Acts (12)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24.27

Be sure to view the video introducing our study of Acts 13 (Lesson 12) by clicking here.

Read and meditate on Acts 13.8-12.
It was the teaching that won the proconsul. The blinding of the false prophet was impressive, but it was the teaching that won the lost man’s soul.

For reflection
1.  Saul, who was also called Paul (his Roman name), understood how very serious the Gospel is. He was not pleased – to say the least – that this false prophet was trying to downplay Paul’s message or otherwise distract or divert the proconsul from believing. What can we learn about the Gospel, and about sharing the Good News, from Paul’s evident passion in this situation?

2.  This is what the devil does, as Paul notes. He keeps people from hearing the Gospel. He convinces them that it’s not all that important and most likely not true, so why give it a second thought? Eternal destinies are at stake, and the devil delights, through deceit and villainy, in barring people from entering the Kingdom of God. What are some teachings, worldviews, or philosophies that are keeping people from hearing the Gospel in our day? How prepared to address these are you?

3.  Hence the ferocity – and that’s the right word – with which Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronts and confounds Bar-Jesus. We don’t know about the lasting impression this might have left on that false prophet. But Sergius was persuaded, and Paul sensed he had believed the Good News. Why does Luke add the last phrase of verse 12 to this story? What does that suggest about your church’s witness in your community?

4.  The progress of the Kingdom is always at the expense of the kingdom of darkness and the Lie. We can expect the principals of that realm to oppose the Gospel, but we must not cooperate with them or otherwise – by our silence, for example – aid and abet their purposes. How should you and your church prepare to confront the Lie as it is expressed in your community?

5.  Jesus promised that people would hate us and oppose us, but that should not keep us from spreading the Good News through every open door of opportunity. Let the “teaching” do its work. Share the Gospel – the whole Gospel – clearly and repeatedly, and the power of that Gospel will not return to God without accomplishing His intended purposes. Why do you think so many Christians maintain a careful silence about the Gospel before the very people who need to hear it?

Summary
When the Lord opens doors for witness, we must be prepared to go through them boldly, and to proclaim Jesus and His Kingdom clearly, and with conviction. What would an “open door” of opportunity look like in your Personal Mission Field?

Closing Prayer
O my God, make [Your enemies] like the whirling dust,
Like the chaff before the wind!
As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 83.13-18

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. This is the work of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. Read more about the implications of this work in our new book, The Kingdom Turn (click here).

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