Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts divided into 6 parts showing the fulfillment of

the growth of the church as it spread from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the uttermost parts of the earth

each section part ends with a similar proclamation:

- birth of church at Jerusalem and its spectacular growth

the preaching of Peter and persecution, the first act of Church discipline, the choosing of the 7 to free up the Apostles

- spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and Galilee & conversion of Saul

Stephen’s martyrdom, persecution of the church causes the gospel to spread out from Jerusalem, Saul’s miraculous conversion from being a persecutor to a minister of the gospel

- explosive growth of church as it spread to Gentiles

Peter’s ministry and Cornelius, Peter’s report to the church in Jerusalem, spread of the gospel to Antioch which became the sending church for Paul’s missionary journeys, James killed and Peter’s miraculous rescue, death of Herod for not glorifying God

- church in Asia Minor and Galatia

Antioch church sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey, stops in Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, opposition of the Jews to Paul, Paul’s stoning at Lystra, Jerusalem Council and the problem of Jewish believers and their commitment to the ceremonial law, Council’s decision against them

- spread of the church further west

Paul & Silas’ trip to strengthen the churches they had established on their first journey, call to Macedonia, conversion of Philippian jailer, ministry in Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, return to Antioch, rise of Apollos, Paul’s ministry in Ephesus

to end - Paul’s final ministries and spread of gospel to Rome

riot in Ephesus instigated by the Demetrius and the idol craftsmen, ministry in Macedonia and Greece, raising of Eutychus from the dead, addressed the Ephesian elders, trip to Jerusalem, Paul’s arrest, trial and preaching to kings, appeal to Caesar, trip to Rome, ministry there and martyrdom

Saul one of God’s key servants in that spread

could not have happened if those whom Saul led to Christ did not take the gospel to their families, neighbourhoods and towns

Saul Carries Jesus to the Jews

Saul had been chosen by Jesus to carry his name (9:15)

he immediately set himself to accomplish this task by preaching to his own people (9:20)

“with the disciples” (19b)

up to this point they had fled from him, they refused to fellowship with him because they were afraid of him

example of Ananias’ fear (13,14)

Jesus had changed Saul from being their enemy to being their brother

when the disciples realized this they embraced him as a fellow member of the family of Christ

the disciples embraced him as their brother in the Lord

a mark of a transformed life is the desire to be with other Christians

“and immediately he proclaimed Jesus” (20)

true believers do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scoffer ()

a professing believer who prefers the company of unbelievers is probably still one of them

“And immediately he proclaimed Jesus” (20)

another mark of Saul’s transformation: he could not stop speaking about God’s saving grace in Christ Jesus

Acts 26:19-

having been appointed to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel (9:15) Saul wasted no time getting started in his new calling!

having been appointed to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel (9:15) Saul wasted no time getting started in his new calling!

immediately: Saul did not delay

“proclaim” = herald

heralds were messengers sent by rulers to convey messages or proclamations

Saul went about proclaiming the good news about Jesus

remember that Jesus had chosen him as an instrument and a servant to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel (9:15)

the inevitable questions about his change of masters did not deter him

questions the Jews were asking in v.21

he was not afraid of the fact that he had gone from being the darling of the Sanhedrin to an outcast

many of the unbelieving Jews to whom he had been sent would have looked upon him with suspicion

what would happen if we did this with our family and friends?

“did you know that Jesus is the Son of God?

I just think it’s amazing!

Can I tell you why?”

“he proclaimed ... in the synagogues”

Saul did not wander through the streets yelling, “Jesus is the Son of God”

Saul had a plan

he began with synagogues:

Saul’s reputation opened opportunities to speak in the synagogues

this was Saul’s preferred method of carrying the message of Christ to new cities

synagogues were often located in urban areas

this meant that the gospel would come to a city and then spread to the surrounding areas as new believers spread out

Saul was wise and intentional, seeking the most effective means of fulfilling his calling

gospel was to be sent to the Jew first

“Jesus”

when the Jews rejected him and his message he would go to some other venue and teach all who followed him from the synagogues

with those people he would form new churches

if we would be wise and intentional in the spread of the gospel we will do like Saul

the most easily accessed venue is the church

stirred up the Gentile populace against him and his disciples

what are we doing to invite our family, friends, neighbours and co-workers to church?

80% of church goers came to Christ because someone invited them

invite to church and then to your home for discussion

Saul’s Message

end of v.22: proving Jesus was the Christ

Jesus

for the Jewish people this was his common name

it identified him as the carpenter son of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth

a carpenter

but Jesus was much more than this and Saul sought to teach them

the name Jesus means Saviour

synagogues were often located in urban areas due to the need for numbers

this meant that the gospel would come to a city and then spread to the surrounding areas as new believers spread out

Saul was wise and intentional about the most effective means of fulfilling his calling

went first to the synagogues

he knew he would have a hearing in the synagogues because he was a Jew

gospel was to be sent to the Jew first

when he was eventually rejected he would go to some other venue and teach all who followed him from those synagogues

synagogue rulers would often persecute him and chase him out of town

stirred up the Gentile populace against him and his disciples

Saul first presented Jesus to them as their Saviour

Saul Carried The Gospel to the Jews

to do this he told them about their sins

“Saul increased all the more in strength”

he warned them against trying to earn their salvation

he called them to repent and believe

he experienced the same success that Stephen did when he debated in the synagogues in Jerusalem

increased: Saul learned how to communicate the gospel more and more effectively

his reasoning was such that his opponents could not answer or refute him

“amazed … confounded”

“amazed” = to be removed from its place i.e. to shake, to alter

to become astounded to such a degree as to lose one’s mental composure

example: how believers feel when a faithful Christian leader falls from grace; how we feel when betrayed someone we thought was our friend; how a team might feel when their star player is sidelined

when confronted with Paul’s radical life change they were utterly shocked and didn’t know what to do

“confounded” = to bewilder

to astonish in such a degree that the mental faculties are confounded and such a person is practically incapacitated