Acts #16: Natural Evangelism (Acts 13); Patrice Berger

prédication Actes 13 : Patrice Berger, 2022_11_17, église AB Lausanne

titre : Acts #16: Natural Evangelism (Acts 13); Patrice Berger

Résumé : Summary:
The gospel is Christ’s accomplished liberation to free from our righteous spiritual detention due to sin. Saul and Barnabas are going to propagate this good news in an obvious way in the Mediterranean basin following the apostle Peter and other believers. They do it most naturally, in the habits of their fellows.
Shouldn’t we do the same?

Invitation to share the gospel

This is also what we will see in today’s text.

The Gospel Reaches Everyone
God is initiating the spread of the gospel
What is our response personally and as an assembly?
- should this be placed in the habit of worship?
- should this have an extension in my life?
- Yes, but how do we do it?

Acts Chapter 13 (Check the sidebar)

Forgiveness already acquired but yet to be received

It points to a fact: The forgiveness of all sins (past, present, future) is already acquired and carried by Christ on the cross, but I can only benefit from this forgiveness if I surrender myself to Christ as Lord and Savior. of my life.

Prison presentation

Here, it is presented clearer from a legal, prison angle:

The law over-line, rightly, I am a prisoner of sin;
Christ releases me from this detention, He paid for my condemnation.

The Gospel for All

People

Look at everyone involved in this passage:

Verse 1: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manahan , who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul

Very different origins!

Verse 7: the proconsul Sergius Paulus

A Roman official.

Verse 43: many Jews and pious proselytes

Backgrounds in Judaism.

Verse 44: The whole city gathered together to hear the word of God.

An entire population.

A whole country

A reminder that pagans are concerned like the others:

Verses 48 and 49 The Gentiles rejoiced when they heard this, they glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were destined for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord was spreading throughout the land.

Places

Verse 1: Antioch
Verse 6: Paphos
Verse 14: Antioch of Pisidia

Different spiritual backgrounds

Pagans (proconsul and inhabitant of Antioch of Pisidia) Polytheistic idolatrous background;
devout Jews;
proselytes.

Same mission

But it is no longer Peter the instrument of God who is described here, but Paul:

Peter inaugurates;
Paul shows expansion.

Acts 1:8 expanded

We have here a development of the announcements of the Eternal One which indicates that His outstretched hand that saves people is extended to all!

Genesis 12

1 The LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your fatherland and your family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a source of blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you, and all the families of the earth will be blessed in you. »

Genesis 22

18 All the nations of the earth will be blessed in your offspring because you have obeyed me.

John 3

Indeed, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 28

18 Jesus came and said to them, “All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [therefore], make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to do all that I have commanded you. And I am with you every day, until the end of the world. »

Acts 1

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. »

Differences between prophecy and reality

Here in this passage, what is happening is concrete and it has difficulty finding its place in the thoughts of the time, especially with those who have the privilege of being the representatives of the Eternal One, the Jewish people.

Verse 46

“It was to you first that the word of God was to be spoken, but since you reject it and deem yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we turn to Gentiles.

And it is certainly for this first reason that there is this clarification in verse 48. The Gentiles rejoiced when they heard this, they glorified the word of the Lord, and all those who were destined for eternal life believed.

To emphasize that God’s plan is from the beginning intended for everyone, even non-Jews.

Here,

it is a question of being destined « for eternal life »,
it is not a question of being destined “to believe”.

« Destined » is more, in the original, the « means set up » for eternal life.

The context speaks to us

pagans excluded, in the Jewish thought of the time, from the blessings of the Lord
and yet they were God’s concern from the beginning, hence Saul’s specific mission to the nations.

And the personal part: the personal response is further developed in this text.

Negative responses

Elymas;
Jews from Antioch;
Devout proselytizing women.

fan madness

Devout proselytizing women, certainly newly converted to Judaism, this is why they are solicited by the Jews. They certainly have the ardor and zeal of their new belief.

Jealousy

Jews of Antioch

The other inspiration for the rejection of the gospel is jealousy because of less success.

Demonic inspiration

Elymas

Clearly, someone who has gone a step further than just being caught in the nets of the enemy of God, seems to be bound in some way to oppose God.

Need for special lighting to understand the message of the Gospel

We understand better and why we need a special light from God to understand the message of the Gospel, it is the work of the Holy Spirit.

John 16

5 Now I am going to him who sent me and none of you ask me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I spoke to you thus, sadness filled your heart. 7 However, I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. Indeed, if I do not leave, the defender will not come to you; but if I go away, I will send Him to you 8 and when He comes He will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they don’t believe in me; 10 righteousness, because I am going to my Father and you will see me no more; 11judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Positive responses

The executives of the assembly of Antioch;

The proconsul: he sees, he hears, he understands the doctrine and he believes.
Jews and Proselytes of Antioch: Many Jews and pious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them, and exhorted them to hold fast to the grace of God
verses 48 and 49 The Gentiles rejoiced when they heard this, they glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were destined for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord was spreading throughout the land.

