the Jewish temple there and preach the Gospel.  They were sent out to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, but they went to the Jewish synagogue and began preaching there.  Not only in Seleucia, but everywhere that Paul went, the first place he always preached the Gospel was the Jewish temple.  Paul tells us in Romans that God’s plan was that salvation must be preached first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.  Paul understood this so he always preached to the Jews first.  

After preaching in the synagogue, “They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos.  There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul Sergius Paulus.  The proconsul …sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.“(6-7) However the sorcerer “opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.” (8) The sorcerer’s name was Bar-Jesus. “Bar” is Aramaic for “son of” so his name means “Son of Jesus” or “Son of salvation”, but he was trying to turn the proconsul from the faith. His nickname was Elymas.  It was a Sematic name meaning “sorcerer” or “magician” or “wise man”. He was using his outstanding wisdom to do evil magic, sorcery.  He had left his position as Bar-Jesus, the son of salvation and had become Elymas, an evil sorcerer, trying to keep people from having faith in God.

I Cor. 1:20-24

We can not be saved by human wisdom or ideologies.  This is because the human heart wants to protect itself.  It doesn’t want to change its present life or give up worldly wisdom.   Elymas made his living by being a sorcerer for the proconsul.  Therefore, when he heard that the Proconsul wanted to hear the Word of God, he was afraid of what might happen to his means of living and did not want to change so instead he tried to keep the proconsul from having faith in God.  We too sometimes know that what we are doing God does not approve of, but we are afraid of making changes in our lives and so we refrain from making a decision to follow Him more closely.  This is one of the main causes for not having faith in God and failing to grow spiritually.

  However, this passage teaches even a greater reason for not having faith in God and failing to grow spiritually.  That is because of spiritual warfare.  In verse 7 we are told about Sergius Paulus who was an intelligent man.  “He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.” (7)  One of the main reasons that the Holy Spirit led Barnabas and Saul to Cyprus was so that Sergius Paulus would hear the Word of God.

However, when someone like that wants to hear the Word of God, there is always a force working to pull that person away from God’s word.  Where the Gospel is being preached, there is always a force working to turn people away from the road of faith just like Elymas the sorcerer, a wise man “tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.” (8) It is like a tug of war between the evangelists and the false prophet within Sergius Paulus.  However the tug of war is actually taking place between the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. 

Ephesians 6:11-19

We need to remember that evangelism is always a spiritual war, and resist the devil by putting on all the armor of God.  Then we need to always pray in the Spirit.  When we think about what the first evangelism was like in Cyprus. we can see that it was a spiritual warfare. 

Our evangelism and Christian life is based upon this fact.  There is always a force present trying to pull us away from God.  Therefore, we need to keep awake and pray.  Through prayer and the Word of God, we need to resist the devil.

1. II.           Being filled with the Holy Spirit (vs.9-11)

Elymas the sorcerer “tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.” (8)  Against that force, “Saul, who was called Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! … Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?  Now the hand of the Lord is against you.  You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.’ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.”

From now on Saul is no longer called by his Jewish name, Saul, but he is called Paul, the Grecian name.  This change shows that Paul is entering a new phase in his life.  This evangelism start begins with a spiritual battle. As a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul was able to boldly face Elymas and tell him that he was wrong.  Luke tells us that his words and actions were a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit so he could look “straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery.’”(9,10) Also he never stops “perverting the right ways of the Lord” (10) He is not Bar-Jesus, the son of salvation.  He is Elymas, the child of the devil.  His work is the work of the devil.  Salvation is only possible by the destruction of the devil’s work and bringing people to the side of God.  Then Paul says, “Now the hand of the Lord is against you.  You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” (11)  This was the same experience that Paul had on the road to Damascus.    Paul is saying that this is a necessary experience. His eyes will be shut so he can’t see the world that he was so used to.  He must lose all and accept the new life in Christ. He must realize that he is a sinner and repent. 

Those who are sent out by the Holy Spirit are able to have victory. Therefore, to have victory in the spiritual fight of evangelism, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  If we try to do things in our own strength, we won’t have victory.  Every day we need to seek the Holy Spirit, trust Him, and fellowship with Him, be encouraged by Him, receive strength.  Then we will be able to have victory in the spiritual fight and we will be able to see the Word of God bear fruit.

1. III.         The Work of God’s salvation  (vs.12)

“When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.” (12) . This must have taken a lot of courage and power to make decisions.  To become a Christian meant to give up worshipping the Roman emperor which was required for his job.  It also meant that he might lose his life.  However, more than that he felt he needed the grace of God.  Therefore he was able to enter the road of faith.

Here it says that “he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.” (12)  He became a Christian not because of a miracle that he saw, but because “he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.” (12) In verse 7 we are told that “he wanted to hear the word of God.” As a result of God’s Word, in other words, by being amazed by the teaching about the Lord, he was able to enter the faith.  We don’t enter faith by experiencing some miracle, but by hearing the word of God and being amazed by it.  Then we will be able to experience the grace of God.

Let’s desire to hear the Word of God.  It will bring the work of salvation.  The important thing is to trust in the Holy Spirit, be encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and share the Word of grace. Then we will experience God’s salvation like they did at Cyprus.  God’s word changes people and has the power to bring new life.

              Acts can be divided into 2 parts, chapter 1-12 and chapter 13 to the end. In other words 13:1 is the turning point. From here the second part of Acts begins.  As I have said in the past, Acts is acting out Acts 1:8.

