Study 27. Acts 13:4-52

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7. What will happen if the Jews believe what Paul claims about Jesus (see 13:38-39)? 
Forgiveness of sins was now available through faith in Christ, which was not possible through the Law.
but Lev 4:20-35, 5:10, 6:7; Nu 16:25-  True forgiveness of sin was made possible under the Law—but it was conditional, ritualistic, and inherently temporary in its efficacy. Yet it needed continual repetition and could not produce an enduring internal change.
 
 8. What happens when many of the Jews reject Paul’s message (see 13:41-51)?
 Paul affirms that it "was necessary" that the gospel be preached first to the Jews (cf. Rom 1:16). Paul then deliberately preached to Gentiles, although he continued to speak at synagogues (14:1)
"as many as were appointed to eternal life believed and were "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit".

9. In Acts 13:47, Paul quotes Isaiah 49:6, which was originally addressed to the Servant of the Lord (see Acts 3:13; Isaiah 49:1-7). Why can Paul apply the Servant’s commission to himself and Barnabas? (Optional: See, for example, John 20:21; Acts 9:15; 1 Corinthians 12:27.)
 God had appointed and sent Paul. He (and we) are God's representatives.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:20)

For Thought and Discussion: 
a. What does the confrontation between Paul and Elymas reveal about how the Holy Spirit convinced people to believe the gospel? 
The Spirit inspired Paul to condemn sinners and to judge them, leading others to faith.
 
b. What does it reveal about how believers sometimes responded to opposition?
Direct head-on attack on the forces of darkness.
13:9 marks the transition point where Paul becomes the dominant of the pair cf. 13:13. From now on, as he ministers to Gentiles, he uses his Roman name, Paul.
"John left them" (13:13b) did not sit well with Paul.
 
It was customary for Jews to shake off the dust of a pagan town from their feet when they returned to their own land, as a symbol of cleansing themselves from the impurity of sinners who did not worship God. For Jews to do this to their fellow Jews was tantamount to regarding the latter as pagan Gentiles. The Christians were demonstrating in a particularly vigorous manner that Jews who rejected the gospel and drove out the missionaries were no longer truly part of Israel but were no better than unbelievers (cf. Luke 9:5; 10:11; Acts 18:6; 22:22f.). (Marshall)


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