And me, what is my answer?

It is about eternal life:

What do I do with the clear call that Christ makes to me?
- Am I going to be grossly stubborn, which would only demonstrate my need for Christ?
- Will I surrender to Christ?

God is initiating the spread of the Gospel

The eternal stake is capital

To do this, God is at the initiative: for example, salvation in Christ.

But also for spreading this good news.

Today’s text shows us how Barnabas and Saul are commissioned for a particular service.

Testifying to our faith is a common trait of every believer or follower.

It is rather a question here, it is a more specific department.

This text clearly shows us this.

God calls by the Spirit

2 While they were serving the Lord in their ministry and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

If the Spirit is the « starter » of faith, it is He who invites repentance to fall into the arms of Christ.

How did it happen ? It seems that it was audible… But the Spirit can also do it differently, a conviction that is growing stronger and we all know many missionaries for whom this has been the case, for example.

It is God through the Holy Spirit who initiates the call to service.

In this text, we can note that He calls people whose piety and service are already evident.

Calling a team

God calls a team.

It is interesting to note that for these great tours in the Mediterranean basin it is in a team that Paul works most often (Barnabas, Mark, Luke, Timothy, etc.).

A team linked to a local assembly

It is from the Church of Antioch that they leave and it is to them that they will return to report on their tour.

The Church is involved

Prayers, fasts, associations show the link, even if they will not be on the ground with them.

I invite you to reflect in your future readings of the Bible.

Do we find these different markers?

God at the initiative of sending;
teamwork;
continuous and living link with the initial Church.

Would that mean that a particular ministry is not a job by default, but a mission from God. I don’t play it solo and I’m not a free electron!

Let’s check the epistles if we find these markers…

How does this relate to us now?

Common Sense in Presenting the Gospel

The gospel is shared in a logical way:

Paul and Barnabas are of Jewish culture, they go to meet their fellow Jews, God-fearing, practicing Jews.

The ideal place to start is the synagogue.

In addition, there is a speaking time at the end. It’s perfect.

They go to the normal place for their culture.

They do what they know, which makes sense.

I am skeptical when people say to me: “Ah yes, here, they did this and it works! “, in the “unsaid”, it would mean: “So, if it works, let’s do it! « . It would mean that it is the technique, the method that convinces people, I thought it was the Holy Spirit (John 16: 5-11).

Often these « techniques » are the opposite of what we are and out of step with the habits of those around us.

Jesus transmitted in the simple situations of life

Apart from the great talks that Jesus gave because people had come specifically for that (and there was also a master-disciple dimension to Jesus’ ministry), many of Jesus’ teachings take place in the part of normal life (very often meals and also everyday life – around a water well; work, for example fishing; administration, for example, the Caesar tax, etc.).

Same for Barnabas and Saul

They adapt, when they speak, they are coherent with their interlocutors, they rely on their story. They use the texts which make their identity (here the psalms) and give the answers to the questions that their contemporaries expect answers to – the promises of the Old Testament. Years of waiting, and especially in troubled times, Paul emphasizes Christ’s response to the promises.

Paul is suitable. The presentation is admissible, understandable and digestible.

The way of sharing the Gospel is different for each person because God has given each person a different personality and a different background. The same Gospel message is brought to Cornelius in a different way. If there was only one method, then man would be a barcode or a clone.

The Gospel is not a party where you have to make the most followers that you will seduce with commercial techniques.

The Gospel is the saving treasure that God gives through Christ, carried by all His disciples who each have different personalities, different gifts and whom God places in different places.

Bible Passages

Acts 13 / ASV Bible

1. Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was [there], prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2. And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5. And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant.
6. And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus;
7. who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
9. But Saul, who is also [called] Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
10. and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11. And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12. Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13. Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
14. But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
16. And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:
17. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm led he them forth out of it.
18. And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.
19. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave [them] their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:
20. and after these things he gave [them] judges until Samuel the prophet.
21. And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.
22. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom also he bare witness and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who shall do all My will.
23. Of this man's seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;
24. when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25. And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not [he]. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.
26. Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.
27. For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled [them] by condemning [him].
28. And though they found no cause of death [in him], yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain.
29. And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
30. But God raised him from the dead:
31. and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people.
32. And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers,
33. that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
34. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure [blessings] of David.
35. Because he saith also in another [psalm], Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption.
36. For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37. but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.
38. Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins:
39. and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40. Beware therefore, lest that come upon [you] which is spoken in the prophets:
41. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.
42. And as they went out, they besought that these words might be spoken to them the next sabbath.
43. Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44. And the next sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
45. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
46. And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47. For so hath the Lord commanded us, [saying], I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth.
48. And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49. And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.
50. But the Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders.
51. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
52. And the disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.