              As this verse, Acts 1:8, states up until now Jerusalem has been the center of the work. Also Peter and the apostles played the major role in the spread of the Gospel among the Jews.  From here on the center changes from Jerusalem to Antioch.  Peter no longer plays the major role, but Paul becomes the center person.  Also the Gospel is spread to the ends of the world.  From chapter 13 on the second part of Acts begins which is especially looking at the spread of the Gospel worldwide.  Today let’s look at 3 aspects of how this evangelism began.

1. 1.         The unity of faith (vs. 1)

First let’s look at the faith of the Antioch church which was used by the Lord in world evangelism.  We can see the start of the Antioch church in 11:19 and on. The Antioch church had just started and still was a young church.   However Barnabas and Paul taught them for over a year and they grew quickly.  This young church already had prophets, teachers, and leaders.  Just by looking at the leaders mentioned here we can see that this Gentile church in Antioch had a variety of people in its flock.

  The first person that is introduced is Barnabas. He has appeared several times up to now.  I 4:36 we were told that he was a Levite born in Cyprus and that his name means a person who encourages.  The fact that he sold land and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet tells us that he was a man of deep faith.  In 9:26, 27 we are told that when Paul was converted, Barnabas encouraged the Jerusalem church to accept Paul into the fellowship of the church when Paul tried to enter the Jerusalem church. Then 11:23 we are told that when the Antioch church was born, the Jerusalem church sent him to the Antioch church. He encouraged them to stand firm in their hearts and to stay joined to Christ.  Barnabas did the central work in the Antioch church.  If Barnabas wasn’t there, the Antioch church would have not grown so fast.

The next person to be introduced is Simon called Niger.  He was called Niger because he was a Negro from Africa. To think that the Gospel had spread to Africa, we can realize that his dedication was huge.

Next is Lucius of Cyrene. Cyrene is a town in Northern Africa.  According to 11:20, those men who came from Cyrene to Antioch “began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.” He was able to think creatively and do things that other people hadn’t thought of doing before.

Next is “Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch)” (1) He was the foster brother or intimate friend of Herod Antipas. He was probably from a high class home.

Last is Saul.  He is from Tarsus.  He was a strict Jew.  He was strong in the law.  He was a disciple of Gamaliel, the most famous Jewish teacher of his time.  In other words, Saul was an elite Jew for his age.  He was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there, when he met the Lord.  He was amazingly converted.  After he became a Christian, he spent some time in his hometown Tarsus.  Then Barnabas sought him out and brought him to the Antioch church to be a spiritual leader there.  

Looking at these people we can see that the Antioch church was made up of many different people from many different places and backgrounds, many different positions and level.  However, they overcame these differences and had an unity of faith.  Also within the leaders there were no apostles.  The Antioch church is leading the way in world missions. Just because you have top people in the church does not mean that you can do missions. Just because the church has people that are the same, doesn’t mean that you can do missions.  The Antioch church was made of people that believed that they had been called together by the Lord. They had such faith so that all sorts of human problems could be overcome,

II.          The call to world evangelism (vs. 2)

              We don’t know whether the Antioch church had wanted to do world evangelism or not.  It wasn’t because someone had the idea, and they met and talked about it as a church and decided to do so.  It was because the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work that God had called them to.

              We aren’t told how the Holy Spirit told them, but the important thing is that they were told “while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting.” (2)  Before too when Jesus gave the great commission, they were on the mountain worshipping. God calls us to world mission when we are worshiping the Lord.

              Here they were not just worshipping, but they were fasting too.  Fasting in the Bible is usually related to prayer. In verse 3 they are together as a set.  This is because food is a necessary thing of life. By stopping it for a while we are able to concentrate on God, and put all of our heart into prayer. The same is meant when it is said that they were worshipping and fasting.  By fasting they were concentrating on God and really putting their hearts into the worship. We too by worshipping and concentrating on God we are able to hear the Holy Spirit talking to us through the word of God.

              What the Holy Spirit is saying was very astounding.  The Holy Spirit was saying to send out Paul and Barnabas who were the main leaders in the Antioch church.  It was like saying to send out the main pastor and missionary from the Antioch church. However, this is who God had called. Without a calling from God, we can’t be separated and give our life to the Lord.

             When Paul was converted, he had already heard the words that the Lord was calling him. (9:15, 16) However, before that became a reality, he had to wait a long time.  However, that was not wasted time.  During that time Paul reconfirmed that calling, the church came to trust him more, and the church recognized his gifts.  This process is extremely important. All things work perfectly in God’s timing.

III.         Together with the church’s prayer. (vs.3)

        After the church heard the Holy Spirit’s command to set apart Paul and Barnabas for World missions, they “Fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (3)  That was not an easy thing for the Antioch church to do.  These were the 2 central people in the Antioch church. There were probably some people who didn’t think it was necessary to send them out.  There were probably others who thought that they should send someone else.     However, they sent them out because the Holy Spirit had told them to do so.  When a church does what God tells them to do, then God blesses the church.

              When the church sent out Paul and Barnabas, they fasted and prayed, “they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (3)  First they fasted and prayed.  They concentrated on God and worshipped him. It was also a way of suffering with the missionary.   The church was not just sending them out, but they were suffering with them.  They were praying for them. They were not just sending them out, they were a part of their ministry. This was a blessing not only for Paul and Barnabas, but also for the church and for the people that they were sent to. 

We too want to have this experience. This year from this church there will be a family sent out to do world missions.  This is an excellent opportunity for our church to have such an experience. By sending out, the church is blessed.

              In verse 23 we are told, “Immediately. because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” In today’s passage Herod who didn’t praise to God and others who did give glory to God are dramatically compared.  Today by comparing these two, let’s look at 3 aspects of giving glory to God.

