Acts 13

Laying on of hands given to Paul and Barnabas verse 1- 3

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and

teachers as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger

Lucius of Cyrene Manaen –which had been brought up with Herod

the tetrarch and Saul

As they MINISTERED to the Lord – and FASTED – the Holy Ghost said

Separate ME Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them

AND when they had FASTED and PRAYED – and LAID their hands on them

they sent them away

Barnabas and Saul on first missionary journey verse 4- 5

So they – being sent forth by the Holy Ghost – departed unto Seleucia

and from thence they sailed to Cyprus

And when they were at Salamis

they PREACHED the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews

and they had also John to their minister

Saul confronts sorcerer verse 6- 11

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos

they found a certain sorcerer – a false prophet – a Jew

whose name was Bar-jesus

which was with the deputy of the country

Sergius Paulus- a prudent man

who called for Barnabas and Saul

and desired to hear the word of God

BUT Elymas – the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation)

withstood them seeking to turn away the deputy from the FAITH

THEN Saul (who also is called Paul) FILLED with the Holy Ghost

set his eyes on him and said

O full of all subtlety and all mischief – you child of the devil

you enemy of all righteousness

will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

And now – BEHOLD – the hand of the Lord is on you

and you shall 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

Sergius Paulus becomes a believer verse 12

THEN the deputy – when he saw what was done – BELIEVED

being astonished at the DOCTRINE of the Lord

John Mark returns to Jerusalem verse 13

NOW when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos

they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John departing

from them returned to Jerusalem

Synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia verse 14- 15

BUT when they departed from Perga

they came to Antioch in Pisidia

and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day

and sat down

And after the reading of the law and the prophets

the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them – saying

You men and brethren if you have any

word of EXHORTATION for the people – say on

Paul gives history lesson verse 16- 25

THEN Paul stood up and beckoning with his hand

said

Men of Israel – and you that fear God – give audience

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers

and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers

in the land of Egypt and with a high arm

brought HE them out of it

And about the time of forty years suffered HE their manners

in the wilderness and when HE had destroyed

seven nations in the land of Canaan

HE divided their land to them by lot

And after that HE gave unto them judges about the space of

four hundred and fifty years – until Samuel the prophet

And afterward they desired a king

and God gave to them Saul the son of Cis

a man of the tribe of Benjamin

by the space of forty years

And when HE had removed him

HE raised up unto them David to be their king

to whom also HE gave testimony

and said

I have found David the son of Jesse

a man after MINE OWN heart

which shall fulfill all MY will

OF this man’s seed has God – according to HIS promise

raised to Israel a Savior – Jesus

when John had first PREACHED

before HIS coming

the baptism of repentance to all the

people of Israel

And as John fulfilled his course

he said

Whom think you that I am? I am not HE

BUT BEHOLD – there comes ONE after me

WHOSE shoes of HIS feet

I am not worthy to loose

Preaching the resurrection of Christ verse 26- 37

Men and brethren – children of the stock of Abraham

and whosoever among you fears God

to you is the word of this salvation sent

FOR they that dwell at Jerusalem – and their rulers

BECAUSE they knew HIM not

nor yet the voices of the prophets

which are read every Sabbath day

they have fulfilled them in condemning HIM

And though they found no cause of death in HIM

yet desired you Pilate that HE should be slain

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of HIM

they took HIM down from the tree

and laid HIM in a sepulcher

BUT God raised HIM from the dead and HE was seen

many days of them which came up with HIM

from Galilee to Jerusalem

who are HIS witnesses unto the people

AND we declare to you glad tidings

how that the promise which was made to the fathers

God has fulfilled the same to us their children

IN THAT HE has raised up Jesus again

AS it is also written in the second Psalm

YOU are MY Son – this day have I begotten YOU

AND as concerning that HE raised HIM up from the dead

now no more to return to corruption – HE said on this wise

I will give YOU the sure mercies of David

Wherefore HE said also in another psalm

YOU shall not suffer YOUR Holy One to see corruption

For David – after he had served his own generation by the will of God

fell on sleep – and was laid unto his fathers – and saw corruption

BUT HE – WHOM God raised again saw no corruption

