ONLINE ACTS LESSON 22 – THE HOLY SPIRIT SENDS OUT PAUL AND BARNABAS

Acts 13:1-3
GETTING STARTED:

• There is a focus shift taking place in Acts – there has been a focus on what God was doing through the ministry of Peter but the rest of Acts will center on what God was doing through Paul. It is not because God was using Peter less – but because of God using Paul to take the Gospel to the ends of the World.
• Remember what God said to Ananias in Acts 9:15 – Saul (Paul) is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings…
• The reason Saul will now be referred to as Paul is because Paul is his Greek name and Saul was his Hebrew name – and his focus will now be the Gentiles. The switch will take place in Acts 13:9

THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS THE CHURCH TO BE INTENTIONALLY MISSIONAL.

• Antioch Syria – the model New Testament church led by the Spirit – full of diversity – with many different active ministries – in this church the Holy Spirit will set apart Paul and Barnabas for a new type of work. The strategic and intentional going out to places that have not heard about Jesus.
• Up to this point the spread of the Gospel has happened through dispersion due to persecution. There have been some individual exceptions – Philip and the Ethiopian – Peter and the house of Cornelius. But look at Acts 11:19-21 and see how this church was started.
• NOW – God is launching modern missions. When we support and partner with missionaries – we are following the direction of the Holy Spirit.

THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY BEGINS. Acts 13:4&5

• We see the impact of the Spirit from the beginning. He puts together the team – and the Spirit inspires the strategy that Paul will use again and again.
• They will start at the Jewish synagogues and use it as a platform to spread the Gospel. Synagogues were full of Gentile hearers who loved the beauty of the law. Paul’s background and the power of the Spirit made him powerful as he would bring forth Jesus from the teachings of the Old Testament. Many would believe and eventually a church would be planted.

THE SPIRIT WHO LIVES IN YOU IS GREATER. Acts 13:6-12

• Just as the Spirit told Ananias – Paul gets in front of the governor of Paphos named Sergius Paulus and presents the Gospel of Jesus.
• A sorcerer named Elymas tries to prevent this but Paul confronts him boldly in the power of the Spirit. He is temporarily struck with blindness and now Paul is able to preach and teach the Word of God.
• Interestingly – the governor will become a believer – not because of this demonstration of power – but because of the teaching about the Lord.

THE RULE: The working of the Holy Spirit will lift up Jesus.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 21 – THE CHURCH PRAYED

Acts 12:1-5 – But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
GETTING STARTED:

• The first of the disciples is martyred at the start of chapter 12 – James, the brother of John, was beheaded by the sword. Interestingly – John will live longer than any other disciple.
• Serious persecution is facing the church and they will resort to their greatest weapon – they will pray. Prayer is not a last resort – it is our first response.

THE SITUATION AND THE CHURCH’S RESPONSE. Acts 12:1-5

• King Herod Agrippa – the nephew of Herod Antipas and the grandson of Herod the Great – had James executed. This pleased the Jewish leader so Herod decided to go after Peter.
• Peter was locked up during Passover and under the guard of four squads. Herod intended to try him and likely execute him after Passover.
• The Bible says that the church prayed very earnestly for him. James 5:16 says that the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Lesson: Keep this response of prayer in mind as the story unfolds – just because they
are surprised by the answer doesn’t mean that they were not believing for God to
intervene. They don’t tell God how to answer – they just ask God to answer.

THE UNEXPECTED ANSWER – Acts 12:6-19

• Miraculously – God sends an angel to lead Peter out of this prison. It’s so surreal that Peter thinks it is a dream. But it is God at work.
• Once Peter realizes what God has done – he goes to where the church has gathered – the home of Mary the mother of John Mark. A servant girl named Rhoda answers the knock and is overjoyed and blown away – she forgets to let Peter in and the people don’t believe her. Eventually they come to see that God has done something above and beyond what they could ask or think. (Eph. 3:20)
• God had a bigger answer than they could comprehend.

REMINDER: NO ENTITY OF PERSON WILL STOP THE GOSPEL. Acts 12:20-25

• One of the themes that runs through Acts is the unhindered gospel. Nothing will stop the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Herod attempted to stop it by having James martyred and arresting Peter – but God still had plans for Peter.
• Now Herod’s arrogance will bring the judgment of God upon his life. The Gospel will go on – but Herod’s days came to an abrupt end. The one who tried to stop the Gospel was stopped – but the Gospel kept going.

