Pastor and 1st Lady Mims

Mims Chapel Church

Week 9, April 26, 2026

LESSON 9

The Sermon at Antioch

Lesson Text:

Acts 13:16-43

Memory Verse
"Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God"
Acts 13:43

Key Terms

Beget • To procreate as the father or to produce as an effect or outgrowth.
Homiletics • The art of preaching, applying rhetoric to religious discourses.
Redemptive History • The theological framework that outlines God's plan for salvation throughout history.

Suggested Emphasis

The Antiochian sermon of Paul stands out as perhaps the most cohesive message recorded in Acts. The records Luke provides us of other messages seem to be piecemeal—simply snippets and highlights of fuller presentations. Conversely, this sermon possesses all of the critical elements of a speech according to the classical tradition of rhetoric. We can clearly distinguish an introduction (v.16), a statement of facts (vv. 17-25), a proposition (v. 26), relevant proofs (vv. 27-37), and a concluding appeal (vv. 38-41). Our survey of the Sermons of the New Testament would be lacking without this pristine example of homiletics.

Emphasis 1:

Jewish History Led to the Messiah

This message was occasioned by a visit to the city of Antioch, in the Roman province of Pisidia (of Asia Minor). It was an early stop on Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey. On the Sabbath, when they went to the synagogue, the apostles were invited to address the congregation. Paul stood, "lifted his hand to silence them" (Acts 13:16a, NLT), and began to address the crowd. "Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience" (Acts 13:16b). The apostle was making his appeal to Jews and proselytes. This indicated that the argument would be designed for people who knew the Hebrew Scriptures and traditions. Paul referenced that God "chose our fathers" (v. 17a), which is a subtle attempt to align himself with the audience. His next few sentences lightly trace Jewish redemptive history: the sojourn in Egypt after which God delivered them "with an high arm"; the 40 years of chastening in the wilderness; the overthrow of seven nations in Canaan; the division of the land between the tribes; the rules of the judges, Samuel the prophet, Saul the King, and finally David (v. 17b-22). But with King David we prepare for a transition, because "of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus" (v. 23). There was a promise made to David of an unending dynasty (2 Sam. 7:11,12), and subsequent prophecies were even more explicit (Isa. 9:6,7; Isa. 11:1; Jer. 23:5,6).

Paul brings the historic context right up to John's ministry of preparing the way for the Messiah. John the Baptist made a memorable impact on the public, with his extreme mannerisms and confrontational demeanor. But as John "fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am?

I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose" (Acts 13:25). John knew and announced that he had to decrease as Jesus increased (John 3:30); His purpose was to point Israel to the Anointed One.

Emphasis 2:

The Proof Was in the Prophecies

After this, Paul explained that the condemnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus had also been foretold. "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, the took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead. And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people" (vv. 29-31). This all comprised the "glad tidings" that Paul and Barnabas were now bringing through their missionary journey. They were declaring to their generation that the promises made to their fathers were now fulfilled in their time.

Then the apostle offered more textual proof: "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee" (Ps. 2:7);"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Ps. 16:10); "I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David" (Isa. 55:3). Pasting these messianic passages together, Paul illustrated the significance of the Resurrection. As prophesied, Jesus' body never suffered decay, but escaped the grave. As prophesied, resurrection signified the process by which God begot a new heavenly family, the firstborn of which was Christ. As prophesied, this fulfilled the everlasting covenant God promised to Israel (which Isaiah called "the sure mercies of David").

Emphasis 3:

Salvation Is Only Through Jesus Christ

Paul hoped these evidences would convince his audience that forgiveness and justification is only available through Jesus Christ, and not through the Mosaic Law. "People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus" (Rom. 3:25,26, NLT). Paul wanted his hearers to know that there is no other means of salvation. If any of them rejected Christ, it would mean their eternal death. "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you" (Acts 13:41). Having presented to the people both the carrot and the stick in the plan of salvation, Paul brought his message to a close.

Missions Application Questions

How, seemingly, did Paul try to identify himself with his audience at Antioch?
What are some of the biblical promises Paul indicated were fulfilled through Christ?
Describe the best sermon you ever heard. What impressed you most about it?

World Missions Prayer Points

Let us meditate on how all of redemptive history led to Jesus Christ.
Let us pray to remember that forgiveness and justification is in Jesus alone.
Let us pray for the continual growth of the World Missions Team's homiletical and presentation gifts.