God's Story

Acts 13:13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
 
PAUL, Barnabas and John Mark traveled to the town of Perga in the Roman colony of Pamphylia. Luke tells us John (Mark) left them to return to Jerusalem. We don’t know why. To you readers in Africa, you may find it interesting to know malaria was a distinct threat to people in Pamphylia. There is evidence Paul contracted malaria here, and some feel John Mark left to avoid the disease. We learn later Paul considered Mark’s departure a desertion of his duty.
   In any event Paul and Barnabas traveled to Pisidian Antioch. This was a town in the region of Antioch, different than the city of Antioch. These details help us understand Paul and Barnabas were faithfully following the Spirit’s leading into new territory. Paul is now God’s primary apostle to minister to the Gentiles. He is doing what he is told, even though he is already experiencing health challenges.
   As was the custom, a synagogue ruler welcomed Paul to speak. What follows through verse 40 is God’s redemptive story from Egypt to Jesus’ resurrection. Stephen had spoken in this way as he defended the gospel against his persecutors.
   It seems a common practice among the apostles and evangelists to tell of Jesus through God’s work to form and teach Israel. This is the only way to fully know Jesus. Churches and philosophies that remove the law from the gospel remove the root from the tree. If these men who had been face-to-face with Jesus spoke of the “Old Testament” as God’s plan for his Redeemer, than so must we. Let’s examine here and in the next lesson what the Spirit-anointed teacher Paul said.
     
Acts 13:16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.  All this took about 450 years.”
   Paul first wants all to know God’s message is for the Jews and Gentiles. He then reinforced God’s authority over Israel. God chose our fathers. He made the people prosper. He led them. God endured their conduct. He overthrew seven nations. He gave their land to his people as their inheritance. God’s work was a big work far beyond common understanding. He directed a huge nation into a new land, even as his chosen nation rejected him. God’s goodness, grace and majesty are evident in his history. “All this took about 450 years.”
          The story continues in next lesson.