Preaching justification through Christ verse 38- 41

Be it known to you therefore men and brethren

that through THIS MAN is PREACHED to you

the FORGIVENESS of sins

and by HIM all that BELIEVE are JUSTIFIED from all things

from which you could not be JUSTIFIED

by the law of Moses

BEWARE therefore – lest that come upon you

which is spoken of in the prophets

BEHOLD – you despisers – and wonder – and perish

FOR I work a work in your days

a work which you shall in no wise believe

though a man declare it unto you

Many Gentile converts verse 42- 43

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue

the Gentiles besought that these words might be

PREACHED to them the next Sabbath

Now when the congregation was broken up

many of the Jews and religious proselytes

followed Paul and Barnabas

who – speaking to them

persuaded them to continue in the grace of God

City comes to hear Paul preach verse 44- 49

And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together

to hear the word of God

BUT when the Jews saw the multitudes – they were filled with envy

and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul

contradicting and blaspheming

THEN Paul and Barnabas waxed bold

and said

It was necessary that the word of God should

FIRST have been spoken to you

BUT seeing you put it from you

And judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life

LO – we turn to the Gentiles

FOR so has the Lord commanded us

saying

I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles

that you should be for salvation unto the ends of the earth

AND when the Gentiles heard this – they were glad

and glorified the word of the Lord

and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region

Jews stir up persecution against Paul verse 50- 52

BUT the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women

and the chief men of the city

and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas

and expelled them out of their coasts

BUT they shook off the dust of their feet against them

and came unto Iconium

AND the disciples were filled with joy – and with the Holy Ghost

COMMENTARY

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (3522 “fasted” [nesteuo] means abstinence, lack of food, a religious exercise to abstain from food and drink for a day or a number of days)

DEVOTION: Fasting was a practice of the Pharisees. They fasted two days a week. Wesley required his men who wanted to be ministers to abstain from food and drink at least twice a week. The early church practiced abstaining from food and drinks twice a week, but picked days different from the Pharisees.

Here we find that the church also abstained from food and drink when there was a special decision to be made. They found that Christ said that power came only when the disciples abstained from food and drink and prayed.

On this occasion there was a time to choose missionaries to go to the Gentiles. The church didn’t want to make a mistake so they had a time of prayer and fasting to see who the LORD wanted to be HIS representative to the nations.

The Holy Spirit made it plain to them that HE wanted Barnabas and Saul to be separated for this ministry. Therefore, the leaders of the church laid hands on them to show their support of their ministry.

Once they had the support of the church they were sent out to minister. The Holy Spirit led the way. John Mark came as a minister to the others.

These two practices happened at this time in the church’s history. They were picking the men to represent them to the world. These were the first missionaries sent out be a church. This church was the place where the disciples were first called Christians.

If we believe the Word of God and we do, then we have to practice abstaining from food and drink and practice praying for special power from the LORD.

Do we think that the church needs revival today? Do we feel that there is a serious problem in the church today? Should we praying and fasting concerning these issues? Are we abstaining from food and drink and praying that the Lord would send a revival?

What about our marriages? Do we abstain from food and drink and pray when we have a major decision to make? Do we pray for those marriage around us in our church?

CHALLENGE: Prayer and fasting is commanded by the LORD. Our obedience is necessary for HIM to work in our life and in the life of the church.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, (4130 “filled” [pletho] means accomplish, furnish, make happen, total involvement, completely, make happen, satiate, or satisfy)

DEVOTION: Saul was trained by a scholar. He knew the teachings of the Old Testament from his studies under Gamaliel. He met the LORD on the road to Damascus. He became a teacher of the teachings of Jesus. He went away for a few years to learn more about Jesus.

Now he was sent out by the church in Jerusalem to reach the Gentiles. On this missionary journey he came in contact with a sorcerer. This sorcerer had a special relationship with political leader on the island of Paphos. The leader became a believer and the sorcerer didn’t’ like it. He was trying to convince Sergius Paulus the political leader to turn away from following Christ.

