Sabbath School Lesson for August 11-17, 2018
Outline of the Lesson
Paul and Barnabas followed this route, which comprised their first missionary journey. See Acts 13 and 14.
- Salamis and Paphos, two cities on the island of Cyprus, where Barnabas was from–Acts 13:1-12 (Sunday)
- Antioch in Pisidia, their destination after visiting the coastland town of Perga, where John Mark left the team-Paul preached his first recorded sermon in Antioch of Pisidia–Acts 13:13-52 (Monday and Tuesday)
- Iconium, the next big town on their itinerary, where they also had to flee from harassment and persecution–Acts 14:1-7 (Wednesday)
- Lystra and Derbe, the first town was where they healed a lame man and were worshiped as gods; they also barely escaped stoning, and then went to Derbe, where they turned around for their return voyage home, visiting the brethren along the way–Acts 14:8-28 (Thursday)
Introduction
From here on out, Luke, the author of Acts, focuses on the ministry of Saul, now called only by his Greek name Paul, and the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. This is as it should be. Jesus Himself indicated that His gospel should go to all the world. This broad mission was taken seriously by devout, sacrificing believers, which included two of its most well-known pioneers, Paul and Barnabas.
So. too, Jerusalem, the center of Judaism, begins to fade into the background as we become enthralled with the activities of the early Christian church in Antioch, which became the home base of operations for Paul’s missionary journeys.
It was in Antioch, the ancient Greek city which was already home to many Hellenistic Jews, where the term “Christian” first took hold (Acts 11:26). Historians recognize the city’s importance, calling the thriving metropolis the “cradle of Christianity”.
Just as Jerusalem must relinquish its leading role in evangelizing the world, Barnabas soon found that he was to take second place in his missionary work with Paul. Paul’s influence would increase, with Barnabas taking on a secondary, but no less vital, role in the ministry.
There is always a need for humility in the cause of God. Our focus must be on Christ. It is only with humble hearts like His that we can we approach our God. But as we often find, our prideful nature gets in the way, and we glory in our own successes. Our constant prayer should always be for humility. For that is the only way to demonstrate and experience the kind of love God has for us and wants us to share with others.
Memory Text: ” ‘Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.’ “ Acts 13:38, 39 NIV
Here is the gospel that people of all times need to hear. We are not set free from our sin, our tendency to make a mess of our lives, by any effort of our own. It is only through the sacrificial death of Jesus, our Substitute, that we can obtain the mercy to be forgiven and the strength to live a happy, satisfying life.
Sunday: Salamis and Paphos
After much prayer and fasting, and even laying on of hands by their friends in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary tour. We must remember that the work was originated and orchestrated by God’s Holy Spirit. They were not set out as evangelists by the believers in Antioch, but by the commission and direction of Jesus, working through His Holy Spirit. See Acts 13:1, 2.
Their first stop was the island of Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas (Acts 4:36). The message of salvation had already made its way to Cyprus, but they hoped to uplift and encourage the spread of the gospel of Christ even more there. As often happens, the response of their listeners was mixed, however.
With their assistant John Mark, a cousin of Barnabas and later author of the Gospel of Mark, they bravely spoke first in the synagogue in Salamis. When they later traveled to Paphos, the capital of Cyprus, they encountered a sorcerer named Elymas, who they rightly denounced as a false prophet. They proceeded to pronounce him also blind, a miracle which encouraged an influential Gentile proconsul, named Sergius Paulus, to turn to the faith of Paul and Barnabas.
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 13:1-3, 6:6, and Hebrews 5:4. Why must we be on guard when it comes to being separated for a certain work by God, and the laying on of hands? Has this practice been abused by the church, and what can we do to keep pride from entering the picture?
Read Acts 13:4-8. What tension was there between the missionaries, the Jewish sorcerer, and the Gentile proconsul? For what different purposes were they all present?
Read Acts 13:7, 9-12. How was Elymas made blind, and for what reason did the blindness come upon him? What caused the Gentile Sergius Paulus to believe the Lord’s teaching? Was it just the sorcerer’s blindness?
Monday: Pisidian Antioch, Part 1
As the missionary team left the island of Cyprus and sailed for Perga, a city on the southern coast of what is now Turkey, two differences are noted in Luke’s account.
- First, Paul seems to become the leading evangelist by this time (he is repeatedly listed first from this point on–previously, it was Barnabas and Saul, now it is Paul and Barnabas).
- And secondly, Saul’s name is changed exclusively to Paul in rest of the book of Acts. His life becomes firmly established in a Greek-Roman environment, which demands the Greek name Paul.
Something else happened of importance in the coastal town of Perga at that time. It was here that their young assistant John Mark returned to Jerusalem. This event must have left Paul and Barnabas with differing opinions on the young man’s desertion, which later erupted in a major rift between the gospel workers, when Barnabas later wanted Mark to join them, and Paul staunchly refused his service. See Acts 15:37-39.
We must examine Paul’s sermon in Antioch of Pisidia. It is the first of Paul’s sermons to be recorded in the New Testament, and even though it surely represents only a portion of what he preached, it is thought to be the most complete sermon on record from this apostle.
The sermon, which summarizes Paul’s belief in justification, contains these main thoughts…
- The plan of salvation was revealed to Israel, from Abraham to Christ.
- Christ’s crucifixion was the ultimate sacrifice, making our salvation possible.
- The resurrection of Jesus ensures our salvation, indicating God’s power over sin and death.
- This salvation is available to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 13:13, 15:37-40, and 2 Timothy 4:11. What does this example of Paul’s changing opinions about Mark tell us about Paul, or about any apostle, prophet, or messenger of God? Do all Christians have to think the same way about everything, and why or why not? What are some acceptable ways to handle our disagreements?
