Acts 13-28
The Light of Christ to the Ends of the Earth
Objectives
After this lesson, you should be able to:
- Illustrate how God showed that His love was not limited to one race or ethnic group
- Outline the content of Acts 13-28
- Trace the first missionary journey
- Identify the significance of the second missionary journey
- List the highlights of the third missionary journey
- Discuss events in Paul's life after his arrest in Jerusalem
Outline of Acts 13-28
I. The Witness to Christ to the Ends of the Earth (13:1-28:31)
A. Paul's First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)
B. The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35)
C. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)
D. Paul's Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:15)
E. Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment in Caesarea (21:16-26:32)
F. Paul's Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:10)
G. Paul's Ministry at Rome (28:11-31)
A. Paul's First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)
B. The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35)
C. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)
D. Paul's Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:15)
E. Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment in Caesarea (21:16-26:32)
F. Paul's Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:10)
G. Paul's Ministry at Rome (28:11-31)
Introduction
Acts 13–28 makes the point that God’s love is for all who will respond to the gospel, not for any one race or ethnic group.
So, at least three missionary journeys were undertaken by Paul, and each began in the city of Antioch in Syria.
So, at least three missionary journeys were undertaken by Paul, and each began in the city of Antioch in Syria.
First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)
The first missionary journey went from Syrian Antioch to Cyprus to Perga in Pamphylia to Galatia and back to Syrian Antioch.
- Antioch church consisted of many Jews and non-Jews fleeing persecution in Jerusalem shortly after Stephen's stoning (Acts 11:19-21).
- Antioch modeled the ethnic diversity appropriate to the gospel that brings people of all backgrounds into the one family of God.
- Antioch became the primary missionary church of early Christianity.
- The church of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas on a church-planting journey.
- Cyprus - Barnabas' home (Acts 4:36); a Roman governor was saved there.
- Perga - John Mark returns to Jerusalem for unknown reasons; Paul and Barnabas preach in Jewish Synagogues on God's preparation for Christ's saving ministry through OT times and on Jesus' death and resurrection.
The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35)
Some Jews could not accept that salvation was a free gift of God’s grace; they insisted that to be acceptable to God one must establish one’s righteousness through Jewish beliefs and customs.
The Jerusalem Council provides an important record of how an issue should be debated and settled; the result was the clear establishment of the authentic gospel early in the growth of the church.
The main argument:
False teachers were teaching that one had to believe in Christ and keep the law of Moses (for non-Jews that even meant circumcision).
The result of the Council:
The Jerusalem Council provides an important record of how an issue should be debated and settled; the result was the clear establishment of the authentic gospel early in the growth of the church.
The main argument:
- The question of how a person is saved
False teachers were teaching that one had to believe in Christ and keep the law of Moses (for non-Jews that even meant circumcision).
The result of the Council:
- Man is saved by grace through faith alone
Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)
Paul, Timothy, and Silas (not Barnabas) set out on another mission.
They check on nearby churches in Syria and Cilicia and revisit churches planted on the first journey.
They eventually reach Traos on the coast of the Aegean Sea and are given a divine vision to go to the Eastern edge of Europe into Macedonia.
This second missionary journey lasted three years and opened a ministry in Europe.
Churches were established in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth.
They check on nearby churches in Syria and Cilicia and revisit churches planted on the first journey.
They eventually reach Traos on the coast of the Aegean Sea and are given a divine vision to go to the Eastern edge of Europe into Macedonia.
This second missionary journey lasted three years and opened a ministry in Europe.
Churches were established in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth.
Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:15)
Paul leaves again on a third mission, stopping in Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the disciples in the churches that were planted by him and Barnabas on the first journey.
Paul eventually makes his way to Ephesus and begins his longest continuous ministry in a single location.
It is in Ephesus that Paul pens 1 and 2 Corinthians to deal with problems that had arisen in the church of Corinth.
The success of Christianity in Ephesus eventually caused problems to the local economy, because silver idols were no longer selling like they had in the past, and residents felt like their patron goddess, Artemis, was being robbed of her divine majesty due to Christian proclamation and practice.
After leaving Ephesus, Paul visits Macedonia and Achaia (where he writes Romans), and Illyricum.
Paul is warned by the prophet Agabus at Caesarea that he would be arrested when returning to Jerusalem (21:10-11).
Paul spends the next 4 years in prison.
Paul eventually makes his way to Ephesus and begins his longest continuous ministry in a single location.
It is in Ephesus that Paul pens 1 and 2 Corinthians to deal with problems that had arisen in the church of Corinth.
The success of Christianity in Ephesus eventually caused problems to the local economy, because silver idols were no longer selling like they had in the past, and residents felt like their patron goddess, Artemis, was being robbed of her divine majesty due to Christian proclamation and practice.
After leaving Ephesus, Paul visits Macedonia and Achaia (where he writes Romans), and Illyricum.
Paul is warned by the prophet Agabus at Caesarea that he would be arrested when returning to Jerusalem (21:10-11).
Paul spends the next 4 years in prison.
Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment in Caesarea (21:16-26:32)
Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea, and his case was heard by Felix, Festus, and Herod Agrippa II.
He appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome.
He appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome.
Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:10)
Paul is sent to Rome for trial.
While on the voyage the ship wrecks in a storm and the passengers end up on the island of Malta where Paul is bitten by a deadly snake, but does not die.
The people of Malta see this miracle as evidence that there is a God and Paul has the chance to minister to them.
While on the voyage the ship wrecks in a storm and the passengers end up on the island of Malta where Paul is bitten by a deadly snake, but does not die.
The people of Malta see this miracle as evidence that there is a God and Paul has the chance to minister to them.
Ministry at Rome (28:11-31)
Paul’s 2-year imprisonment in Rome gave him the opportunity to spread the gospel there.
The 4 Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) are written while Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
The 4 Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) are written while Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
Conclusion
"What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear."
(Phil. 1:12-14)