Now this verse gives us an idea of the ministry of Paul. He was full of the Holy Spirit. With the power promised by Jesus Christ that believers would receive from the Holy Spirit. He confronted this sorcerer, Elymas or Bar-jesus. We are informed that he was a Jew and a false prophet. So this was a battle between those who are followers of Jesus and those who worship a false god.

Under the ministry of the Holy Spirit Paul fixed his eyes on Elymas and told him exactly what he was and who he was a follower of in the eyes of the LORD. He was a child of the devil. He was an enemy of all righteousness. He wanted to pervert the righteous way of the LORD. All of these are sins against the LORD.

The same power that Paul used in this instance is available to us to confront those who oppose the teachings of Jesus. We are to defend new converts from the teachings of those who are followers of a false religion. We have to state the truth in love. The Holy Spirit still fills those who are confessed up.

CHALLENGE: Confrontation of false teaching is necessary today. We need to have the courage to speak the truth in love to those who say they are teaching truth but are not.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 39 And by HIM all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. (1344 “justified” [dikaioo] means be freed, be righteous, to render righteous or such he ought to be, to acquit, to set free, to remove guilt, show to be right, to vindicate, or to absolve)

DEVOTION: Justified is a great doctrine of the Bible. Justified is simply stated as “just-as-if-I-never-sinned. It is a way of saying that when Jesus died on the cross for our sins we can have forgiveness through HIS blood. This forgiveness changes our standing with God the Father.

When God the Father looks at us as believers HE sees Jesus. HE doesn’t see our sin. HE doesn’t hold us guilty for our sin. HE forgives our sin because HIS Son was the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Nothing we do can earn our salvation. It is a gift given to us by God.

The Old Testament laws didn’t bring forgiveness. They were given to show us that we need a Savior. That Savior is a perfect sacrifice for our sins. The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament looked forward to HIS death on the cross. They could only cover sin until it was forgiven because of the cross. The Law of Moses could never justify us from sin.

If we obeyed all of the Ten Commandments all of our life we would not make it into heaven. The reason we wouldn’t get into heaven is that we couldn’t obey them perfectly. If we broke one of them we broke all of them. One sin sends us to hell for eternity.

The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. No amount of works will get us into heaven. No amount of money will get us into heaven. No amount of praying will get us into heaven. Only a personal commitment to Jesus Christ with our commitment to grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ will cause us to go to heaven.

It is not by any works that we do but wholly dependent on what HE did. Don’t base your belief on being a member of any special church here on earth. God is not going to look at your church but HE is going to look at your heart.

CHALLENGE: Church service is only good if you are a genuine believer. That is our thank offering to HIM for HIS gift to us.

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: 48 And when the Gentiles hear this, they were glad, and glorified the WORD of the Lord; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (5021 “ordained” [tasso] means determine, designate, to appoint, to give a task to, cause to be, or to place in a certain order)

DEVOTION: I understand that God is omniscient. HE knows everything. HE knows the beginning from the end of time. HE has not past or present or future. HE is outside of time. Do I completely understand this concept? NO!!

Here we read that God knew before the foundation of the world who would believe in HIM. Do they have a choice? YES!!

This verse states that the Gentiles heard the message of salvation through the ministry of Paul and Barnabas. They were glad to hear the message. They thanked the LORD for the message. They listened and became believers.

Now we read that they were chosen for eternal life before the foundation of the world. HE states that only those who the LORD knew would become believers became believers. This truth is interesting but true.

God knows who is going to receive HIS message and who is going to reject HIS message. HE knows the choice that each individual will make. HE sent HIS Son to die on the cross for the sins of the world but only a small percentage of the world will become believers.

Can they blame God? NO!! They are given a choice and when they stand before the Great White Throne judgment where all those who reject Jesus will stand, they will be without excuse. They will not be able to blame anyone but themselves.

Our responsibility is to present the message like Paul and Barnabas and then let people make up their mind. The Jews rejected Jesus after they heard the message of salvation. The Gentiles became believers.

