WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.740 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.740 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.839 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:14.460 Acts, chapters 13 and 14. Chapter 13 Now in the 00:00:14.460 --> 00:00:17.000 church that was at Antioch there were certain 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:20.500 prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:24.800 called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manan, who had 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:27.219 been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:30.399 Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:34.079 the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to me Barnabas 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:36.240 and Saul for the work to which I have called 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:39.259 them. Then having fasted and prayed and laid 00:00:39.259 --> 00:00:42.159 hands on them, they sent them away. So being 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:45.100 sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:47.619 Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:50.719 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.140 the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. 00:00:53.340 --> 00:00:56.640 They also had John as their assistant. Now when 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.479 they had gone through the island to Paphos, they 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:02.079 found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:04.980 Jew whose name was Bar -Jesus, who was with the 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:08.260 proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:11.379 This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought 00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:14.599 to hear the word of God. But Elimas, the sorcerer, 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:17.400 for so his name is translated, withstood them, 00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:20.299 seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:40.560 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, And immediately 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:47.359 a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:50.180 someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:53.200 believed when he saw what had been done. being 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.060 astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Now when 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:58.980 Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they 00:01:58.980 --> 00:02:01.920 came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John departing 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.540 from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:07.219 departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:09.900 Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:12.860 day and sat down. And after the reading of the 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:15.099 law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:17.819 sent to them, saying, Men and brethren, if you 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:20.020 have any word of exhortation for the people, 00:02:20.180 --> 00:02:23.560 say on. Then Paul stood up, and motioning with 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:26.860 his hand, said, Men of Israel, and you who fear 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:30.099 God, listen. The God of this people, Israel, 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:33.479 chose our fathers, and exalted the people when 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:35.780 they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:38.939 and with an uplifted arm he brought them out 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:42.340 of it. Now for a time of about forty years he 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:44.819 put up with their ways in the wilderness, and 00:02:44.819 --> 00:02:47.379 when he had destroyed seven nations in the land 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:49.840 of Canaan, he distributed their land to them 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:53.389 by allotment. After that, he gave them judges 00:02:53.389 --> 00:02:56.969 for about 450 years, until Samuel the prophet. 00:02:57.270 --> 00:03:00.090 And afterward they asked for a king, so God gave 00:03:00.090 --> 00:03:03.069 them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe 00:03:03.069 --> 00:03:06.069 of Benjamin, for 40 years. And when he had removed 00:03:06.069 --> 00:03:09.009 him, he raised up for them David as king, to 00:03:09.009 --> 00:03:11.930 whom also he gave testimony and said, I have 00:03:11.930 --> 00:03:14.669 found David the son of Jesse, a man after my 00:03:14.669 --> 00:03:18.020 own heart, who will do all my will. From this 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:21.020 man's seed, according to the promise, God raised 00:03:21.020 --> 00:03:24.840 up for Israel a savior, Jesus. After John had 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:27.620 first preached, before his coming, the baptism 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:30.259 of repentance to all the people of Israel. And 00:03:30.259 --> 00:03:32.800 as John was finishing his course, he said, Who 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:36.719 do you think I am? I am not he. But behold, there 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:39.860 comes one after me, the sandals of whose feet 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:43.479 I am not worthy to lose. Men and brethren, sons 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.139 of the family of Abraham, and those among you 00:03:46.139 --> 00:03:49.199 who fear God, to you the word of this salvation 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.180 has been sent for those who dwell in jerusalem 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:54.939 and the rulers because they did not know him 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:57.960 nor even the voices of the prophets which are 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:01.219 read every sabbath have fulfilled them in condemning 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:03.960 him and though they found no cause for death 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:06.719 in him they asked pilate that he should be put 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.400 to death now when they had fulfilled all that 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:11.740 was written concerning him they took him down 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:15.000 from the tree and laid him in a tomb but god 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:17.639 raised him from the dead. He was seen for many 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:20.399 days by those who came up with him from Galilee 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.379 to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:26.879 And we declare to you glad tidings, that promise 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:29.639 which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:32.620 this for us their children, in that he has raised 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:35.459 up Jesus, as it is also written in the second 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:38.680 Psalm, You are my son, today I have begotten 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.519 you. And that he raised him from the dead, no 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:44.199 more to return to corruption. He has spoken thus, 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:47.980 I will give you the sure mercies of David. Therefore, 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.160 he also says in another psalm, You will not allow 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:54.220 your Holy One to see corruption. For David, after 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:56.480 he had served his own generation by the will 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:59.620 of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:03.259 and saw corruption. But he whom God raised up 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:06.199 saw no corruption. Therefore, let it be known 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:08.939 to you, brethren, that through this man is preached 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:12.279 to you the forgiveness of sins. And by him everyone 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:15.379 who believes is justified from all things from 00:05:15.379 --> 00:05:18.240 which you could not be justified by the law of 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:21.779 Moses. