Berean Study Bible Paul’s First Missionary Journey BeginsAntioch of Syria was a leading city of the Roman East and an important center of Gentile Christianity. Its congregation had become a base for teaching, fellowship, and missionary outreach. Act 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch.… there were prophets and teachers: The church possessed recognized leaders who proclaimed God’s message and instructed believers in the faith, reflecting an established and orderly congregation. Act 11:27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem… Barnabas, A Levite from Cyprus, Barnabas was known for generosity, encouragement, and wise leadership. He had helped bring Saul into fellowship with the believers and had served the Antioch church faithfully. Act 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called… Simeon called Niger, Simeon, also known as Niger (“black” in Latin), was among the diverse leaders of Antioch, showing that the church included believers from varied backgrounds. Mrk 15:21 Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus,… Lucius of Cyrene, Lucius came from Cyrene in North Africa, a city with a substantial Jewish community and early connections to the spread of the gospel. Act 11:20 But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene… Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), Manaen had close ties to the household of Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. His place in the church demonstrates that the gospel had reached people connected to every level of society. Luk 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar… and Saul. Saul, a former Pharisee and persecutor of the church, had been called by Christ to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. His service at Antioch prepared him for the missionary work that would soon follow. Act 9:1-2 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats… While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, The leaders of the church at Antioch gathered in devoted worship of the Lord, seeking His direction through prayer and fasting. As an important center for Gentile believers, Antioch became a base for the church’s expanding mission. Act 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church… the Holy Spirit said, God gave a clear command through the Spirit, directing the church’s next step and showing that the mission was under divine authority rather than human planning. Act 8:29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot”… “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul Barnabas and Saul were already recognized teachers and servants in Antioch, but God now appointed them for a distinct ministry. The church was to release them from their local responsibilities for this greater task. Act 9:15 “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument… for the work to which I have called them.” Their calling involved carrying the gospel beyond Antioch, especially among the Gentiles, establishing churches, and strengthening believers throughout the regions they would visit. Act 26:16-18 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared… And after they had fasted and prayed, The church at Antioch sought God with solemn dependence before sending out Barnabas and Saul. Fasting and prayer accompanied important moments of worship, discernment, and ministry, acknowledging the Lord’s direction and provision. Act 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church… they laid their hands on them The leaders publicly identified Barnabas and Saul as men set apart by the Holy Spirit for the work to which He had called them. The laying on of hands expressed the church’s recognition, fellowship, and support; it did not originate their calling, which came from God. Act 6:6 They presented these seven to the apostles,… and sent them off. Antioch became the departure point for the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Saul. Sent in obedience to the Holy Spirit, they carried the gospel beyond their home congregation and into Gentile regions, beginning a major advance in the spread of the church. Act 15:3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through…
On CyprusBarnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” a respected leader from Cyprus, and Saul, the former Pharisee converted to Christ, were chosen by the Antioch church for this work. Their partnership joined different backgrounds and gifts in service to the growing mission of the church. Act 11:30 This they did, sending their gifts to the elders…… sent forth by the Holy Spirit, Their departure followed the Spirit’s direction given to the church during worship and fasting. The mission began by divine appointment rather than personal ambition or human planning. Act 10:19-20 As Peter continued to reflect on the vision… went down to Seleucia Seleucia, Antioch’s seaport about sixteen miles away, provided access to the Mediterranean trade routes. From this port they began the first major missionary journey recorded in Acts. Act 9:30 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down… and sailed from there to Cyprus. Cyprus was Barnabas’s homeland and contained established Jewish communities where they could first proclaim the gospel. Its location in the eastern Mediterranean also made it an important starting point for ministry beyond Syria. Act 15:39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company.… When they arrived at Salamis, Salamis was a leading port city on Cyprus’s eastern coast and an important commercial center. Its synagogues indicate a substantial Jewish population, providing Paul and Barnabas with an established audience familiar with the Scriptures and the hope of Israel. Act 15:39-41 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company.… they proclaimed the word of God They preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, declaring Him to be the promised Messiah whose death and resurrection bring salvation. Their work centered on God’s revealed message rather than human philosophy or local religion. Act 9:20 Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues… in the Jewish synagogues. The synagogue provided a fitting beginning for their ministry because its worshipers knew the Law and the Prophets. Paul and Barnabas could show that Jesus fulfilled God’s promises to Israel. Luk 4:16-21 Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.