1. I.             The voice of God, the voice of man  (vs. 18-23)

Peter who had been put in prison by Herod Agrippa I was delivered miraculously from prison as a result of the church fervently praying.  Herod tried to recapture Peter, but he was unable to find him.  “He cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.” (19) For Herod to have someone so highly guarded escape was a real blow to his pride.  On the other hand if there was someone in those who were in charge of guarding who helped Peter escape, that would be a huge problem.  If Peter could be caught immediately, that would cause the least damage to his image. but Peter could not be found. Of course, Herod never dreamed that an angel miraculously led Peter out of the prison. Therefore, there was no way that he could not admit his own authority had failed. According to Roman law, if a prisoner escaped, the guards would take the responsibility by receiving the same sentence that prisoner had. Therefore, Herod had the guards executed and tried to show that they were responsible and that he was the authority.  “Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.” (19)

Verse 20 takes place while Herod is in Caesarea.  The people of Tyre and Sidon came and through “the support of Bastus, a trusted person servant of the king,”(20) they sought peace.  Herod considered the people of Tyre and Sidon as his enemies. We don’t know why Herod thought that way. However, whatever the reason, for the people of Tyre and Sidon, to be on the bad side of Herod meant death because they depended on the grainfields of Galilee for their food.  Therefore, they sought the support of Bastus to help them be reconciled to Herod. They were able to solve the problem and they had a special celebration to celebrate the reconcilement.  The celebration is the basis for verses 21 and 22.

“On the appointed day” refers to the emperor’s birthday. On this day all the countries under the Roman rule showed their loyalty by big celebrations.  On this day Herod Agrippa, thought it would be a good chance to show his own power, and he acted as if he was a god. The historian Josephus describes the event saying that Herod wore a silver robe, dazzling bright. The people saw this and “They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” (21) Herod did not deny it.  He probably was thinking he was god too.  However, his end is written in verse 23.

For someone who it is said that his voice was a “voice of a god” to end his life like that is disgusting.  The Jewish historian, Josephus, says that Herod was seized with violent pain, he was carried out and died five days later.  This happened “because Herod did not give praise to God”. (23)  Even though he was not god, he was prideful and took all of God’s glory.  Therefore “an angel of the Lord struck him down. (23)

We too need to be careful of this.  Everything about us is by the grace and love of God, but when people praise us, and recognize us, we get the impression that it was by our own strength that we did it.  Without realizing it, we become proud.  However no matter whether we are a king, or on an earthly level, man can never be an exchange for god.  When Peter went to Cornelius’ house, Cornelius bowed and worshipped him.  “Peter made him get up…he said, ‘I am only a man myself.’” (10:26) Paul too when he  healed a crippled man in Lystra, the people began to worship him.  Paul shouted,  “men, why are you doing this?  We too are only men, human like you.” (14:15)  Herod should have said the same thing. “Why are you saying that? I am only a man, a human like you.”   However, he thought that he was like god.  As a result he experienced a bitter end.   We must remember that we too if we are proud, and think that we are like god, then like Herod experienced God’s judgment there will be times when God’s grace and blessing will be stopped.

I Peter 5:6

Herod killed James and tried to kill Peter.  His sin was not light.  However, he was not judged these things.  He was judged because he didn’t give the glory to God, but tried to receive the glory himself.  To steal the glory of God is a huge sin.

1. II.           The real voice of God (24)

As soon as Luke tells us that Herod was stuck down and died, he tells us, “But the word of God continued to increase and spread.”(24)  In other words, God’s Word that the church preached is the real word of God.  The church listened to those words, followed those words, and when they were led by those words, the church move forward strongly.

Therefore, we too need to listen to those words. We listen to them through God’s word, the Bible. We also hear them though the message of the Gospel.

I Thess. 2:13

What is important is that we listen to God’s voice.  That we don’t hear man’s voice as God’s voice. We need to hear God’s voice as God’s voice.  We mustn’t confuse man’s voice and God’s voice.  We need to hear God’s Word as God’s word, follow that Word, and when we are led by that Word, the church will be fruitful and spread out.

The church hears God’s word thought Jesus Christ.  Christ is the Word of God.  God is speaking to us though Christ.  This Word has the power to save us.  If we listened to this word, then rather than meeting the end like Herod did, we will be able to experience an abundant life like a tree planted next to water that never dries out.

1. III.         Being led by the voice of God. (25)

Here we are told that “When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem taking with them John, also called Mark.” (25) We wonder why Luke adds this verse. “Mission” refers to bringing the offering from the Antioch church to those who were suffering from famine. One reason for this verse is to change the scene of chapter 12 of Antioch to Jerusalem to chapter 13 of Antioch to the spreading world wide evangelism.  However this was not the only reason.  It is to give an example of giving the glory back to God.  This is the example of Barnabas and Saul bring the Antioch’s gift of love.  This is exactly the opposite of the people of Tyre and Sidon that appear in verses 20-23. They were willing in order to receive food, to give the glory that should have been given to God to other people.   However the Antioch church was different.  They didn’t rely on their country or on earthly powers, but helped their brother.  This is because they lived by the Word of the Lord.  They were full of God’s grace so they felt drawn to do so.

II. Cor. 9:11-13

I Cor. 10:31

We too like the Antioch church, should want to live a life of giving God the glory no matter what we are doing. To do that we need to hear God’s word as God’s word, follow it, and be led by it. Let’s pray that our life will be a life of giving back the glory to God.

Today’s passage changes its place from Antioch to Jerusalem.  Through this event we are taught an important element needed for the church to move forward.  That important element is prayer. Today let’s look at 3 aspects of the Jerusalem church’s prayer.

