PAUL THE APOSTLE ( Part 11) | THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY ( AD 47 )
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3110
PAUL THE APOSTLE ( Part 11)
THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY ( AD 47 ).
#2. THE TWO CITIES OF PERGA IN PAMPHLIA AND PISIDIAN ANTIOCH IN GALATIA
PAUL'S SERMON AT PISIDIAN ANTIOCH
Barnabus' home island of Cyprus was evangelised. Now comes Paul's hometown area around Cilicia in Asia Minor.
In this they were both fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ: to preach in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the world as they knew it!
But why did they choose Pisidian Antioch as their next destination after the island of Cyrus?
Here are my suggestions:
1. This town was in the Roman province of Galatia and was the chief military and political center in the southern part of the Galatian province. (Ramsay) Luke recorded that the missionaries had contact with seven different types of people here: synagogue officials, Jews, proselytes, God-fearers, devout women of high standing, Gentiles, and leading men of the city. They reached all levels of society. (Constable).
2. Scholars found that Sergius Paulus the Proconsul of Paphos in Cyprus owned estates in this Roman outpost and he may well have given Paul and Barnabus a leading to go there with his wide-ranging influence now that he was a newborn believer in Christ.
3.This city was named Antioch of Pisidia to distinguish it from Antioch of Syria, the home of the community who sent Paul and Barnabas on this journey. The trek from Perga to Antioch was a treacherous feat. The journey was 100 miles long and 3600 feet high. This was a major trip (and some scholars speculate if Paul was in fact sick). This city was a colony founded by Augustus and it was made the administrative center of south Galatia. It is said to be the most important city in that part of the Asia Minor area. It is also notable that it had a particularly large settlement of Jews. “In bringing the gospel to Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas were planting Christianity in the communication nerve center and heart of Asia Minor.” (Unger)
Now comes his overlooked sermon. But first, why did he still minister in a Jewish synagogue?
This question was answered by two scholars: "Paul went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and ended up preaching. MacArthur claims he went here because the synagogue was filled with people would have been a ready-made audience. He says they were ready for outsiders, a fertile ground for the Gospel, those who understand his language. Kent says, “If they had begun evangelizing among gentiles first, the synagogue would have been closed to them.” Both are important insights."
But what was his stirring sermon that impacted the city?
This sermon is our first encounter with Paul’s amazing skill as an orator. One bible teacher outlines three themes of the sermon: 1) The Culmination of History, 2) The Fulfillment of Prophecy, and 3) The Justifier of Sinners. The overarching message of this sermon is God customizing the story and history of Israel to have set the stage for Jesus to come and be the Messiah.
Paul’s sermon illustrates how God has been sovereign over history and how he has worked history to set up Jesus’ and his work here on Earth.
ABBA FATHER,
a major theme in Paul’s sermon is the truth of Jesus being our Justifier. His work on the cross was enough for us to be justified before You. However, some respond to this truth as one too superior to accept it (I don’t need Jesus to get to heaven!) or too inferior (I am too bad for Jesus to accept me). Both are forms of pride. One looks down on the gospel; the other thinks it cannot save the likes of him. But for those who accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour, they truly know better but choose to remain humble.
