Opening: Have you ever been a member of a team,
either in sports or in business? What part or role did you play? Could you do
everything, or was your contribution part of the larger effort?
Scripture: Read Acts 13:13-52.
Insights:
- Note the change in the order of the names in verse 14. Paul is now the leader of this team, and Barnabas, the son of encouragement, is totally fine with that. He is prepared to take second place as long as God’s work is done.
- Here’s John Mark again, but this time, it is to say that he left the team and went back home to Jerusalem. Why? Mark was very young. Remember, his mother’s house seems to have been the center of the church at Jerusalem (see Acts 12:12). Paul and Barnabas took him with them as their helper, because he was Barnabas’ cousin, but he turned and went home. We will never know why. Perhaps he resented the deposition of Barnabas from the leadership. Perhaps he was afraid of the proposed journey up into the plateau where Antioch in Pisidia stood, for it was one of the hardest and most dangerous roads in the world. Perhaps, because he came from Jerusalem, he had his doubts about this preaching to the Gentiles. Perhaps at this stage he was one of those many who are better at beginning things than finishing them. Perhaps – as Chrysostom said – Mark wanted his mama.[1]
- When entering a new city, Paul and Barnabas always began in the synagogue. There they would find Jews and God-fearing Gentiles with whom they could easily begin a spiritual conversation. And that’s what Paul did here; he tells the redemption story of Israel, and adds that it was ultimately and completely fulfilled in Jesus. If Paul and Barnabas were unwelcome, they would then speak to Gentiles.
- This missionary journey is going well. People are coming to Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles. But, as we will see in the days ahead, there would be a group of people who would forcibly kick the preachers out of town. Luke chooses to include the image of Paul and Barnabas “shaking the dust from their feet”, an obvious reference to Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; and Luke 9:5.
Life
Questions:
- Look again at Acts 13:43 – “Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.”[2] This little phrase is so important. The Jews believed they had to earn their way to God through sacrifices and following a bunch of rules; Paul and Barnabas urged them to rely on and remain in the grace of God. Grace means “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Are you relying on what you do or Who you know?
- Let’s face it. No matter what we do, no matter what we say, there will be people who reject our message of Christ. Jesus had people who rejected him, as did Paul. What was Jesus’ guidance (and Paul’s example) with regards to these people? How do you feel about that?
Prayer
Focus: That we would be like the believers of Antioch of
Pisidia: filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