1. I.             A church of prayer (vs.1-6)

This passage begins with the words, “It was about this time”.  This refers to ll: 30.  It was about the time that Barnabas and Saul brought the offerings to the Jerusalem church to help those affected by the severe famine. “It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.” (1) The offerings were sent to “the elders” (11:20), but in this passage the elders are not mentioned.  Therefore, we can assume that it was a heavy persecution and the elders were included in those who were arrested. This time the persecution was not just by the Jewish leaders, but by King Herod so it was a persecution by the Roman government so it must have been a severe persecution… 

This Herod was King Herod Agrippa I, a descendant of the Herod that was in power when Jesus was born. In order to be accepted by the Jews, he persecuted the church.  He had James killed.  When he saw that pleased the Jews, then he had Peter arrested.  Before when Peter was arrested by the Jewish authorities, an angel opened the doors for him to escape.  Therefore, when he was arrested by Herod he was kept under heavy guard.  He was “guarded by four squads of four soldiers each.” (4)  Not only that but according to verse 6 , “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.” This was an extremely unusual case in Roman prisons.  Besides there were the first guards and the second guards that they must pass before they reach the iron gates leading to the city.  Therefore, he was completely guarded. They were making sure that there was no possible way that he could escape.  However, for the church, to have Peter and the elders imprisoned was a huge disaster that could even mean the death of the church.   In verse 5 it tells us what the church did under these circumstances.  “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” They prayed. 

The wonderful thing about being a Christian is that even when we are in a situation where there is nothing we can do to make the situation better, we can still pray.   We may not be persecuted like the early church was.  However, we all experience times of discouragement.  However, we can pray.  We can pour out our hearts to God.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Matt. 7:7, 8

The early church was really a church of prayer.  When there was a problem within the church, they took it as a wonderful chance to pray.

Whether we are facing problems or not, God wants us to pray, to be a church that prays.  That type of church will experience the work of God, and will move powerfully forward.

1. II.           The Lord who delivers us from all our troubles. (vs. 7-11)

The church continued to pray for Peter, but there was no change. They kept praying and then the night before Peter was brought to trial, a miracle happened.  It was a miracle that neither Peter nor the Christians ever dreamed would happen. Peter who was so heavily guarded was set free.  According to verse 9, Peter “had no idea what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.” He thought it was too unbelievable to be real.  It wasn’t until they were completely out of the prison and one street away that the angel left him and “Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.’” (11)

We may not actually see an angel, but we all experience times when we realize that all that has happened has been by the leading and care of our Lord Jesus Christ.  There are times like when “Peter came to himself” and realized that that the chains falling off of him, him standing up, putting on his clothes, putting on his sandals, putting on his cloak, going outside, each individual act and everything that happened was an answer to prayer, that we too come to ourselves and realize that God was    really working as a result of prayer.  The key to Christian strength is here.  We believe that God is working and count the many things that God is doing, and praise the Lord as we walk the road of life.

When we pray, the Lord’s hand moves.  God send thousands of angels and protects us, strengthens us, and guides us. It doesn’t matter how heavy a chain it is, how strong a guard is watching us, or how thick a gate it is. Nothing is impossible with God. God will work in ways that we never dreamed of.

However, there are people who when they hear this who wonder then why James was “put to death with the sword.”(2)  The church didn’t just pray for Peter.  They prayed for James too.  Even so he was killed.  They think that God didn’t answer the church’s prayers for James.   

God answered their prayers for James too.  What we have to remember is that prayer isn’t always answered in the way we want it to be.  Prayer is combining our requests and thoughts with the will of God. That is because God is perfect.  Not everything that we think of as good is really good.  We make decisions from our limited sphere.  However God’s will is perfect, and the right way.  He makes perfect and the best decisions. He looks at everything properly and then makes decisions.  Therefore, following the will of God is the best way to go.  The prayers for James were not answered in the way the church prayed, but God worked because His will was performed although we may not understand it fully.

1. III.         Even so, let’s pray (12-17)

After Peter came to this realization, “he went to the house of Mary,” the mother of Mark. This Mark is the Mark that appears in verse 25 that returned with Barnabas and Saul when they returned to Antioch.  He is the Mark who wrote the Gospel named after him.  His house was in Jerusalem, and he played a major role in the Jerusalem church.  In verse 12 we are told that the Christians were meeting at his house for prayer.  The church still didn’t have a building so Mark’s house was used as a place for the church to meet.  We must not forget that the church’s strength came partly because such members shared their home to be used for prayer. This time too, when Peter went to Mark’s house, the Christians were meeting together and praying.

From verse 13 there is a humorous story.  While everyone was praying, Peter knocked on the door. A “servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door.  When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it” and told everyone that Peter was there. (13, 14) This was because she was so shocked because even though they had been praying for Peter she didn’t believe that he would actually be knocking on the door.

Even worst were the other Christians.  When they heard from Rhoda that Peter was at the door, they said that she must be out of her mind. They were praying for Peter, but they couldn’t believe that Peter could have been released.  They didn’t have faith that God had answered their prayer.  This means that God does answer our prayers even when we fail to have faith.  The important thing is that we pray even when we have no confidence that God is going to answer.  The important thing is to pray.   When we continue to pray, God works. Let’s believe that God is going to work and continue to pray.  Even if now we don’t understand the meaning of the answer, some day we will.

Today let’s look at 3 things that we can learn from the Antioch church.

1. I.             The creative men from Cyprus and Cyrene (vs. 19-21)

.             Until now Luke has written about the salvation of the Gentile, Cornelius.  Here he changes and tells how the church moved forward in preaching the Gospel.  This can be seen in the word “now”. 