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:25.639 in the prophets come upon you. Behold, you despisers, 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:28.939 marvel and perish. For I work a work in your 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:32.180 days, a work which you will by no means believe, 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:35.649 though one were to declare it to you. So when 00:05:35.649 --> 00:05:38.310 the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles 00:05:38.310 --> 00:05:41.209 begged that these words might be preached to 00:05:41.209 --> 00:05:43.850 them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation 00:05:43.850 --> 00:05:47.310 had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes 00:05:47.310 --> 00:05:50.269 followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to 00:05:50.269 --> 00:05:52.550 them, persuaded them to continue in the grace 00:05:52.550 --> 00:05:55.670 of God. On the next Sabbath, almost the whole 00:05:55.670 --> 00:05:58.750 city came together to hear the word of God. But 00:05:58.750 --> 00:06:01.410 when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled 00:06:01.410 --> 00:06:04.199 with envy. In contradicting and blaspheming, 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:07.720 they opposed the things spoken by God. Then Paul 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:11.300 and Barnabas grew bold and said, It was necessary 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:13.959 that the word of God should be spoken to you 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:17.019 first. But since you reject it and judge yourselves 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:20.620 unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:23.060 to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:26.160 us, I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, 00:06:26.220 --> 00:06:28.759 that you should be for salvation to the ends 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:31.649 of the earth. Now when the Gentiles heard this, 00:06:31.730 --> 00:06:34.329 they were glad and glorified the word of the 00:06:34.329 --> 00:06:37.329 Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal 00:06:37.329 --> 00:06:40.850 life believed. And the word of the Lord was being 00:06:40.850 --> 00:06:43.629 spread throughout all the region. But the Jews 00:06:43.629 --> 00:06:46.889 stirred up the devout and prominent women and 00:06:46.889 --> 00:06:49.930 the chief men of the city, raised up persecution 00:06:49.930 --> 00:06:52.790 against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them 00:06:52.790 --> 00:06:55.509 from their region. But they shook off the dust 00:06:55.509 --> 00:06:58.629 from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 00:06:59.019 --> 00:07:01.920 and the disciples were filled with joy and with 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:08.199 the Holy Spirit. Chapter 14 Now it happened in 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:10.519 Iconium that they went together to the synagogue 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:13.540 of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude, 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:16.300 both of the Jews and of the Greeks, believed. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:19.819 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:21.980 and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 00:07:22.410 --> 00:07:24.990 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking 00:07:24.990 --> 00:07:28.269 boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to 00:07:28.269 --> 00:07:30.990 the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders 00:07:30.990 --> 00:07:33.629 to be done by their hands. But the multitude 00:07:33.629 --> 00:07:36.670 of the city was divided, part sided with the 00:07:36.670 --> 00:07:39.550 Jews and part with the apostles. And when a violent 00:07:39.550 --> 00:07:42.329 attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews 00:07:42.329 --> 00:07:45.670 with their rulers to abuse and stone them, they 00:07:45.670 --> 00:07:48.670 became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, 00:07:48.829 --> 00:07:51.889 cities of Lyconia, and to the surrounding region. 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:54.680 and they were preaching the gospel there. And 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.040 in Lystra, a certain man without strength in 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:59.759 his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.300 womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:06.560 speaking, Paul observing him intently, and seeing 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.240 that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:12.500 voice, Stand up straight on your feet. And he 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:15.569 leaped and walked. Now when the people saw what 00:08:15.569 --> 00:08:18.170 Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying 00:08:18.170 --> 00:08:21.069 in the Lycanian language, The gods have come 00:08:21.069 --> 00:08:24.029 down to us in the likeness of men. And Barnabas 00:08:24.029 --> 00:08:27.230 they called Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he 00:08:27.230 --> 00:08:29.790 was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, 00:08:29.970 --> 00:08:33.000 whose temple was in front of their city, brought 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:35.899 oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:38.519 sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:41.159 Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:44.220 clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:47.340 out and saying, Men, why are you doing these 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:50.100 things? We also are men with the same nature 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:53.120 as you, and preach to you that you should turn 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.799 from these useless things to the living God, 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:58.480 who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:01.750 all things that are in them. who in bygone generations 00:09:01.750 --> 00:09:04.809 allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 00:09:05.029 --> 00:09:07.730 Nevertheless, he did not leave himself without 00:09:07.730 --> 00:09:11.110 witness, in that he did good, gave us rain from 00:09:11.110 --> 00:09:13.830 heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts 00:09:13.830 --> 00:09:16.590 with food and gladness. And with these sayings 00:09:16.590 --> 00:09:19.169 they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from 00:09:19.169 --> 00:09:22.450 sacrificing to them. Then Jews from Antioch and 00:09:22.450 --> 00:09:26.080 Iconium came there and having persuaded the multitudes 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:28.779 they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city 00:09:28.779 --> 00:09:31.820 supposing him to be dead however when the disciples 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:34.960 gathered around him he rose up and went into 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:37.899 the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:40.779 to Derbe And when they had preached the gospel 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:43.919 to that city and made many disciples, they returned 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.399 to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:49.240 the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:52.039 continue in the faith, and saying, We must through 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:55.679 many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. So 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:57.980 when they had appointed elders in every church 00:09:57.980 --> 00:10:00.620 and prayed with fasting, they commended them 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:03.299 to the Lord in whom they had believed, and after 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:06.220 they had passed through Pisidia, they came to 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:08.690 Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the word 00:10:08.690 --> 00:10:11.909 in Perga, they went down to Atalia. From there 00:10:11.909 --> 00:10:14.610 they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended 00:10:14.610 --> 00:10:17.309 to the grace of God for the work which they had 00:10:17.309 --> 00:10:19.909 completed. Now when they had come and gathered 00:10:19.909 --> 00:10:22.450 the church together, they reported all that God 00:10:22.450 --> 00:10:25.149 had done with them, and that he had opened the 00:10:25.149 --> 00:10:28.190 door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed 00:10:28.190 --> 00:10:36.070 there a long time with the disciples. I hope 00:10:36.070 --> 00:10:37.909 you enjoyed today's reading as much as I did 00:10:37.909 --> 00:10:40.009 and I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow 00:10:40.009 --> 00:10:42.529 to continue on our journey. God bless you and 00:10:42.529 --> 00:10:43.210 have a great day.