… And John was with them as their helper. John Mark, a relative of Barnabas, accompanied the missionaries in a supporting role. He likely assisted with practical needs as they traveled and ministered throughout Cyprus. Act 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission… They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, Paul and Barnabas crossed Cyprus from Salamis on the eastern coast to Paphos on the west, proclaiming the gospel along the way. Barnabas was a native of Cyprus, and the island’s Jewish communities provided natural places to begin their ministry. Paphos was the Roman administrative center of the island and was associated with the worship of Aphrodite, making it a prominent setting for the advance of the gospel. Act 11:19-20 Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution… where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, Bar-Jesus, meaning “son of Jesus” or “son of Joshua,” practiced occult arts forbidden by the Law and presented himself as one who possessed spiritual authority. His influence in Paphos placed him in direct opposition to the message preached by Paul and Barnabas. The encounter exposed the conflict between the truth of God and those who used spiritual deception for personal influence. Act 8:9-11 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery… an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. Sergius Paulus governed Cyprus as a Roman proconsul, a position consistent with Cyprus’s status as a senatorial province. Inscriptions from Cyprus and Rome support the use of this title and the historical setting described by Luke. His attendant, Elymas, had access to the governor’s court and sought to retain his influence. Act 18:12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews… The proconsul, a man of intelligence, Sergius Paulus was known for discernment and curiosity. As a Roman official, he would have encountered many religious and philosophical claims, yet he showed serious interest in the message brought by Barnabas and Saul. Pro 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge… summoned Barnabas and Saul The governor used his authority to bring the missionaries before him during their work in Paphos. Barnabas and Saul were proclaiming the Gospel beyond Jewish communities, and their appearance before a Roman ruler marked an important advance in the mission to the Gentiles. Act 10:22 “Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said.… because he wanted to hear the word of God. Sergius Paulus sought to hear the message for himself. His request brought him into direct conflict with Elymas, whose opposition revealed the spiritual resistance surrounding the Gospel’s advance. Act 10:33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come.… But Elymas the sorcerer Elymas, also called Bar-Jesus, was a Jewish false prophet who practiced magic and held influence with Sergius Paulus. His name likely means “wise.” His work stood in direct opposition to the message proclaimed by Paul and Barnabas. Act 8:9-11 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery… (for that is what his name means) The name by which he was known identified him with his role as a magician. Mrk 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John… opposed them He deliberately resisted the apostles in order to protect his own position before the proconsul. 2Ti 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,… and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Sergius Paulus had sought to hear the word of God, and Elymas attempted to keep him from believing it. Luk 8:12 The seeds along the path are those who hear… Then Saul, who was also called Paul, Saul’s Roman name appears as he begins ministry in the Gentile world. Though Jewish by birth and training, he was also a Roman citizen, and both names reflected the settings in which he served. From this point in Acts, Luke commonly calls him Paul as his work among the Gentiles becomes central. Act 11:25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,… filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul acted under the Spirit’s power and authority, not merely from personal conviction. The Spirit enabled him to discern Elymas’s opposition and to speak God’s judgment against deliberate deception. Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,… looked directly at Elymas Paul faced the sorcerer openly. Elymas had sought to turn Sergius Paulus away from the faith, placing himself in direct opposition to the message of Christ. Paul’s fixed attention introduced a decisive confrontation between the truth of the gospel and Elymas’s fraud. Act 14:9 This man was listening to the words of Paul… and said, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, directly confronted Elymas in Paphos as the sorcerer sought to turn the proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the Gospel. Act 11:25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,… “O child of the devil Elymas’s deliberate opposition to God’s message revealed that he was serving the purposes of Satan rather than the truth. Jhn 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry… and enemy of all righteousness, His efforts stood against what God declares right, especially his attempt to hinder the proconsul from believing. Rom 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God… you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Elymas used deception to preserve his influence and mislead others. Psa 5:9 For not a word they speak can be trusted;… Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? Rather than receiving or allowing the clear message of salvation to be heard, he continually twisted and resisted God’s work. 2Pe 2:15 They have left the straight way and wandered off… Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, Paul announces God’s direct judgment on Elymas for deliberately resisting the gospel and seeking to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith. God’s power stands against those who knowingly oppose His revealed truth. 1Sa 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading… and for a time you will be blind The judgment is temporary, leaving open the possibility that Elymas might repent. His outward blindness reflects the spiritual blindness that had led him to oppose God’s message. 2Ki 6:18 As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed… and unable to see the light of the sun.” Elymas, who claimed spiritual insight as a sorcerer and false prophet, is left unable even to see daylight. His condition exposes the darkness of his opposition to the truth. Ecc 11:7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. Immediately mist and darkness came over him, God confirms Paul’s words at once, demonstrating that the apostle speaks with divine authority. The sudden blindness also serves as a clear sign before Sergius Paulus. Gen 15:12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep… and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Elymas becomes helpless and dependent on others for guidance. The man who attempted to lead the proconsul away from faith now cannot find his own way. Act 9:8-9 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes… When the proconsul saw what had happened, Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor of Cyprus, witnessed Elymas struck blind after opposing the message preached by Barnabas and Saul. The judgment exposed the sorcerer’s deception and confirmed God’s power at work through His servants. Mrk 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat… he believed, The governor accepted the gospel, becoming a notable Gentile convert of high rank. His faith showed that the message of Christ was reaching beyond Jewish communities into Roman society. Jhn 2:23 While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast,… for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. The miracle drew his attention to the truth of the teaching concerning Jesus Christ, His authority, and the salvation proclaimed in His name. Mat 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished saying these things,…