              This passage has as its background Acts 8:1 and 4.  In other words as a result of Stephen’s martyr, a great persecution arose and the Christians were dispersed. Wherever they went the Christians spread the Gospel. As a result the evangelism of the Samaritans took place, and Cornelius was saved in Galilee. According to this passage they were dispersed as far as Antioch. Antioch is 500 kilometers as a bird flies from Jerusalem.  It is about as far from here as Osaka.  Even though the Gospel spread so far away, it was preached only to the Jews.  This was because they didn’t think that the Gentiles could be saved.

              “However, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch, and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.” (20) Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyrene is a town in West part of Northern Africa.  The men that came from this area preached the Gospel to the Gentiles.  This was a very unique thing to do. Philip evangelized in Samaria, but Samarians were not pure Gentiles.  They were half Jewish.  Also Philip evangelized the Ethiopian, and Peter led Cornelius to the Lord, but the Ethiopian was a Gentile, but also a Jewish believer.   Also Cornelius feared God.  However, the Antiochs were Gentiles who had no affiliation with the Jewish faith.  The door was opening to evangelism of the Gentiles.

              The men from Cyprus and Cyrene were not well known, but they had the creativity and were willing to try something new and reach out to the Gentiles.  God used such people to start a new evangelism.

              The same is true in this age too.  God provides people like this.  It may even be us.  There is one characteristic that is common with these people.  It is written in verse 21. “The Lord’s hand was with them.”   That means that God with them and the Holy Spirit controls them and uses them.  When we speak the Word of God, even though we aren’t famous and knowledgeable, and we don’t have power, when God’s hand is with us, God uses us and we are able to do unthinkable things.

              The first Gentile church was started by nameless Cyprus and Cyrene men. The Lord’s hand was upon them, and as a result of preaching the Word of God, many people believed in and returned to Christ and the first Gentile church, Antioch, was born.

1. II.           Those who were first called Christians (vs.22-26)

The news of the birth of the Antioch Church reached the Jerusalem church and they set out Barnabas to Antioch to check on the church and see what condition it was in and to encourage the church.  We are told about Barnabas already in 4:32;4:36.37.Barnabas was born as a Levite in Cyprus.  He had faith enough to sale his field and gave the money to the church.   However, he was a quiet Christian, but he was full of love. Therefore, he was happy to hear that God’s grace had come upon the Gentiles and he was able to encourage the church ”to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” (23)

Another thing that Barnabas did was to bring Paul to Antioch.  He did this for 2 reasons.  One is because Paul’s leadership was needed in the church.  The other reason was Barnabas realized that Paul was called to do missionary work throughout the world.  This was good decision of Barnabas.  For one year Paul encouraged through the preaching of the Word.  A lot of fruit was seen.  This had deep meaning.  The focus was changed from Jewish evangelism with the Jerusalem church to Gentile evangelism with the Antioch church.  There was a huge change from the center of evangelism. From chapter 13 the center of evangelism became Paul.  Barnabas was the bridge.

Under the leadership of Paul and Barnabas, the church really grew. and they received the attention of the Gentile society.  According to verse 26, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”  It was a nickname for those who followed Christ. It is a sign that the Christians had a huge influence on the society. It is said that 25% of the Antioch population became Christian. To be called a Christian is a sign that we are a slave of Christ.   Our Lord is Christ. 

1. III.         The Work of love. (vs.27-30)

The Antioch church showed their faith and thankfulness for salvation by giving gifts to the brother who were afflicted by famine. 

What we can do as a church maybe very small.  However, what is important is that that work is through a working faith.

I Cor. 12:26

It is important that we have such thinking.  No matter how small a work, God will use it.  Let’s be like the Antioch church, a church that God is happy with.  Let’s become like the Antioch church, where the society will say “They’re Christians”.  Let’s stay in God’s grace and become a church like Antioch.

According to verse 2, when Peter came to Jerusalem, “the circumcised believers criticized him.” The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God” (1)  but to them that was an unthinkable thing.  The Gentiles didn’t have the law, they had never been circumcised so the Jewish Christians thought they could not be saved.  However, through Peter salvation was spreading among the Gentiles.  Therefore, they criticized Peter.  Peter answered their criticism by explaining “everything to them precisely as it had happened.” (4) The result is in verse 18, “they had no further objections and praised God saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.’” Today let’s at 3 aspects of how they were changed from being critical to praising God.

1. I.             The criticism of the Judean brothers. (vs.1-3)

      The rumor that the Gentiles had received the word of God spread throughout Judea. This meant that the Jerusalem church too became aware that Gentiles were being saved. They had vague idea that the Gospel would go throughout the world because they had been told so many times. (Matt. 28:19, Acts 1:8) However, they were shocked and surprised because they didn’t expect it.

They heard this was a result of Peter and thus criticized Peter saying, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” (3)  This was not fearing the law. The Gentiles did not have the law.  Thus they didn’t think about clean and unclean animals when they cooked.  Therefore, for the Jews it was dangerous to eat a meal prepared by a Gentile.  It was unthinkable that a Jew would go to a Gentile’s house.  Therefore, Peter said in 10:28,”You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him.” For the Jews to follow the law is the way to protect their purity and identity as God’s people.  Especially it was important to be circumcised and to follow the laws about eating and the Sabbath.  Therefore, for a Gentile to accept the Jewish faith required him to be circumcised.  The Jewish Christians were all circumcised and then became Christian and so they thought that Gentiles too should be circumcised, follow the law about clean and unclean foods, and observe the Sabbath in order to be saved.  However, Peter ate with the Gentiles who had not been circumcised. They thought that this was going against the law and criticized Peter.

