Preaching JesusActs 13:13-52

To the End of the Earth

I. The Senders

II. The Goers

III. The Holy Spirit-led Mission

To the End of the Earth

I. The Senders

II. The Goers

God does what he does through tools, and in the case of missionary

work the tool God uses is his church. --J.M. Boice

To the End of the Earth

I. The Senders

II. The Goers

III. The Holy Spirit-led Mission

Luke surely intends us to view Sergius Paulus as the first totally Gentile convert, who had no religious background in Judaism. --John Stott

• Acts 5:20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

• Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

• Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

• Acts 10:20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.

• Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

• Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

• Acts 18:10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.

PREACHING JESUS

I. The Setting of the Sermon – vv. 13-16a.

II. The Sermon – Sunday #1 – vv. 16b-43.

III. The Result of the Sermon: Mixed – Sunday #2 – vv. 44-52.

PREACHING JESUS

I. The Setting of the Sermon – vv. 13-16a

Galatians 4:13-14

You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

There are only three possibilities for the church – be a goer, a sender, or disobedient. --Piper (paraphrased)

Romans 9:1-3

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2

that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Romans 10:1

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

It takes more grace than I can tell you to play the second fiddle.

PREACHING JESUS

I. The Setting of the Sermon – vv. 13-16a.

II. The Sermon – Sunday #1 – vv. 16b-43.

Paul's sermon to the men of Israel and those who fear God…

• He reviews Israel's history from the Exodus to the time of David

• He proclaims Jesus as the seed of David who was introduced by John the Baptist

• He preaches the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

Paul's sermon to the men of Israel and those who fear God…

• He offers evidence for the resurrection: eyewitnesses and messianic prophecies

• He announces forgiveness and justification available through Jesus Christ, not the law

• He warns them not to despise the wonderful work of God

It should be noted that by this book St. Luke teaches the whole of

Christendom…that the true and chief article of Christian doctrine is this: We must all be justified along by faith in Jesus Christ, without any contribution from the law or help

from our works. This doctrine is the chief intention of the book and the

author’s principal reason for writing it.

--Martin Luther

What is the therefore there for?

Acts 13:38-39

…therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is

proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of

Moses.

2 Chronicles 6:22-23

If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and

comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven and act and

judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the

righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Romans 3:19-20

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the

whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by

works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since

through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Galatians 2:16 …yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

2 Timothy 1:9 …who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began

Titus 3:5 …he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Habakkuk 1:5

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.

Those that will not wonder and be saved, shall wonder and

perish. --Henry

This is an excellent model for all preachers and evangelists. They must not give exhortation without doctrine, for, if so, they will be like men who are content with “blanks” in their guns, they will have the smoke and the noise but no power. It is the doctrine we preach, the bullet we deliver, which God will make a power to bless men and women. However intense and zealous we may be in speaking, if we don’t have something weighty and solid to say, we will appear to be intense about nothing, and will not be at all likely to create a lasting impression.

Paul, if you notice, through this chapter, first of all gives the history of redemption, tells the story of the cross, insists upon the resurrection of the Savior, and then he comes to the end of his message and deals personally with their souls, and commands them not to neglect this great salvation. --Spurgeon

PREACHING JESUS

I. The Setting of the Sermon – vv. 13-16a.

II. The Sermon – Sunday #1 – vv. 16b-43.

III. The Result of the Sermon: Mixed – Sunday #2 – vv. 44-52.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Romans 8:30

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Acts 13:48-49

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.