In Pisidian AntiochPaul’s company left Cyprus after the Lord’s power had been displayed before Sergius Paulus and Elymas. Their journey now moved into Asia Minor, carrying the Gospel farther into Gentile territory. Act 16:11 We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace,… Paul and his companions Paul is named first, reflecting his growing leadership in the mission, while Barnabas and John Mark remained part of the company. Act 20:4-6 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea,… came to Perga in Pamphylia, Perga was an important city in Pamphylia on the southern coast of Asia Minor, within a region shaped by Roman rule and pagan worship. It became the first major stop in their inland work. Act 14:24-25 After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.… where John left them John Mark withdrew from the mission at Perga. Scripture does not state his reason, but his departure later affected the relationship between Paul and Barnabas. Act 15:38 But Paul thought it best not to take him,… to return to Jerusalem. John returned to the church center from which he had come, while Paul and Barnabas continued northward without him. Act 8:25 And after Peter and John had testified… And from Perga, Paul and Barnabas left the coastal city of Perga in Pamphylia and turned northward into the interior of Asia Minor. Perga was an important city in the Roman province and was known for its temple of Artemis. Act 14:24-25 After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.… they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, The route climbed through difficult and dangerous mountain country to Pisidian Antioch, a Roman colony in Phrygia situated along the Via Sebaste. Its Roman population, Jewish community, and access to surrounding regions made it an important place for their ministry. 2Ti 3:11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me… where they entered the synagogue As was Paul’s practice, they began among those already acquainted with the Scriptures and the hope of Israel’s Messiah. Synagogues also included Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel. Act 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue… on the Sabbath The day of worship gathered the Jewish community and God-fearing Gentiles for the reading and teaching of Scripture. Luk 4:16 Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.… and sat down. Paul and Barnabas took their place among the worshipers, awaiting the customary opportunity to speak after the reading of the Law and the Prophets. Luk 4:20 Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant,… After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, The synagogue service included public readings from the books of Moses and the Prophets, followed by instruction for the congregation. This pattern reflected the central place of Scripture in Jewish worship. Luk 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,… the synagogue leaders sent word to them: Those responsible for overseeing the service recognized Paul and Barnabas as visitors who could address the assembly. Synagogues commonly welcomed qualified Jewish teachers to offer instruction after the readings. Luk 7:3-4 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent… “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.” They invited Paul and Barnabas to give an exhortation drawn from the Scriptures that had been read. Paul would use the opportunity to proclaim God’s fulfillment of His promises through Jesus Christ. Heb 13:22 I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation,… Paul stood up, Paul rose to address the congregation after the synagogue rulers invited a word of encouragement. Standing marked the formal beginning of his public instruction. Act 17:22 Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus… motioned with his hand, He used a familiar gesture to quiet the room and direct attention to the message. Act 21:40 Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps… and began to speak: Paul’s address recounts God’s dealings with Israel and shows that Jesus is the promised descendant of David and the Savior God sent. Act 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand… “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, His audience included Jewish worshipers and Gentiles who honored Israel’s God and attended the synagogue. Both groups needed to hear that God’s promise of salvation had been fulfilled in Jesus. Act 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth… listen to me! Paul called for careful attention as he prepared to explain the significance of Israel’s history and God’s saving purpose. Act 7:2 And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me!… The God of the people of Israel God bound Himself to Israel through His covenant with Abraham and continued to identify Himself with the nation descended from the patriarchs. Exo 5:1 After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said… chose our fathers. He chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to establish a people through whom He would carry forward His covenant purposes. Deu 10:15 Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers… He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, While Israel lived as foreigners in Egypt, their numbers increased according to God’s promise, even under oppression. Deu 26:5 My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down… and with an uplifted arm God displayed His power over Egypt through the plagues and His judgment on Pharaoh. Deu 26:8 Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand… He led them out of that land. The Exodus delivered Israel from slavery and established them as a nation under God’s rule. Exo 12:51 And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out… He endured their conduct Israel repeatedly complained, rebelled, and turned from God during the journey from Egypt. Yet He continued to lead, provide for, and preserve the nation according to His covenant promises. Neh 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember… for about forty years The wilderness period followed Israel’s unbelief at Kadesh-barnea. The generation that left Egypt died in the desert, while their children were prepared to enter the land God had promised. Exo 16:35 The Israelites ate manna forty years… in the wilderness. In that harsh region, God supplied manna, water, guidance, and protection. The wilderness exposed Israel’s unbelief while teaching the new generation dependence on the Lord. Deu 8:2 