This wasn’t just a problem of prejudice or thinking, but of the life and death of the core of faith.  In other words, whether a person is saved only by faith or by faith and following the law.  At this point the Bible had not been completed and doctrine had not become finalized so this was a very serious problem for the church. Therefore, this problem afflicted the Antioch Church, the Galatian church, and many churches.  It was Paul who gave direction to the problem.  He received inspiration from God, and explained the meaning of the law in relation to this problem.

Galatians 5:6

Even though the Galatians were set free when they became Christians, they began to think that that wasn’t enough and began returning to the law.  The sign of that was circumcision.  In other words, they thought that even if they believed in Christ that they had to be circumcised in order to be saved.  However, that is going back to the law.  It makes Jesus dying on the cross and the resurrection useless.  That’s because they were making a test for entering heaven. No one can get 100 percent on the test. That’s why Jesus died on the cross in our place. Therefore, if you’re yelling, “circumcision” “circumcision”, then you are ruining the Gospel.  What is important is not whether you have been circumcised or not, but is “faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

We need to understand this well.  If not, we will become like these people who criticized Peter.  Now we have a Bible, and we can study the Gospel so it is important to understand the Gospel correctly.

1. II.           Explaining precisely as it had happened(vs.4-17)

In response to their criticism, Peter “explained everything to them precisely as it had happened.” (4)  From verse 5 on is this explanation. He is especially telling us 2 things.  One thing he tells us is about the vision he saw.  Secondly he talks about the Holy Spirit coming upon Cornelius and the other Gentiles while he was preaching.

First let’s look at what Peter says about his vision in verses 5-10.  What we see here looks like it is dealing with the problem of the laws about clean and unclean food, but in reality it is not.  It is teaching that God’s chosen people, the Jews need to accept the Gentiles. This can be seen by both the fact that when Peter was thinking about what the vision met, the 3 men from Joppa appeared and by the fact that “The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them.” (12) That means that you mustn’t say that the Gentiles whom God has purified are not clean and you must accept the Gentiles whom God has accepted.  In other words, anyone who fears God and lives righteously, God accepts.  It has nothing to do with whether he was circumcised or not.  Salvation is based on the one way grace of God.

Next let’s look at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and the Gentiles when Peter was preaching in verses 15 and 16.  The only thing that required for Cornelius to receive the Holy Spirit was the message.  He didn’t need to be circumcised.  This can also be seen in the angel’s words in verse 14.”He will bring you a message through which you and your household will be saved.” From the beginning the angel is telling Cornelius what is necessary for salvation.  He is telling him to expect to hear the necessary message for salvation.  We are saved by believing in the words of salvation.  It is not be anything that we do.  Also Peter says in verse 21, “So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God.”  In other words, the event of Pentecost occurred upon the Gentiles. That was not because they were circumcised.  It was not because they were Jewish.  It was because they believed in Jesus as their Savior.  Faith was all that was needed to have the Holy Spirit come upon them.  This is what Peter wanted to say.

This message that any person that repents and believes in the Gospel will be saved isn’t just a message for those outside of the church, but each Christian and the church needs to make this message the base of their life and live and make decisions by it. As well as proclaiming that by believing in Jesus Christ, you can be saved, we need to live by that fact.  If we have repented and believed in Christ, then we should be really thankful to Christ. We should love our brother.

Romans 14:1-3

The gospel message that all you have to do is believe Christ and you will be saved is not just telling us the rules for salvation.  He is telling us how we should live after being saved, the way we fellowship with others should be controlled by this teaching. We need to follow Christ and love our brothers.

1. III.         No objections and changed to praise. (vs.18)

Finally let’s look at the result of Peter’s explanation. The same word that is translated as “no objections” is translated as “be quiet” in I Thess. 4:11. In other words, the circumcised Jews were really upset about the Gentiles being saved, but after hearing Peter’s explanation, they understood, and became quiet.  They no longer had any complaints. Also they were moved by the great work of the Lord, were filled with joy and praised the Lord.  In the church when there is criticism, we need to look to the truth, and the marvelous works of the Lord that the truth points to and be changed to joy, and praise.

By looking at this event we can see that everything was by the leading and control of the Lord. He showed Peter a vision. He gave Cornelius a dream.  He amazingly led them to meet each other.  Through that event the gospel began to spread to the Gentiles.  God also led to the correct explanation of the events.

There are times that we run into things that we can’t understand.  We wonder like the Jewish Christians as to what it means and criticize. We don’t understand why we are suffering and complain. However, by listening to God’s word, we are set free from our concerns and sufferings.  When we believe and follow God’s word, we are changed from fear and complaints to praises.

Therefore we want to be a church that listens to the Word of God.  We want to open our hearts to the Word of God. We want to clean out our ears and listen to the Word of God. Then we want to be moved by the great works of the Lord.  Then we will be able to live a life of praising the Lord.

             Last week we looked at the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile.  From now on in Acts the focus changes to the salvation of the Gentiles. In other words, it is showing us the truth that Jesus is Lord of all.  Today look’s at 3 blessings of the fact that Jesus is Lord of all.

I.                Realizing now (34-36)

In verse 29 Peter asks why Cornelius invited him. Cornelius explained to him everything that had happened. Then Peter says that he now realizes that God does not show partiality.   We can tell that what Peter says is extremely important by the fact that what he said is recorded here.　He is saying that God shows no partiality.  God accepts all who fear Him and live righteously no matter what their nationality is.  God doesn’t rank people by their ancestry or tribe.  If a person believes in Jesus Christ who God sent, then no mater what his nationality, God will make him part of his people. The Jews thought for a long time that they were God’s chosen people.  They thought they had the privilege of receiving God’s blessings.  However, God is not like this.  He accepts all who fear Him and live righteously.  In this world some people become V.I.P.s. They are looked upon and they consider themselves as a higher level than others. Once someone is distinguished as a V.I.P. then he has a hard time consider himself as on the same level as others.  The Jews were the same. They considered themselves as the chosen people so it became impossible for them to think differently.

