When Given The Chance

Pastor Don Carpenter

The Gospel On Tour / Acts 13:13–41

The mission field can be a fast paced, high stakes Gospel endeavor. We say last week that our first missionaries not only had a fantastic opportunity to win the Governor of Cyprus to Christ, but they also had to overcome a sorcerer who was powered by the forces of darkness to do it. We saw that Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, did not flinch, but took on the opposition head on, and demonstrated for everyone watching that Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

The Apostle Paul was a Jew whom God called to reach the Gentiles with the Gospel. He still had a burden for his brethren after the flesh, but they were very hard to reach and often closed to the Gospel. Tonight’s story illustrates how we need to always be alert and ready to walk through open doors of opportunity when given the chance.

Paul and Barnabas traveled 100 miles north and about 3,600 feet up to get to this important city on the Roman road. As you follow Paul’s journeys in Acts, you will notice that he selected strategic cities, planted churches in them, and went on from the churches to evangelize the surrounding areas. You will also notice that, where it was possible, he started his ministry in the local synagogue, for he had a great burden for his people (Rom. 9:1–5; 10:1), and he found in the synagogue both Jews and Gentiles ready to hear the Word of God.

This is the first of Paul’s sermons recorded in the Book of Acts, and it may be divided into three parts, each of which is introduced by the phrase “men and brethren.”1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 457.

Ever since Calvary, Jews have been hard to reach with the Gospel truth about Jesus. This is a story about how Paul was given audience before his Jewish brethren and how he made the most of the opportunity to say what needed to be said.

Be On The Lookout For The Chance

Acts 13:14–15 KJV
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, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

• Paul went to where the people were… Jews were in the Synagogue on the Sabbath.

• The Law was read

• The Prophets were read

• These are the same that witness of Jesus.

Romans 3:19–21 KJV
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Acts 10:43 KJV
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Be Ready When Given The Chance

1 Peter 3:15 KJV
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

• Reviews God’s dealing with His people from Exodus to David. vv 17-22

In this section, Paul reviewed the history of Israel, climaxing with the ministry of John the Baptist and the coming of their Messiah. He made it clear that it was God who was at work in and for Israel, preparing the way for the coming of the promised Messiah. He also reminded his hearers that the nation had not always been faithful to the Lord and the covenant, but had often rebelled. Every pious Jew knew that the Messiah would come from David’s family, and that a prophet would announce His coming beforehand. John the Baptist was that prophet.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 457.

• Mentions Jesus as the Savior, the descendant of David

Acts 13:23 KJV
Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Be Personal When Given The Chance

Acts 13:26 KJV
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

In this section, Paul reviewed the history of Israel, climaxing with the ministry of John the Baptist and the coming of their Messiah. He made it clear that it was God who was at work in and for Israel, preparing the way for the coming of the promised Messiah. He also reminded his hearers that the nation had not always been faithful to the Lord and the covenant, but had often rebelled. Every pious Jew knew that the Messiah would come from David’s family, and that a prophet would announce His coming beforehand. John the Baptist was that prophet.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 457.

• Exposes the mistakes of Jerusalem leadership.

Acts 13:27 KJV
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.

Paul states the fact that when God’s fulfillment came in Jesus Christ it was not recognized. The poet Robert Browning said: ‘We needs must love the highest when we see it.’ But, by taking our own way and refusing God’s way, we can in the end af?ict ourselves with a blindness which prevents us from seeing. The misuse of free will ends not in liberty but in ruin1

1 William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), 122.

• Ties Jesus to David’s prophecy using scripture as proof.

Acts 13:32–37 KJV
And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

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 saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine 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.

Be Direct When Given The Chance

• Jesus forgives sins

Acts 13:38 KJV
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

• Jesus does with the law could not – provide Justification.

Acts 13:39 KJV
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

James 2:10–11 KJV
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

• Jesus is your only hope to escape eternal death.

Acts 13:40–42 KJV
Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

• The warning was clear, nothing was left out… Jesus is the only answer to your sin problem and without faith in His shed blood, you will remain blind and lost in your sins.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Need For

A little boy came running into the house after playing outside. His mother stopped him and asked what was on his right hand. He replied, “Oh, just a little mud.” His mother then asked if he was planning on getting it off his hand. He thought for a moment and said, “Sure, Mom. I’ll just wipe it off with my other hand.” There was only one problem with the plan, one dirty hand plus one clean hand equals two dirty hands.
Many people are like that little boy, they see the evil and wrongs in their life and think they can make themselves clean by bringing the good in their life to bear on the problem. But it doesn’t work that way. We all need a way to be made morally and spiritually clean, and we will never succeed in doing it ourselves. The only solution is to be found in the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all of our sins.1171

The message of the gospel is simple, but our flesh fights it because it exposes our powerlessness. This is why we must be always looking … always ready to clearly proclaim the truth when given the chance.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:32 AM July 10, 2021.