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you… And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, Under Joshua’s leadership, Israel conquered the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Their judgment followed generations of entrenched idolatry and wickedness, while Israel’s victory fulfilled God’s covenant promise to give Abraham’s descendants the land. Deu 7:1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land… He gave their land to His people as an inheritance. The land was apportioned among Israel’s tribes as God’s gift, not as a reward for their righteousness or military strength. Israel’s possession of Canaan demonstrated God’s faithfulness to His promises and anticipated the lasting inheritance believers receive through Christ. Deu 4:38 to drive out before you nations greater and mightier… All this took about 450 years. This period spans Israel’s history from the patriarchs through the Exodus, the wilderness journey, and the conquest of Canaan. God preserved His covenant people despite their unbelief and disobedience, fulfilling His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and bringing their descendants from slavery into the land He had pledged to them. Gen 15:13-16 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain… After this, God gave them judges God raised up judges to rescue Israel from surrounding enemies and to lead the nation during repeated seasons of rebellion, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. These leaders served before Israel had a monarchy and demonstrated the nation’s continuing need for faithful rule under God. Jdg 2:16-19 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them… until the time of Samuel the prophet. Samuel stood at the close of the period of the judges and guided Israel into the age of kings. He anointed Saul and later David, through whose line God would bring the promised Messiah. 1Sa 3:19-21 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him,… Then the people asked for a king, Israel rejected the form of leadership God had established through the judges and sought to resemble the surrounding nations. Their request revealed dissatisfaction with God’s direct rule and a desire for visible political security. 1Sa 8:5 “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons”… and God gave them Saul son of Kish, God permitted their request and chose Saul, a Benjamite, to become Israel’s first king. Saul began with humility and received Samuel’s anointing, but his reign later exposed the consequences of disobedience to God. 1Sa 9:15-17 Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed… from the tribe of Benjamin, Benjamin was Israel’s smallest tribe and had nearly been destroyed during the period of the judges. Saul’s selection showed that God could raise a leader from a tribe with a troubled past. 1Sa 9:1-2 Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man,… who ruled forty years. Saul’s reign included victories over Israel’s enemies and the early consolidation of the kingdom, but it ended under God’s judgment after Saul repeatedly refused to obey His commands. 1Ch 29:27 The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years… After removing Saul, God rejected Saul as Israel’s king because of his persistent disobedience. Saul’s fall showed that Israel’s king remained accountable to God’s command and could not rule independently of Him. 1Sa 15:26-28 “I will not return with you,” Samuel replied.… He raised up David as their king God chose David, the youngest son of Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah, and Samuel anointed him while Saul still reigned. David’s rise marked the beginning of the royal line through which the Messiah would come. 1Sa 16:12-13 So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in.… and testified about him: God’s approval of David rested not on appearance, status, or military ability, but on the condition of his heart. 1Sa 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, How long are you going to mourn… ‘I have found David son of Jesse David came from an ordinary family and began as a shepherd, yet God appointed him to lead Israel. Psa 89:20-21 I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil… a man after My own heart; David sincerely desired to know, obey, and honor God, even though his life included serious sin. When confronted, he repented and returned to the Lord rather than hardening himself as Saul had done. 1Sa 13:14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought… he will carry out My will in its entirety.’ David served God’s purposes in establishing Israel’s kingdom and preparing for the temple. His reign ultimately pointed beyond himself to Jesus Christ, David’s greater Son, who perfectly fulfilled the Father’s will. Psa 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; … From the descendants of this man, David’s royal line carried God’s covenant promise of an enduring kingdom. Jesus’ descent from David identifies Him as the promised King and Messiah. 2Sa 7:12-13 And when your days are fulfilled and you rest… God has brought to Israel God acted faithfully within Israel’s history, bringing the promised Deliverer through the people and line He had chosen. Luk 1:68-69 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,… the Savior Jesus, Jesus came to save His people from sin and its judgment. His name, Jesus, means “Yahweh saves,” and His authority surpasses every earthly ruler. Luk 2:11 Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you.… as He promised. The arrival of Jesus fulfilled God’s long-standing promise to send a righteous King and Redeemer. 2Sa 7:16 Your house and kingdom will endure forever… Before the arrival of Jesus, John’s ministry came immediately before Jesus began His public work, fulfilling the promised role of the forerunner who would prepare Israel for the Messiah. Luk 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit… John preached He called the nation to turn from sin and return to God, publicly identifying those who responded as ready for the Lord’s coming. Mat 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching… a baptism of repentance This baptism expressed repentance and cleansing, not yet the Christian baptism associated with faith in Christ’s death and resurrection. Act 19:4 John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.