However, here Peter was awakened to a new reality though the Holy Spirit.  He was able to see things through God’s eyes. He came to the realization that “God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” (34, 35) Jesus is the Lord of all who believe in Jesus Christ.  Not only did Peter confess this but it became the confession of the church. (Eph. 2:14-17)

As a result, the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread from Galilee to Asia, Europe and all the world.  This was the result of Peter’s realization given to him by the Holy Spirit.  When we look at this passage we can see the conversion of Cornelius as the conversion of a Gentile to the Christian faith. However, it is more than that.  Peter himself was completely changed. More correctly the church, especially the Jewish Christians were completely changed by this event. A church historian said “to realize” is “to change”. If a person really realizes something, he will change.  Peter’s realization caused him to really change. 

When the church takes on a new evangelism, or starts something new, the Holy Spirit wants us to change.  When this happens, let’s not go against that change, but follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. Then the things we realize, we need to change.  The church needs to continuously be changed by the Word of God.  I hope that our church will continue to grown by being led to change and always be changing by the Word of God.

II.              The Gospel of Jesus Christ (vs. 37-43)

Jesus Christ is the Lord of all. In this passage Peter explains more about who Jesus is.  He tells us about Jesus’ work on earth, the cross, and the resurrection. This is the first message that Peter preaches to the Gentiles so it is interesting to look at what he says.  However, the content is almost the same as what he preached to the Jews.  In other words, Jesus was put on the cross and killed by the Jews, but God raised Jesus from the dead. This means, Jesus was a criminal, but he hadn’t done even one wrong thing.  He was righteous.  He was the Savior that was promised in the Old Testament.  There is only one thing that is different in this message.  It is verse 43. “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”  In other words, Jesus is the Lord of all.  The whole Old Testament, all 66 book’s central theme is that Jesus is the Lord of all.  Throughout the span of 2,000 years, may evangelists have worked hard sharing that message and many saints have prayed with tears and testified to that message.  You may think that you are not worthy to be saved or your sins are too huge to be saved, but that is not true. God’s thoughts are that anyone who believes in Christ will be saved and his sins forgiven.  There is no other name on earth in which we can be saved.  Jesus Christ is the only Savior and anyone who believes in him will be saved.

II Cor. 5:17

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”  Even Paul who persecuted the church was not an exception.  By human standards his past was not one that could be forgiven. He was against Christ, and persecuted those who believed in Christ.  There were Christians who were martyred by him.  This is not something that can be forgiven.  However, Paul received God’s mercy.  On the road to Damascus Paul met the resurrected Lord. Saul heard a voice say, “’Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’

‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.

‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting’” Jesus replied. When Saul heard this his world was turned upside down. Even though Saul had done these terrible things, out of the goodness of God, Jesus appeared to him.  He was changed into a new person and became a preacher of the Gospel.  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” And by the name of Christ he is forgiven and given eternal life. We too should want to take this Gospel message and be a witness.

III.            The Gentiles also have the gifts of the Spirit (44-48)

While Paul was preaching the message and before he finished the Holy Spirit came upon those who were listening to the message. It was like when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost in Acts 2.

The reason for the Holy Spirit’s coming is given in verse 45.  The Holy Spirit is not just for Israel, but for all who believe in Jesus Christ. In other words, by the Holy Spirit coming on the Gentiles every one could see that all who believe in Christ will receive the Holy Spirit.  “The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” (46) When the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles, they spoke in tongues and praised God. This showed that the Holy Spirit had come upon the Gentiles.  This was so that not only Peter, but so that the Jewish believers that came with Peter could testify that the salvation of the Gentiles was true.  When we look at chapter 15 we can see that the Jews had a difficult time accepting that Gentiles were being saved. It was a challenge for them to accept those who were uncircumcised and ate unclean food.  However those Jewish Christians who came with Peter from Joppa had seen the Gentile Cornelius and his family saved. They also became witnesses that Jesus is Lord of all. 

Man’s mistaken way of looking at things has strong roots.  It takes a lot of work to destroy a mistaken way of looking at things.  God showed in a way that everyone could see that their way of looking at things was wrong.   He opened up the door for evangelism of the Gentiles. Jesus is the Lord of all. It is also proof that our sin is forgiven.  No matter what sin is bothering us or what sin is controlling us, anyone who believes in Christ has their sins forgiven.  The Gospel message is that we are set free from all sin. We need to hold on to this fact, preach it, and testify to it.

  In today’s passage through the meeting of 2 people, Peter and Cornelius, a Gentile, the Gospel begins to spread to the Gentiles.  In Acts 10:1 to 11:18 we are told about the conversion of Cornelius, an Italian army centurion.  This is the longest testimony of a person being saved in the Bible.  This is because this is the event that caused the beginning of the theme of the Gospel going to the Gentiles in Acts. Luke records this event to emphasize that the Gospel is for all people, no matter whether they are Jewish or Gentile.  All people can be saved through believing in Christ. This begins with the meeting of Peter and Cornelius.  This meeting was by the Holy Spirit’s leading.  Therefore, today let’s at three aspects of this.

