We’ve begun a new section of the book of Acts, the beginnings of the missionary journeys of Paul the apostle.

Last week we saw how he and Barnabas were sent out by the church of Antioch in Syria, and their first stop was the island of Cyprus, the home of Barnabas.

While in Cyprus, they met a sorcerer who tried to stop their ministry. But as Paul pronounced God’s curse on him, the sorcerer went blind, and the governor of the island became a believer.

It’s interesting that Barnabas isn’t even mentioned. It seems that Paul is beginning to blossom in his ministry, and Barnabas is willing to take a back seat.

A trip by sea of about 160 miles.

departing – apochoreo – to go away, depart

Why did John Mark leave for Jerusalem?

Apparently, John Mark didn’t stay in Jerusalem, but a few years later found his way back to the church at Antioch, where he would meet up again with Paul and Barnabas before their next missionary journey –

The trip from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia, is a journey of 125 miles, and a climb from sea level to an altitude of about 4,000 feet. In AD 25, Pisidian Antioch was made capital of the Roman Province of Galatia.

The law (the first five books of the Bible) was first read in the synagogues till BC 163 when Antiochus Epiphanes prohibited it. Then the reading of the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.) was substituted for it. The Maccabees restored both. There was a reading from the law and one from the prophets in Hebrew which was interpreted into the Aramaic or the Greek for the people. The reading was followed by the sermon as when Jesus was invited to read and to preach in Nazareth (Luke 4:16). It was the duty of the rulers of the synagogue to select the readers and the speakers for the service (Mark 5:22,35-38), Any rabbi or distinguished stranger could be called on to speak.

This is a phrase that refers to Gentiles who had a respect for the Jewish religion.

Paul’s message is going to begin with the history of Israel, starting in the "Law".

One of the themes of Paul’s message seems to be "What God has done for Israel"

This is the time covered in the book of Numbers, where we’re studying on Sunday night. This is where God spent 40 years putting up with the grumbling and complaining of the people.

Notice again that God is doing the work. We see this history in the book of Joshua.

Here’s the first thing we see the people doing, desiring a king. And we know that it brought disaster.

It’s interesting that of all the tribes, Benjamin is the only one Paul mentions by name. But then again, Paul is from the tribe of Benjamin.

Now God’s back at work, removing the bad king, raising up His own king.

The way Paul is speaking, you kind of get the idea that John the Baptist was a well known guy. It seems that people were familiar with his ministry. I get the feeling that John the Baptist’s ministry was a little wider in effect than just the area of Judea. In Acts 19, we see where Paul comes across a group of disciples in Ephesus (230 miles southwest of Antioch Pisidia), and they too are quite familiar with John the Baptist’s ministry.

They didn’t recognize Jesus as their Messiah. John wrote,

Here are these people who pay great attention to God’s Word, reading it every Saturday as they gathered in the synagogues.

There were prophecies concerning the Messiah that He would be rejected.

When these Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, they were fulfilling some of the very prophecies that proved even further that He was the Messiah.

tree – xulon – wood; a cross; a tree

Notice again the contrast between what the people did, and what God did.

Paul is now going to mention some specific Scripture references concerning what he’s said so far. Here, Paul quotes from Psalm 2, which talks about God’s Son.

Jesus being raised from the dead was a permanent resurrection, not a temporary one. We read in the Scriptures of other people being raised from the dead, but they would die again. When Jesus raised from the dead, He would not die again, but instead was taken up into heaven in a cloud (Acts 1).

sure – pistos – trusty, faithful

mercies – hosios – undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, holy. It’s neuter and plural here, and could be translated "the holy things".

This is a quote from Isaiah –

Paul is quoting now from –

Holy One – hosios – the same word that’s translated "mercies" in the previous verse, but here’s it’s masculine and singular.

In other words, David didn’t fulfill these prophecies. They must be talking about someone else.

This is the central message of the gospel, the forgiveness of sins.

One definition of "justified" is that it means "just as if I’d never sinned".

It’s not on the basis of obeying the Law.

Paul now quotes from the prophet Habbakuk (Hab.1:5). I’m impressed. How many of us even know where Habbakuk is, let alone are able to quote from it?

despisers – kataphrontes – (against + to think) – despiser; scoffer. Someone who spends their time thinking against what they’re thinking about. A negative thinker. I think of it as the person who "knows better" than you do.