… to all the people of Israel. John addressed the whole nation, including religious leaders, ordinary citizens, tax collectors, and soldiers. Israel was called to prepare for the Messiah through repentance before the message of salvation went to the Gentiles. Jhn 1:31 I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came… As John was completing his course, John the Baptist’s God-given ministry was drawing to its appointed close. He had called Israel to repentance and baptized those preparing for the Messiah’s arrival. Act 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me… he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? Many had questioned whether John himself was the promised Messiah. He addressed their expectations directly so that attention would not remain on him. Jhn 1:19 And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem… I am not that One. John plainly denied being the Christ. Though widely recognized as a prophet, he understood that he was the forerunner, not the King. Jhn 1:20 He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared… But there is One coming after me Jesus would follow John in public ministry as the promised Messiah whom John had been sent to announce. Jhn 1:30 This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me…… whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ Untying sandals was a lowly servant’s task. John’s words confessed Christ’s supreme greatness and his own unworthiness before Him. Jhn 1:27 He is the One who comes after me, the straps… Brothers, children of Abraham, Paul addresses his fellow Jews as descendants of Abraham and heirs of the covenants and promises God gave to Israel. Their shared ancestry also underscores Israel’s unique place in God’s unfolding plan of redemption. 2Co 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites?… and you Gentiles who fear God, He includes Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and attended the synagogue without becoming full Jewish proselytes. They too are invited to hear the same message, showing that God’s salvation is not limited by ethnic descent. Act 10:2 He and all his household were devout and… it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The good news of salvation through Jesus the Messiah had been entrusted to those gathered in the synagogue. Though the message came through Israel’s history and Scriptures, it was sent to Jews and Gentiles alike, calling all who hear it to receive the forgiveness God provides through Christ. Act 28:28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent… The people of Jerusalem and their rulers Jerusalem’s residents and religious authorities, including chief priests, scribes, elders, and the Sanhedrin, stood at the center of Jewish worship and public life because of the Temple. Luk 23:13-18 Then Pilate called together the chief priests,… did not recognize Jesus, Though Jesus’ teaching, works, and claims were widely known, many rejected Him as the promised Messiah. Jhn 1:10-11 He was in the world, and though the world… yet in condemning Him Their accusations and decision to deliver Him to Roman authority led to His crucifixion. Mat 27:24-26 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing… they fulfilled the words of the prophets In rejecting and putting Jesus to death, they carried out what God had foretold concerning the Messiah’s suffering and rejection. Act 3:18 But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold… that are read every Sabbath. The Law and the Prophets were read regularly in synagogue worship, yet the leaders did not understand that these Scriptures pointed to Jesus. Act 15:21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city… And though they found no ground for a death sentence, Although the Jewish leaders found no valid ground for a death sentence, they still demanded that Jesus be executed. Their false and conflicting testimony failed to establish His guilt, revealing the innocence of the righteous Messiah. Luk 23:14-15 and said to them, “You brought me this man… they asked Pilate Because the Jewish council was subject to Roman authority and could not lawfully execute Jesus, they brought him before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Although they found no valid charge deserving death, they asked Pilate to have him executed, framing their accusations in political terms to secure a Roman sentence. Luk 23:18-23 But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man!… to have Him executed. Pilate ultimately authorized crucifixion, the Roman punishment used for condemned criminals and perceived threats to public order. Though carried out by Roman soldiers at the leaders’ demand, Jesus’ death took place according to God’s purpose, providing the sacrifice for sin foretold throughout Scripture. Luk 23:24-25 So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met.… When they had carried out all that was written about Him, Jesus’ rejection, suffering, crucifixion, and death unfolded according to God’s revealed plan. Though carried out by sinful men, these events fulfilled what God had foretold concerning the Messiah’s suffering and sacrificial death. Luk 24:44-46 Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you… they took Him down from the tree After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea, assisted by Nicodemus, received permission to remove His body from the cross. His death under the curse associated with being hung on a tree showed Him bearing sin’s judgment in the place of others. Luk 23:50-53 Now there was a Council member named Joseph,… and laid Him in a tomb. Jesus was buried in Joseph’s new tomb near the place of crucifixion. Though executed as a criminal, He was given an honorable burial, and the sealed tomb became the setting for the public reality of His resurrection. Mat 27:57-60 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea… But God Human authorities condemned and executed Jesus, but their actions did not overcome God’s purpose. God decisively reversed the judgment of men and revealed His sovereign power. Act 2:24 But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him… raised Him Jesus’ resurrection was a real act of God in history. It vindicated Jesus as the promised Messiah and confirmed that His death had accomplished what God intended. Eph 1:20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him… from the dead, Jesus rose bodily from death, not merely in memory or spiritual influence. His resurrection defeated death and became the foundation of the apostles’ witness and the hope of resurrection for all who belong to Him. Act 17:31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world… and for many days He was seen Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared repeatedly during the forty days before His ascension, giving His followers certain proof that He was alive and continuing to prepare them for their mission. Act 1:3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them… by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These were the disciples and other devoted followers who had known Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, from its beginning in Galilee to His final journey to Jerusalem, where He was crucified and rose again. Mrk 15:40-41 And there were also women watching from a distance.