Read Acts 13:14-17. Why did Paul and other preachers in the Old and New Testaments mention Israel’s history at the beginning of their sermons? What value is there in going over our past, even in our personal life?
Read Acts 13:38, 39. How had the Jews been trying to justify themselves through the law of Moses?
Tuesday: Pisidian Antioch, Part 2
Even though Paul and Barnabas were commissioned as missionaries to the Gentiles, the two men followed the model of Jesus by first appealing to the Jews in the communities they were sent.
In attendance at the synagogues, however, were often Gentiles who were there to worship God, but who hadn’t officially converted to Judaism. (Circumcision was a great factor in this, because it was seen by outsiders as a barbaric experience.)
These “God-fearers”, as they were known, were particularly attracted to Paul’s message that justification did not come from adherence to the law, but from the death of our Substitute, Jesus Christ. These and the proselytes (those Gentiles who had fully converted to Judaism) found Paul’s preaching particularly appealing, and they often invited him to speak to them in other venues, besides the synagogue.
These invitations were, in most cases, interrupted by many of the Jewish believers, especially the leaders, who did all they could to thwart Paul’s efforts at soul-winning.
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 13:16, 43. Who were these “God-fearers” and proselytes, who Paul addresses in the synagogue? Why were they more receptive to Paul’s message than most of the Jews?
Read Romans 10:1-4, Galatians 2:16, and Romans 6:14, 15. What does it mean to be under God’s grace? Why can’t we earn our justification?
Read Acts 13:45. What prompted the Jews to try to counteract the efforts of Paul and Barnabas to preach the gospel?
Wednesday: Iconium
Although they were run out of Antioch by the Jewish population there, Paul and Barnabas left with the joy of the Holy Spirit in their hearts (Acts 13:51, 52). They continued on to the city of Iconium with hopes of reaching and creating more interest in their message there. Once again, they began their work by meeting with the Jews (Romans 1:16).
We must conclude by this strategy that God had not rejected the Israelites, even though many had rejected Him. Paul was aware that there was a remnant of his Jewish brothers, who were thirsting for the truth about God’s love and grace (Romans 11:5).
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 13:50-52 and Romans 11:5. How can we still reach unbelieving Jews with the good news of salvation? How might this mission be even more fruitful for a church that believes in the seventh-day Sabbath? What more can we do to ensure Jews are not overlooked in our mission plans?
Read Romans 9:6 and 10:3. What does it mean to be a true Israelite or Jew?
Read Acts 14:1-5 and 2 Timothy 3:11. How was Paul saved in this and other situations, when his life was in danger?
Thursday: Lystra and Derbe
After working in two large cities and leaving many enemies in both Antioch and Iconium, the two beleaguered evangelists were ready to meet with believers in a smaller town. They traveled just 18 miles (29 km) to Lystra, southwest of Iconium.
Paul made his usual speeches in Lystra, but he noticed one man, a cripple from birth, who seemed especially interested in their message. Paul felt he also had faith to be healed, and so said loudly to him, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he instantly leaped up and walked, astounding those around him.
Historians have noted that there was a legend about two gods who visited a village in that area, disguised as humans. When they were treated well by one couple, the gods rewarded them with a temple, and made them priests, but destroyed the rest of the village.
Perhaps being familiar with this story caused the next turn of events. Paul and Barnabas, two apparent men, were instantly worshiped by the crowd who had witnessed the healing of the cripple. Barnabas was even called Zeus and Paul Hermes, and a priest of Zeus brought sacrifices to them, an ox and some garlands.
Of course, Paul and Barnabas quickly tried to refute their claims, but apparently without much success. Later, Jews from Antioch and Iconium showed up and persuaded the same multitude against them, and the two missionaries began to receive just the opposite treatment. They were dragged out of the town, stoned, and left for dead.
Faithful disciples came to their aid on the outskirts of town, enabling them to continue their journey to the next small town, Derbe, the last stop of their missionary tour.
Of course, they visited believers in each city on the way back, and finally reached Antioch to report their adventures to their home church.
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 14:8-10 and 3:2, 6-9. What emotion filled both these men that caused them to “leap”? How might it have helped for Paul to include “in the name of Jesus” when he healed the cripple in Lystra? Do leaders in the church today make mistakes, and why should we not hold it against them?
Read Acts 14:14, 15 and 1 Corinthians 8:4. Why were their arguments about true worship ignored by the crowd that day? How are we still in danger in modern times of worshiping the wrong things, and finally not knowing who the true God is?
Read Acts 14:21-23. In what ways specifically were Paul and Barnabas helpful in the places they stopped on the way home?
Conclusion
Despite the many hardships and persecution, Paul and Barnabas were no doubt excited to report their successes to the church in Antioch, when they had completed their journey. Their experience still holds much of value for us, as we plan and organize our work for the Lord today.
Three things seem to have created the positive outcomes in this story:
- The Holy Spirit was giving direction and guidance, every step of the way.
- The church in Antioch prayed for, encouraged, and supported them financially.
- Paul and Barnabas had the needed dedication and sacrificial mindset to make the trip possible.
Also, we saw God’s will prevail, despite the mistakes and disagreements of the two missionaries. Above all, humility seemed to be the needed ingredient to overcome the setbacks that came to them, as a result of their unreliable, human natures.
Next Week’s Lesson: The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
To read the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly or see more resources for its study, go to https://www.absg.adventist.org/
All Outlook blogposts by Teresa Thompson, are at http://outlookmag.org/author/teresathompson/