CHALLENGE: We need to share the Word of God with those HE brings into our lives and let the results be in HIS hands.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Church as Antioch fasted verse 2, 3

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Church of Antioch prayed verse 2, 3

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Synagogues verse 5, 14, 42

Sabbath day verse 14, 15, 27, 42, 44

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Word of God verse 5, 7, 44, 46

Reading of the law and the prophets verse 15

Judges verse 20

Samuel the prophet verse 20

Saul verse 21

David verse 22, 34, 36

Word of salvation verse 26

Voice of the prophets read every Sabbath verse 27

Fulfilled all that written of Jesus verse 29

Second Psalm verse 33

Another Psalm verse 35

Law of Moses verse 39

Spoken of the prophets verse 40

Word of the Lord verse 49

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

God verse 5, 7, 16, 17, 21, 23, 26, 30, 33, 36, 37, 43, 44, 46

Word of God verse 5, 7, 44, 46

Fear God verse 16

Promise verse 23

Will of God verse 36

Grace of God verse 43

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Lord verse 2, 10- 12, 47- 49

Hand of the Lord verse 11

Doctrine of the Lord verse 12

Savior verse 23

Jesus verse 23, 33

Death of Jesus verse 29

Resurrection of Jesus verse 30- 34, 37

Appearances of Jesus after resurrection verse 31

Begotten Son verse 33

Holy One verse 35

This man verse 38

Word of the Lord verse 48, 49

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Holy Ghost verse 2, 4, 9, 52

Holy Ghost sends forth disciples verse 4

Filled with the Holy Ghost verse 9, 52

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Devil verse 10

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Herod the tetrarch verse 1

Cyprus verse 4

Seleucia verse 4

Salamis verse 5

Paphos verse 6

Sergius Paulus verse 7- 12

Deputy of the country

Prudent man

Called Barnabas and Saul

Desired to hear word of God

Believed

Astonished at the doctrine of the Lord

Elymas the sorcerer verse 8

Paphos verse 13

Perga in Pamphylia verse 13, 14

Antioch in Pisidia verse 14

Land of Egypt verse 17

Seven nations verse 19

Land of Canaan verse 19

Pilate verse 28

Gentiles verse 42, 46

Iconium verse 51

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Sorcerer verse 6, 8

False prophet verse 6

Turn away from the faith verse 8

Subtlety verse 10

Mischief verse 10

Child of the devil verse 10

Enemy of all righteousness verse 10

Pervert verse 10

Not knowing Jesus verse 27

Condemning Jesus verse 27

Sins verse 38

Despisers verse 41

Not believe verse 41

Filled with envy verse 45

Contradicting verse 45

Blaspheming verse 45

Judge yourself unworthy verse 46

Persecution of Christians verse 50

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Ministered to the Lord verse 2

Fasted verse 2, 3

Separation verse 2

Prayed verse 2, 3

Work verse 2

Called verse 2

Preached the Word of God verse 5, 24

Minister verse 5

Faith verse 8

Filled with the Holy Ghost verse 9, 52

Righteousness verse 10

Believed verse 12, 39, 48

Doctrine of the Lord verse 12

Word of Exhortation verse 15

Fear God verse 16

Salvation verse 26, 47

Witnesses verse 31

Glad tidings verse 32, 48

Promise verse 32

Resurrection verse 33, 34, 37

Preach verse 38

Forgiveness of sins verse 38

Justified verse 39

Grace verse 43

Boldness verse 46

Ordained to eternal life verse 48

Disciples verse 52

Filled with joy verse 52

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Jews verse 5, 6, 42, 43, 45, 50

Bar-jesus verse 6

Jerusalem verse 13, 27, 31

Rulers of the synagogue verse 15

Israel verse 16, 17, 23, 24

Men of Israel verse 16

Fear God verse 16

People of Israel verse 17

Forty years in wilderness verse 18

Seven nations destroyed verse 19

Divided land by lot verse 19

Judges (450 years) verse 20

Samuel the prophet verse 20

Desired a king verse 21

Saul (tribe of Benjamin) – 40 years verse 21, 22, 33- 36

David verse 22, 34, 36

Son of Jesse

A men after God’s own heart

Fulfill all God’s will

Mercies of David

Savior = Jesus verse 23

John (the Baptist) verse 24, 25

Baptism of repentance verse 24

Children of the stock of Abraham verse 26

Word of salvation sent verse 26

Voices of the prophets verse 27

Galilee verse 31

Promise to fathers verse 32

Will of God verse 36

Moses verse 39

Church (New Testament people of God)