… They are now His witnesses Having personally seen the risen Christ, they were able to testify truthfully to His death and resurrection. Their witness became the foundation of the apostolic proclamation. Luk 24:48 You are witnesses of these things. to our people. The message was first declared to Israel, the people who had received God’s covenants, promises, and prophets. From there, the gospel would go to all nations. Act 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth… And now we proclaim to you the good news: Paul announces in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch that God’s promised salvation has come through Jesus Christ. The Gospel centers on Christ’s death, burial, and bodily resurrection, through which forgiveness of sins is offered to all who believe. Luk 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid!… What God promised our fathers God’s covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel included blessing for all nations through the coming Messiah. Jesus is the fulfillment of those promises, demonstrating God’s faithfulness to His word and the unity of His saving purpose throughout Scripture. Rom 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant… He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. God fulfilled the promises given to Israel’s fathers by raising Jesus from the dead. The resurrection confirmed that Jesus is the promised Messiah and heir of David, through whom God’s covenant purposes reach their fulfillment. Rom 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant… As it is written in the second Psalm: Psalm 2 anticipated God’s appointed King, whom the nations would oppose but whom God would establish in authority. The apostles understood Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation as the fulfillment of that royal promise. Psa 2:6 “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.” ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’ God publicly declared Jesus to be His Son and installed Him as the reigning King. The resurrection did not make Jesus God’s Son for the first time; it revealed His authority and vindicated His identity before the world. Psa 2:7 I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD:… In fact, God raised Him from the dead, God publicly vindicated Jesus by raising Him bodily after His crucifixion. His resurrection confirmed that His sacrifice for sin was accepted and established Him as the promised Messiah. Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man,… never to see decay. Jesus did not return merely to mortal life, as Lazarus did, but rose in an incorruptible, eternal body. Death no longer had any claim on Him, fulfilling God’s promise that His Holy One would not undergo decay. Psa 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol… As He has said: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ The resurrection guarantees the everlasting promises God made concerning David’s royal line. Jesus, David’s descendant and rightful King, reigns forever and fulfills God’s covenant to establish an eternal kingdom. Isa 55:3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen,… So also, He says in another Psalm: Paul continues his synagogue sermon by showing that Israel’s Scriptures foretold the Messiah’s resurrection. Speaking to Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch, he grounds the gospel in God’s promises rather than in human speculation. Luk 20:42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms… ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’ David wrote these words, yet David died and was buried, and his body decayed. The promise therefore pointed beyond David to the Messiah. Jesus died, was buried, and rose on the third day before His body underwent decay, fulfilling God’s promise and confirming Him as the Holy One sent by God. Psa 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol… For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, David united Israel, established Jerusalem as its capital, secured the kingdom, and made preparations for the Temple his son Solomon would build. His reign also preserved the royal line through which the Messiah would come. 1Sa 13:14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought… he fell asleep. David died after completing the work appointed to him in his lifetime. Act 7:60 Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice,… His body was buried with his fathers He was laid to rest in the City of David among the kings of Judah, marking the end of his earthly reign. 1Ki 2:10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried… and saw decay. David’s body remained in the grave and underwent decay. Jesus, the promised Son of David, was raised from the dead and did not remain under the power of death. Psa 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol… But the One whom God raised from the dead Jesus’ resurrection fulfilled God’s promise that His Holy One would not remain in the grave. Unlike David, who died and was buried, Jesus rose bodily from the tomb. His resurrection demonstrated God’s approval of His atoning death and confirmed Him as the promised Messiah. Act 2:24 But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him… did not see decay. Jesus’ body was not left in the grave long enough to undergo corruption. His empty tomb stood in contrast to David’s known burial place and testified that death could not hold Him. As the firstfruits of those who have died, Christ’s resurrection assures the future resurrection of all who belong to Him. Psa 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol… Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, Paul turns to the main conclusion of his synagogue address, speaking to Jews and Gentile worshipers as those who share the history and promises of Israel. Act 28:28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent… that through Jesus Jesus is the promised Messiah whose death and resurrection accomplished what the Law and its sacrifices could not finally provide. Act 4:12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other… the forgiveness of sins God grants release from guilt and reconciliation with Himself through Christ’s sacrifice, which fulfills the need for atonement. Act 5:31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior,… is proclaimed to you. Paul announces this as God’s present offer to his hearers, calling them to receive the salvation made available in Christ. 1Pe 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.… Through Him Jesus Christ alone provides access to God through His atoning death and resurrection. He fulfilled the promised work of the Messiah by bearing sin and securing reconciliation for those who trust in Him. Jhn 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.… everyone who believes Salvation is offered to all people without distinction of ancestry, status, or background. Receiving it requires personal faith in Christ rather than reliance on heritage or religious works. Act 10:43 All the prophets testify about Him… is justified Justification is a legal declaration that God declares the believer righteous on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. This verdict brings peace with God and is granted by grace, not earned through obedience to the law. Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith… from everything Christ’s sacrifice provides full forgiveness for every sin. No guilt remains beyond the reach of His completed work. 