## Study of the Book of Acts - Part 14

Tonight we continue our study of the book of Acts. Remember we are using the Scriptural outline for the book found in 1:8.

(Acts 1:8b) "…Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Tonight we begin to look at the development of Christianity to the Uttermost Part of the Earth.

I. Christianity in Jerusalem 1:1-8:3

A. The risen Lord 1:1-26 B. Pentecost 2:1-47 C. The Healing of a Lame Man 3:1-26 D. The beginning of persecution 4:1-37 E. Purging the Church 5:1-42 F. Conflict within the Church 6:1-7 G. Stephen - The First Martyr 6:8 - 8:3

II. Christianity in Judea and Samaria 8:4- 12:25

A. Christians scattered and the ministry of Philip Acts 8:4-40 B. The Conversion of Paul 9:1-31 C. The Conversion of Gentiles 9:32-11:30 D. The Persecution of the Church at Jerusalem 12:1-24

III. Christianity to the Uttermost Part of the World 13:1-28:31

A. The First Missionary Journey 13:1-14:28

1. Events in Antioch v 1-3

a. Again our focus is shifted away from Jerusalem and back toward Antioch

b. In v 1 we see the diversity of backgrounds of the leaders of the church at Antioch

1) Barnabas - from Cyprus

2) Simeon - from Cyrene (N. Africa)

3) Lucius - from Cyrene (N. Africa)

4) Manaen - brought up with Herod Antipas - NOTE: a foster brother to the Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded.

5) Saul - we know his background

c. God made his will known in the church through His men - by the Holy Spirit

d. But note the timing:

1) He spoke to them "as they ministered and fasted..."

2) They were a church on the move -

3) God calls and directs through men but not unless they are busy serving Him

e. The men then laid hands upon Saul and Barnabas and sent them away - this signified the church's recognition and acknowledgement of God's direction in their lives

2. Events in Cyprus 13:4-12

a. Barnabas and Saul set sail for Cyprus

b. This was the starting point of their first missionary journey

c. They took John-Mark with them as their minister

1) He was not directly involved in the preaching and the missionary work

2) He was more of a helper to them

d. At Salamis they began preaching in the synagogues

1) We do not know how long they were there

2) Nor do we know the results of their ministry

e. Their next stop was Paphos - 100 miles southwest and the seat of the provincial government

1) Here they encountered their first recorded opposition

2) A false prophet, Elymas or Bar-Jesus, was a counselor to the Proconsul - Sergius Paulus

3) His position was threatened by Sergius Paulus' interest in the message of the Gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas

4) The deputy had called for Barnabas and. Paul to hear the Word of God and Elymas was ready for a show- down with them

5) We have now the first recorded miracle that Paul performed - he blinded Elymas

6) Sergius Paulus then believed

a) NOTE: A Gentile named Paul accepted the message while Elymas - a Jew - opposed it.

b) The blindness pictured the blindness of Israel.

c) From this point on Paul is clearly the leader and his ministry began to be more directed toward Gentiles.

d) Paul begins using his Gentile name rather than his Jewish name - Saul

3. Events in Galatian cities 13:13-14:20

a. At Perga v 13

1) No longer Barnabas and Saul, but now it is Paul and his company

2) They left Paphos and came to Perga where John-Mark left them to return to Jerusalem

a) Why he left has been the subject of much speculation

b) Whatever the reason, Paul considered it a defection and was not pleased at his departure

3) They left Perga and continued on to Antioch of Pisidia

b. At Antioch of Pisidia v14-52

1) Paul preaches his first recorded message - it had six points and an invitation v 14-15

a) The Exodus Deliverance v16-17

b) The Wilderness Wanderings v18

c) The Conquest of Canaan v19-20

d) The rule of Saul and David v21-23

e) The Ministry of John the Baptist v24-26

f) The Crucifixion and Resurrection of David's Seed: Jesus Christ v 27-37

g) The Invitation v 38-41

2) The results of the preaching v 42-52

a) Many Gentiles and some Jews received his message v 42- 43

b) Nearly the entire city came out to hear them preach the Word of God v 44

c) The Jewish leaders opposed the men and their message v 45

d) Paul boldly announces that he will turn to the Gentiles with this message. v 46-49

e) The Jews forced them to leave. v50-52

Next Week: The Journey Continues