I.             Send men to Joppa (vs.1-8)

Caesarea is a port town in Northern Judea.  There was a Roman regiment there.  In other words it was an Italian army.  It is said that there were 600 men in the regiment and Cornelius was the officer in charge of the army.   About him the Bible records, “He and all is family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” (2)  To be “devout and God fearing” means that although he was a Gentile, that he followed the law, prayed daily and worshipped at the synagogue.

In verses 3-6 the Lord sends an angel to Cornelius.  In Acts, again and again the Lord directly speaks and leads to the next action.  This case is the same.  The angel says to Cornelius, “Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon.” (5) The reason is not given, but when we follow the Lord’s leading afterwards we’ll know why.  That is faith.  That is how God works in the age of the Holy Spirit.

When Cornelius heard the words of the angel, “Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier” and sent them to Joppa.

II.           What God has cleansed, don’t call it impure (9,10)

Now the place changes to Joppa.  Joppa is about 48 kilometers from Caesarea.  The next day when the 3 men Cornelius sent to Joppa were “approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.” (9) He became hungry, but “while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.” (10, 11) In it were all sorts of animals that were by Jewish laws unclean to eat. In verse 13 God told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”  

“’Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’” (14)  This is because in Leviticus 11:4-23 it teaches which animals are clean and unclean and that unclean ones are not to be eaten.  Many unclean animals were in the sheet so Peter strongly objected to eating them.

  However, God said, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (15)  This was a voice to break down his thinking.  The truth was that in the sheet were animals that were unclean by Moses’ law. Also because of his religious emotions, he would not be able to eat them.  However, God himself had made them clean. God is commanding him to eat them.  If he still is thinking by his own emotions instead of the will of God, then that is not proper faith.  It is Jewish emotions aimed at the Gentiles.  Not just Peter, but emotions that all Jews had.  Even if they were Christians, they thought that salvation was only for themselves.  Gentiles were too low to receive such salvation.  However, God said, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (15) This was a vision to show that the Gospel was going to go from the Jews to the Gentiles. In the Old Testament it was necessary to follow the law in order to be saved.  Since only the Jews had the law, it was thought that only the Jews could be saved. However, now, in the age of grace that Jesus brought, salvation is not by the law, but by grace.  It is by believing in Jesus Christ.  Not only Jews can be saved, by the Gentiles who were thought to be unclean. This vision shows that such a new age has come.

Even so Peter says that he can’t eat unclean things.  “This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.” (16)

Three times Peter said that he couldn’t eat unclean things because he has“never eaten anything impure or unclean.” (14)  Living by the law is living in the past.  There is nothing new.  However, now through Christ, we are free from the law.  It may be different than anything you had ever thought of, but you are saved by Christ, have received the Holy Spirit, are living a totally different life, you have a new world, and new thinking. 

Romans 8:1, 2

Those who have believed in Jesus Christ have received the Holy Spirit of life.  The Holy Spirit of life has set us free from the old law with sin and death as its source.  He gives use freedom, joy and peace.  The source of the Christian life is the Holy Spirit of life.

For Peter, being and keeping the identity of a Jew, God’s chosen people, had an extremely important meaning to Peter even if he became a Christian. However, even if the Old Testament law was very important to your identity, now if you are a Christian, you have to overcome that identity.  The important thing is to live in the Gospel, to live as a new person.

The same is true of us who live in this country, Japan.  We need to overcome our values, religious and cultural thinking.  Of course, living in Japan as a Christian is not easy.  In our families and at work and in society our identities as a Japanese and as a Christian clash.  Throughout our life we have challenges.  However, we need to meet each challenge as a Christian first not as a Japanese first. We need to live as a Christian whose nationality is in heaven.  We need to always think about what Jesus would do, and freely and boldly confess that Jesus is Lord.

III.         The greatness and abundance of the Gospel  (vs. 17-33)

Last let’s look at the result of Peter not relying on his own thinking and ways of looking at things or his own emotions, but following the will of God.  “While Peter was still thinking about the vision,” the 3 men sent by Cornelius arrived at Peter’s house.  (19)  The Holy Spirit said to Peter, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs.  Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (19, 20)   Peter and Cornelius’ meeting was really by the Holy Spirit.  Humanly speaking these two would likely to have never met.  Even if they did they would not have overcome the wall between them.  They had no common ground.  However, the Holy Spirit said to Peter, “So get up and go downstairs.  Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (20) The Holy Spirit was able to bring 2 people who had no common ground together.

When we read this passage one thing that we notice is that the central authority in this event is the Holy Spirit of God himself.  The Holy Spirit sent the men to Joppa.  The Holy Spirit told Cornelius to invite Simeon to his house.  He told Simeon not to hesitate to go with them. Cornelius did not think on his own that he wanted to hear the Gospel.  Nor did Peter on his own decide to lead Cornelius to salvation.  Everything was led by the Lord himself.  The Lord was leading them and pushing them forward.  They just followed the Lord.

However as the result the most amazing thing happened.  The next day Peter started out with and then “the following day he arrived in Caesarea.” (24)   Cornelius was waiting for him with all his family, relatives, and friends.  When Peter arrived, Cornelius fell down and worshipped Peter.  Peter told him to stand up because Peter said, “I am only a man myself.” (26) Then both of them shared their testimony of how they were led to meet each other.   They both realized how amazing it was and that it was really God who was leading them. In other words, God made it possible for them to overcome the wall of Gentile and Jew which was humanly speaking impossible to overcome.  God prepared their hearts to accept each other. 

We need to follow the Holy Spirit of life. When God says, “Don’t hesitate to go.” we need to go.  We need to follow God’s word.  Then the Holy Spirit will send us to the person he wants us to meet.  Then God’s kingdom will be spread out and we will experience abundance.  We will be given the joy and blessings of the Gospel.