Church verse 1

Prophets verse 1

Teachers verse 1

Barnabas verse 1, 2, 7, 43, 45,46, 50

Simeon (Niger) verse 1

Lucius of Cyrene verse 1

Manaen verse 1

Saul (Paul) verse 1, 7, 8, 13- 43, 42

Separate verse 2

Lay hands verse 3

Preach the Word of God verse 5, 24

John (Mark) verse 5, 13

Right ways of the LORD verse 10

Miracle of blindness verse 11

Doctrine of the LORD verse 12

Word of Exhortation verse 15

Witnesses verse 31

Not justified by the Law of Moses verse 39

Many Jews and religious proselytes verse 43

Continue in the grace of God verse 43

Whole city came to hear verse 44

Bold preaching of word verse 46

Glorified the word of the LORD verse 48

Last Things (Future Events)

Corruption (death) verse 34- 37

Everlasting life verse 46

Eternal life verse 48

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QUOTES regarding passage

48–49 Many of the Gentiles responded with thanks for the apostles’ ministry and with openness to their message (ton logon tou kyriou, “the word of the Lord”). “All who were appointed for eternal life believed” suggests that belief in Christ is not just a matter of one’s faith but primarily involves divine appointment (cf. SBK, 2:726, on Jewish concepts of predestination). And through the conversion of many of the Gentiles, who brought the message of salvation to others, “the word of the Lord spread through the whole region.” This spreading of the word, along with the apostles’ own outreach to the cities named in chapters 13 and 14, probably led to the agitation of the so-called Judaizers that resulted in the problem Paul dealt with in Galatians. (Longenecker, R. N. (1981). The Acts of the Apostles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 430). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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As the Gentiles heard this they were glad (ἀκουοντα τα ἐθνη ἐχαιρον [akouonta ta ethnē echairon]). Present active participle of ἀκουω [akouō] and imperfect active of χαιρω [chairō], linear action descriptive of the joy of the Gentiles. Glorified the word of God (ἐδοξαζον τον λογον του θεου [edoxazon ton logon tou theou]). Imperfect active again. The joy of the Gentiles increased the fury of the Jews. “The synagogue became a scene of excitement which must have been something like the original speaking with tongues” (Rackham). The joy of the Gentiles was to see how they could receive the higher blessing of Judaism without circumcision and other repellent features of Jewish ceremonialism. It was the gospel of grace and liberty from legalism that Paul had proclaimed. Whether Gal. 4:13 describes this incident or not (the South Galatian theory), it illustrates it when Gentiles received Paul as if he were Christ Jesus himself. It was triumph with the Gentiles, but defeat with the Jews. As many as were ordained to eternal life (ὁσοι ἠσαν τεταγμενοι εἰς ζωην αἰωνιον [hosoi ēsan tetagmenoi eis zōēn aiōnion]). Periphrastic past perfect passive indicative of τασσω [tassō], a military term to place in orderly arrangement. The word “ordain” is not the best translation here. “Appointed,” as Hackett shows, is better. The Jews here had voluntarily rejected the word of God. On the other side were those Gentiles who gladly accepted what the Jews had rejected, not all the Gentiles. Why these Gentiles here ranged themselves on God’s side as opposed to the Jews Luke does not tell us. This verse does not solve the vexed problem of divine sovereignty and human free agency. There is no evidence that Luke had in mind an absolutum decretum of personal salvation. Paul had shown that God’s plan extended to and included Gentiles. Certainly the Spirit of God does move upon the human heart to which some respond, as here, while others push him away. Believed (ἐπιστευσαν [episteusan]). Summary or constative first aorist active indicative of πιστευω [pisteuō]. The subject of this verb is the relative clause. By no manner of legerdemain can it be made to mean “those who believe were appointed.” It was saving faith that was exercised only by those who were appointed unto eternal life, who were ranged on the side of eternal life, who were thus revealed as the subjects of God’s grace by the stand that they took on this day for the Lord. It was a great day for the kingdom of God. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 13:48–49). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