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light,… from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. The Mosaic law revealed God’s righteous standard and exposed human sin, but it could not remove guilt or make sinners righteous before God. It pointed to the need for the Savior who accomplishes what the law could not. Rom 3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight… Watch out, then, Paul closes his synagogue address with a sober warning. Having proclaimed Jesus as the promised Savior and the source of forgiveness, he calls his hearers to respond carefully rather than dismiss the message. Heb 2:1 We must pay closer attention, therefore,… that what was spoken by the prophets The prophets repeatedly warned Israel that unbelief brings judgment. Paul’s message does not depart from their witness; it announces the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ. Act 26:22 But I have had God’s help to this day… does not happen to you: The audience bears responsibility for its response. Rejecting the gospel would place them among those who had ignored God’s revealed word and suffered its consequences. Heb 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks… ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! Paul closes his synagogue sermon with Habakkuk’s warning to Judah, whose people ignored God’s word before the Babylonian invasion. Those who mocked the warning faced the judgment they refused to believe was coming. Paul applies the same warning to his hearers, who had been told that forgiveness and justification were available through Jesus. Pro 1:22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?”… For I am doing a work in your days In Habakkuk’s day, God raised up Babylon to judge Judah. In Paul’s day, God had accomplished salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus and was extending that message beyond Israel to the Gentiles. God’s work in history had reached its promised fulfillment in the Messiah. Hab 1:5 Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded…… that you would never believe, Judah found it hard to believe that God would use Babylon against His own people. Many in Paul’s audience likewise struggled to accept a crucified and risen Messiah or the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s saving purpose. Their unbelief did not alter what God had done. Jhn 12:37 Although Jesus had performed so many signs… even if someone told you.’” The warning concerns deliberate rejection of God’s revealed work. Israel’s prophets had often been rejected despite plainly announcing God’s purposes, and Paul warns his listeners not to repeat that history by dismissing the gospel. Luk 16:31 Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses…
A Light for the GentilesHaving just proclaimed Jesus as the promised Savior in Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue. Synagogues provided a natural setting for reaching Jews and Gentiles who honored Israel’s God and knew the Scriptures. Act 18:7 So Paul left the synagogue and went next door… the people urged them Many in the congregation responded with serious interest, recognizing that the message required further consideration. Jhn 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked… to continue this message Paul and Barnabas had declared that forgiveness of sins and justification are offered through Jesus Christ to everyone who believes. Act 28:23-24 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came… on the next Sabbath. The gathering would allow the synagogue community to hear the gospel more fully, consider its claims, and respond to the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ. Act 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue,… After the synagogue was dismissed, After the synagogue service had ended, there was time for further conversation among those who had heard the reading and teaching from the Scriptures. Luk 4:20-22 Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant,… many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism This group included both Jews and Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and attended the synagogue. These Gentiles embraced Jewish beliefs and practices but had not necessarily become full proselytes. Act 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya… followed Paul and Barnabas, Many Jews and devout converts followed Paul and Barnabas, seeking further instruction after hearing their message about Jesus as the promised Savior. Act 8:13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized.… who spoke to them and urged them Paul and Barnabas continued to instruct and encourage those who showed interest, giving personal attention to the beginnings of their faith. Act 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples… to continue in the grace of God. They were called to remain dependent on God’s saving favor rather than turning back to reliance on the law or former religious practices. 1Pe 5:12 Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother,… On the following Sabbath, Paul and Barnabas returned to Pisidian Antioch after their earlier synagogue message had stirred interest among Jews and Gentile worshipers of God. The Sabbath ran from Friday evening to Saturday evening and provided the regular setting for Jewish worship and instruction. Act 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue… nearly the whole city gathered News of their message had spread beyond the synagogue. Pisidian Antioch was an important Roman colony, and the crowd included many Gentiles as well as Jews, showing that the gospel was reaching the wider population. Mrk 1:33 and the whole town gathered at the door. to hear the word of the Lord. Paul and Barnabas proclaimed God’s message of salvation through Jesus Christ—His death, resurrection, and fulfillment of God’s promises. The gathering came to hear not merely a new teaching, but God’s authoritative word. Luk 5:1 On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake… But when the Jews saw the crowds, When the Jewish opponents in Pisidian Antioch saw the large crowds, including many Gentiles who had come to hear Paul and Barnabas, they reacted with jealousy. Jhn 12:19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see… they were filled with jealousy, They were filled with jealousy, concerned that the apostles’ influence was drawing people away from their authority and disrupting the established synagogue community. Act 5:17 Then the high priest and all his associates,… and they blasphemously contradicted They openly opposed the gospel, blasphemously contradicting its message and speaking abusively against its messengers. Tit 1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught… what Paul was saying. Paul had proclaimed Jesus as the promised Messiah, crucified and raised from the dead, through whom forgiveness and justification are offered to all who believe. Act 28:24 Some of them were convinced by what he said… Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: Opposition from synagogue leaders did not silence the missionaries. In Pisidian Antioch, they openly addressed those who had contradicted their message and stirred up resistance. Act 4:29-31 And now, Lord, consider their threats,… “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Israel had received God’s covenants, promises, and Scriptures, so the message of the Messiah was rightly proclaimed to the Jewish people before extending more fully to others. Rom 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power… But since you reject it Their response was a deliberate refusal of the gospel despite hearing its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jhn 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, By rejecting God’s offer, they excluded themselves from the salvation freely offered through faith in Christ. Luk 20:35-36 But those who are considered worthy to share… we now turn to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas would continue their work among the Gentiles, who were also included in God’s purpose of salvation. Isa 49:6 “It is not enough for You to be My Servant,”… For this is what the Lord has commanded us: Paul and Barnabas defended their ministry to the Gentiles as obedience to God’s revealed purpose. Jewish opposition in Antioch did not alter the mission entrusted to them. Mat 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,… ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, God’s promise concerning His Servant finds its fulfillment in Christ and extends through the witness of those He sends. The gospel was not limited to Israel but was to be proclaimed among the nations. Isa 49:6 “It is not enough for You to be My Servant,”… to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Salvation through Jesus Christ was intended for every people and place. The missionary expansion of the church demonstrated that God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham’s offspring was being fulfilled. Isa 52:10 The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations… When the Gentiles heard this, The non-Jewish residents of Antioch in Pisidia rejoiced when they heard Paul announce that God’s salvation had been sent to them after many in the synagogue rejected it. The gospel was openly extending beyond Israel to the nations. Act 15:7 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them… they rejoiced They rejoiced because they understood the good news as God’s gracious offer of salvation to them, not as a message reserved exclusively for the Jewish people. Rom 15:10 Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” and glorified the word of the Lord, The Gentiles received and honored the message proclaimed by Paul and Barnabas as God’s authoritative word, revealing His saving purpose for them. 2Th 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord… and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. Their faith was the outward result of God’s sovereign work. Those whom God had appointed to receive eternal life responded to the gospel in belief. 2Th 2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers… And the word of the Lord The gospel proclaimed by Paul and Barnabas was received as God’s message of salvation through Jesus Christ, not as a human philosophy. Their preaching centered on the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ’s death and resurrection. Act 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch,… spread Despite opposition from some Jewish leaders, the message continued to advance as those who believed carried it to others. The growth of the church showed that God’s purpose was not hindered by persecution or rejection. Act 12:24 But the word of God continued to spread and multiply. throughout that region. From Pisidian Antioch, the gospel reached surrounding towns in southern Galatia, where Jews and Gentiles lived among Roman settlements. Its spread marked the widening mission to the Gentiles and the establishment of Christian witness beyond the synagogue. Mrk 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly… The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. Jewish leaders who rejected Paul’s message enlisted influential Gentile supporters in Pisidian Antioch. The prominent women were likely Gentile worshipers associated with the synagogue, while the leading men held civic authority and social standing. Their involvement gave the opposition both public influence and political force. Act 17:4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas… They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas The resistance became an organized effort to silence the missionaries and remove them from the city. Jewish opponents and Gentile authorities joined against the men who proclaimed that forgiveness and salvation were found in Jesus Christ. Act 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles… and drove them out of their district. Local authorities expelled Paul and Barnabas from the territory around Pisidian Antioch. Their removal did not end the work begun there, since many had believed, and the apostles continued their mission in the next cities of Galatia. 1Th 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets… So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them Paul and Barnabas publicly marked their separation from those who had rejected the gospel. The act testified that they had faithfully delivered God’s message and bore no responsibility for the unbelief of those who refused it. Though many Gentiles had received the word with joy, opposition from influential Jews led to their expulsion from the district. Mat 10:14 And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words… and went to Iconium. Iconium was an important inland city in the Roman province of Galatia, located near Lycaonia in present-day central Turkey. Its position on major travel routes made it a strategic place for the continued spread of the gospel. Opposition in Pisidian Antioch did not end the missionaries’ work; they continued to the next city as they carried the message of salvation into Gentile regions. Act 14:1 At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual… And the disciples The new believers in Pisidian Antioch remained after Paul and Barnabas were driven from the region. Though local leaders had stirred persecution against the missionaries, the church continued in the faith. Act 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples… were filled with joy Their joy rested in the salvation they had received and in the certainty of God’s work despite opposition. Jhn 15:11 I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you… and with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit sustained and strengthened these believers, enabling the church to endure and continue growing after Paul and Barnabas departed for Iconium. Act 4:31 After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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