Closing thought: Look at verse 24 – …The word of God continued to spread, and there
were many new believers. Your life is part of something bigger than you – God’s plan to
bring the Good News to the world. Let prayer be your first response and never a last
resort.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 20 – THE TRUTH PRODUCES FRUIT

Acts 11:1-18
GETTING STARTED:

• We left off this study at the first of June having covered the major event of the Good News officially coming to the Gentiles. This is Ground Breaking.
• Jesus had told the in Acts 1:8 that they would take the Gospel to the ends of the earth – but they thought that it meant to all the Jewish people everywhere in the world – but it was much bigger. JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
• Now Peter has to explain what was happening to the leaders in Jerusalem.

IT WAS TIME FOR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS TO MOVE OVER. verses 1-18

• There were people in the church more concerned that Peter had entered the home of a Gentile than they were glad that salvation had come to the Gentiles.
• In their mind – they would have to become Jews first and then get saved – but God had a bigger and better plan. (People who would not let go of this became false teachers who went out and tried to put this teaching on new believers – READ GALATIANS)
• But Peter had a better report. He shared what God had done in his life with the vision of the sheet and the command to not call unclean what God called clean.
• The convincing evidence was the Holy Spirit. Look again at verses 15-18. The lesson is that the Holy Spirit unites us – but the traditions of men will divide us.

LESSON: When the Holy Spirit starts moving – let’s stop objecting and start praising
God. Let God’s Holy Spirit open our eyes to see all the people God loves.

THE EXAMPLE OF THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH OF SYRIA. Acts 11:19-30

• We know from chapter 8 that after Stephen was martyred that great persecution broke out and the church was scattered. But they took their witness with them.
• One place that they went to was Antioch of Syria. 300 miles north of Jerusalem – about 20 miles inland of the Mediterranean Sea.
• God moved here strongly and many were saved – including Gentiles. The church sent Barnabas to check it out. Look at what it says about Barnabas in verses 22-24. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. Take note that when he witnessed the genuine move of God – it filled him with joy.
• Barnabas thought of Saul (Paul) and went and got him – and they both began to minister in this great church filled with diversity that was taking the Gospel to everyone around them. In chapter 13 – this church will launch modern missions and the intentional and strategic going out to share the Gospel.

CLOSING THOUGHT – Be open to the empowering leadership of the Holy Spirit. It will
bring great joy into your life.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 19 – WALKING THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR

Acts 10:24-46
GETTING STARTED:
● In our previous lesson we learned how God speaks through the Holy Spirit to
people who are seeking him. At regular times of prayer – Peter at noon and
Cornelius at 3 – God spoke great change and direction. They both saw visions
and they both followed instructions obediently.
● Now Peter is traveling with the people Cornelius sent to bring Good News to
Caeserea. The meaning of not calling unclean what God calls clean is about to
be very clear. LET’S READ THE REST OF THE STORY FROM CHAPTER 10.

GOD OPENS A DOOR FOR CORNELIUS TO RECEIVE GOOD NEWS.
● Cornelius was a devout – God fearing man who sought the Lord. God answered
his prayers and sent Peter with the Good News.
● Look at how eager he was to receive. He even tried to worship Peter – but Peter
let him know that he was the messenger and not the one to be worshipped.
● He states to Peter – we are all hear waiting to hear the message the Lord has
given you.
● Peter preaches the Good News of Jesus. Acts 10:38 is one of my favorite
declarations about the Lord. That Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and
that he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.
● As they hear the Good News – they believe it and receive salvation. God always
responds to faith. The sign that they have believed is that they are also filled with
the Holy Spirit and they speak in other tongues. GOOD NEWS COMES TO THE
HOUSE OF CORNELIUS. Now they are followers of Jesus Christ.

NOTE: Clearly God establishes that you don’t have to become a Jew first to be a
follower of Jesus – that’s how powerful the work of the Cross is.

GOD OPENS THE UNDERSTANDING OF PETER.
● Earlier in the year, I used this story to talk about God filling the empty places in
our lives. We looked at how God brought new understanding to Peter so that
now his heart is open to Jews and Gentiles calling on the name of the Lord.
● 2 keys to Peter’s heart receiving new direction. First – he regularly sought the
Lord so it was easy for God to speak to him. Second – he walked humbly before
the Lord – he refused to be worshipped or to take credit for what God was doing.
● Finally – it is Peter who fully recognizes what God has done. Look at what he
says in the final 2 verses of this chapter. (Acts 10:47&48) Let’s baptize them –
they are believers just like us.

MY PRAYER FOR YOU – May the Lord continue to increase your understanding as you
seek Him and humbly follow the Lord.