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13:48. The Gentiles rejoiced in this turn of events and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. It is difficult to miss the doctrine of God’s election here; the words “were appointed” come from the verb tassō, a military word meaning “to arrange” or “to assign.” Luke used it here to show that God’s elective decree included Gentiles. (Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 390–391). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Acts 13:48 gives us the divine side of evangelism, for God has His elect people (Eph. 1:4). The word translated ordained means “enrolled,” and indicates that God’s people have their names written in God’s book (Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3). But Acts 13:49 is the human side of evangelism: if we do not preach the Word, then nobody can believe and be saved. It takes both (see 2 Thes. 2:13–14 and Rom. 10:13–15). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 458). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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13:48 appointed to eternal life. One of Scripture’s clearest statements on the sovereignty of God in salvation. God chooses man for salvation, not the opposite (Jn 6:65; Eph 1:4; Col 3:12; 2Th 2:13). Faith itself is a gift from God (Eph 2:8, 9). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ac 13:48). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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Ver. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, &c.] That it was the will of God, and the command of Christ, that the Gospel should be preached to them; by whom are to be understood the Pisidians, the inhabitants of Antioch, who had never been proselytes to the Jewish religion: they were glad; not that the Jews were likely to have the Gospel taken away from them, and be utterly deprived of it, but that it was to be preached to them: and glorified the word of the Lord; not the Lord Jesus Christ, the essential word of the Lord, whom they might not as yet have such a distinct knowledge of; but rather God himself, for his word, particularly his word of command, ver. 47 as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read; or the sense is, they spake well of the Gospel, and gave glory to God, or the Lord, who had sent it among them: Beza’s most ancient copy reads, they received the word of the Lord, which seems to be a more agreeable reading; to glorify the word of the Lord, is an unusual phrase: and as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed; faith is not the cause, or condition of the decree of eternal life, but a means fixed in it, and is a fruit and effect of it, and what certainly follows upon it, as in these persons: some would have the words rendered, as many as were disposed unto eternal life believed; which is not countenanced by the ancient versions. The Arabic renders it as we do, and the Syriac thus, as many as were put, or appointed unto eternal life; and the Vulgate Latin version, as many as were pre-ordained. Moreover, the phrase of being disposed unto, or for eternal life, is a very unusual, if not a very improper, and an inaccurate one; men are said to be disposed to an habit, or to an act, as to vice or virtue, but not to reward or punishment, as to heaven or hell; nor does it appear that these Gentiles had any good dispositions to eternal life, antecedent to their believing; for though they are said, ver. 42 to entreat the apostles to preach the same things to them the next sabbath, yet the words as there observed, according to their natural order, may be rendered they, i. e. the apostles, besought the Gentiles; and in some copies and versions, the Gentiles are not mentioned at all: and as for their being glad, and glorifying the word of the Lord, it is not evident that this was before their believing; and if it was, such things have been found in persons, who have had no true, real, and inward dispositions to spiritual things, as in many of our Lord’s hearers; besides, admitting that there are, in some, good dispositions to eternal life, previous to faith, and that desiring eternal life, and seeking after it, be accounted such, yet these may be where faith does not follow; as in the young rich ruler, that came to Christ with such an inquiry, and went away sorrowful: as many therefore as are so disposed, do not always believe, faith does not always follow such dispositions; and after all, one would have thought that the Jews themselves, who were externally religious, and were looking for the Messiah, and especially the devout and honourable women, were more disposed unto eternal life, than the ignorant and idolatrous Gentiles; and yet the latter believed, and the former did not: it follows then, that their faith did not arise from previous dispositions to eternal life, but was the fruit and effect of divine ordination unto it; and the word here used, in various places in this book, signifies determination and appointment, and not disposition of mind; see ch. 15:2 and 22:10 and 28:23. The phrase is the same with that used by the Jews, דאתקנו לחיי עולﬦ, who are ordained to eternal life; and כל דכתיב לחיי עלמא, every one that is written to eternal life; i. e. in the book of life; and designs no other than predestination or election, which is God’s act, and is an eternal one; is sovereign, irrespective, and unconditional; relates to particular persons, and is sure and certain in its effect: it is an ordination, not to an office, nor to the means of grace, but to grace and glory itself; to a life of grace which is eternal, and to a life of glory which is for ever; and which is a pure gift of God, is in the hands of Christ, and to which his righteousness gives a title: and ordination to it shews it to be a blessing of an early date; and the great love of God to the persons ordained to it; and the certainty of enjoying it. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 273). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

