The Gospel Brings Joy

After leaving Cyprus (Acts 13:13), the Apostle Paul and his missionary team landed on the coast of modern-day Turkey and stopped in Perga, 12 miles from the coast.  But in the following verse (Acts 13:14), Luke records that they came to Pisidian Antioch without giving much detail. Pisidian Antioch is 3,600 feet above sea level almost 100 miles to the north through a dangerous and tough route. In Paul’s day, it was part of the province of Galatia. The Epistle to the Galatians, which the Apostle Paul wrote later, would have included the Church in Pisidian Antioch.

As Paul had done in Cyprus and as he will continue to do from that point on, he went "first to the Jew(s)" in the synagogue of the city (cf. Romans 1:16-17).  When the elders of the synagogue asked Paul and Barnabas to share a "word of exhortation for the people" (Acts 13:15), the Apostle Paul gave a sermon that outlined the history of Israel and how God had chosen Israel to bring the Messiah, the Savior, through the promise. The Apostle Paul then declared Jesus to be that Messiah who fulfilled that promise. He refers to John the Baptist who affirmed the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.  He told them how "those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers" had rejected the Lord Jesus (Acts 13:27). However, although He was put to death, "God raised Him from the dead" as attested by those who are now "His witnesses to the people" (Acts 13:31).  

 In addition to the eyewitness testimony, the Apostle Paul provided scriptural proof that the "good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled" by raising the Lord Jesus from the dead" (Acts 13:32-33). Paul presented many prophecies that had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Then, the Apostle Paul appealed to them to accept this promise and "the forgiveness of sins" being offered to them through Christ (Acts 13:38). He then gave them a warning not to be "scoffers [who] marvel [but] perish" (Acts 13:41). Nevertheless, the following Sabbath, the Jews, "filled with jealousy" because of the Gentile's zeal to hear the word of God, "began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming." (Acts 13:42). Consequently, the Apostle Paul and Barnabas told them,


Are you still receiving the word of God with such zeal and joy?
Are being continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit?

-Pastor Stephen