It is always encouraging when a decision, believed to have been made in the will of God, is endorsed by the Holy Spirit in blessing. The many conversions among the Gentiles that followed Paul’s decision must have greatly encouraged him. He knew he was on solid scriptural ground when he made the decision; his decision was now confirmed.

Luke tells us that those who believed were “ordained to eternal life.” He also tells us that they “glorified the word of the Lord.” Here we have the interaction between the predestinating foreknowledge of God and human response and responsibility. “The Lord knoweth them that are His” (2 Tim. 2:19). Because God is God, omniscient and omnipresent, foreknowledge is one of His attributes. He is the I AM, dwelling in the eternal present tense. He was present at this meeting in Pisidian Antioch, in all His saving power, on this historic occasion. He was also present at this same meeting before ever He fashioned Adam’s clay or flung the stars into space. Naturally He can appoint or ordain people to eternal life, because He already knows those who will respond and those who will reject the glorious gospel of His grace.

We must always remember that knowledge is based on fact. If something is to be known, the fact must be there to be known. Our knowledge is after-knowledge—we know a fact after that fact is established. God’s knowledge is not only after-knowledge, it is also foreknowledge, but, even so, it is based on fact. For instance, in a certain place, at a certain time, a person hears the gospel. He believes, accepts Christ, and is born into the family of God. By accepting Christ he has established a fact that can be known. God saw that fact, in His foreknowledge, before ever time began. He could look ahead and see it. But the fact had to be there to be known. God could ordain that person to eternal life based on the fact (foreknown to God) that when that person was presented with the gospel he responded to it.

It was so with believers at Pisidian Antioch. They “glorified the word of the Lord,” gave it its proper place, bowed to its authority, rejoiced in its tidings, and responded to its invitation. By so doing they established the fact of their wholehearted, personal, volitional response to the gospel. Because God knew that—He saw them establish that fact of response—He was able to appoint them to eternal life. Predestination always has to do with our future destiny as believers. It never interferes with our power of choice and moral accountability. God’s ability to ordain people to eternal life never operates apart from their ability to obey the gospel as an act of their will. The operations are two sides of the same coin. Over one side of the door of salvation is written: “Whosoever will may come.” Once we have passed the portals we can see written on the other side, “Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.” In his own inimitable way, D. L. Moody used to say, “The elect are the whosoever wills and the non-elect are the whosoever won’ts.” (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary (Ac 13:48). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)

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FROM MY READING:

The church team model is not a new innovation. It’s as old and effective as the church of Antioch in Acts 13, it was led by a diverse team composed of a Jewish rabbi (Saul of Tarsus), a Jewish marketplace leader (Babnabas), a North African (Niger), a Jewish aristocrat (Manaen) and a cosmopolitan Roman (Lucius). Maybe that explains why the church at Antioch is the best example of a high-impacting, life-giving, sending church recorded in the New Testament. (p. 38, Teams That Thrive by Ryan T. Hartwig and Warren Bird)

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Revelation 3
Jesus gives prophetic messages to three additional churches.
INSIGHT

To the church in Sardis, Jesus offers a strong rebuke. He calls them “dead” and warns them to recall their initial response to the Gospel and repent. However, He also commends those few who have not defiled themselves. The Lord also commends the church in Philadelphia for having kept His command to persevere. Because of that, He will keep them from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world. Perhaps the most frightening message goes to the church at Laodicea. Because their works are “neither cold nor hot” but lukewarm, Jesus says He will spew them out of His mouth. Their wealth has made them complacent and Jesus urges them to repent. (Quiet Walk)

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REPENTANCE

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1
Certain things must happen before a man can experience the great salvation that is found in the Christian gospel. There are certain things that we must realize, we must grasp, we must believe, and the first of these is repentance.
We must be clear about the whole question of repentance. Read the case of any convert you can find in the Bible, and you will always find that this element of repentance comes in. Read the lives of the saints, read the history of men who figure in the church of God in past ages, and you will find that every man who has really known the experience and the power of the grace of God in his life is always a man who gives evidence of repentance. I do not hesitate, therefore, to make the assertion that without repentance there is no salvation. The need for repentance is one of the absolutes about which the Bible does not argue. It just says it. It just postulates it. It is impossible, I say, for a man to be a Christian without repentance; no man can experience salvation unless he knows what it is to repent. Therefore I am emphasizing that this is a very vital matter.
John the Baptist when he began his ministry went out and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. It was the first message of the first preacher. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are told by Mark, went about and preached that men must repent. Repentance is absolutely vital. Paul went about and preached repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost the first sermon under the auspices of the Christian Church, and when he had finished certain people cried out, “What shall we do?” “Repent!” said Peter. Without repentance there is no knowledge of salvation, there is no experience of salvation. It is an essential step. It is the first step.
A Thought to Ponder: Without repentance there is no salvation.
(From Out of the Depths pp. 17-18, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Interpreting the Bible
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
One basic reason why so many people seem to have trouble understanding the Bible is that they try to “interpret” it to fit their private opinions. The Greek word for “private” (idios) is related to such English words as “idiom” and “idiosyncrasy,” and this key passage warns us against any exposition of Scripture that is based on the teacher’s pet doctrinal or behavioral prejudices. A reader or hearer of the Word of God whose “heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing” will be unable to “understand” (Matthew 13:15) because he comes with his mind and heart already bound to his own opinions.
The Bible does not need to be “interpreted” at all. In every other New Testament reference to “interpretation,” except the one in our text (which means “explanation” or “exposition”), the meaning is simply “translation.” The Bible does, of course, need to be correctly translated from Greek and Hebrew into English and other national languages, but that is all. God is able to say what He means, and He wants to communicate His authoritative Word to men and women of obedient hearts, who are willing to devote diligent study to all the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 5:12-14), to obey them (James 1:22), and then teach them to others (2 Timothy 2:2, 24-26) carefully, and clearly, and graciously.
To such students of the Word, the promise is: “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:3-5). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Sol writes (Mexico) Jeremiah’s book in the bible impresses me a lot and touches my heart. Every time I read it I stop in him, to meditate on God’s goodness and love for his people. He chose the people of Israel to use it as a sample to all humanity of how God’s love is. His faithfulness and his good will to rescue us from the domain of sin and Satan. In that book we repeatedly read how God cries for his people. God cries for his people!!! Those who are parents we could understand a little the love of God when we see our children suffering when for their rebellion and bad decisions they take; they suffer the consequences of their sin. We cry and want better to be in place to avoid that pain. We advise you and ask you with tears that consider. We suffer for them!! It is so with God, keeping the due proportions. We don’t exercise fatherhood like him. Many times, we fail our children. Sometimes for ignorance, to times for impatience; and most times for negligence! God is not like this. He is always love. He is always fair and he never causes the anger of his children nor makes them stumble. Always teach us with love and patience. God gave them one last notice. He told them to send his messenger…. one who would walk in front of him preparing the way for his arrival. That was a sign so that when he came, they recognized him. His plan was close to being fulfilled. People should be attentive and waiting for the fulfillment of the promise of the Savior; but no, they were busy in their own things and living life as they looked best. That last prophet and messenger was John the Baptist. And his message was the following: “repent of your sins and return to God, for the kingdom of heaven is near”.
There were those who listened to Juan, but most did not pay attention. Ironically the most understood of the scriptures were those who put more resistance and finally those who crucified the Lord. The heart of men is hard. He’s foolish and very proud. That’s why on this occasion I make a call and a plea. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior; we have our heart to receive such a precious gift. God was about to fall in love, to take shape of man with a very special and beautiful purpose!

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