BibleProject | Upside-Down Kingdom / Part 2 - ActsSample

During the first century, most people around the Mediterranean lived in densely packed cities all ruled by the Roman empire. Each city was a diverse blend of cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Because of this, there were all sorts of temples for offering sacrifices to all sorts of gods, and each person had different  gods to whom they gave their allegiance. But in every city you’d also find minority groups who wouldn’t worship these gods. The Israelites, also known as the Jews, claimed that there was one true God, and they sought to worship him alone.

All of these cities were connected by a network of roads built by the Roman empire, so it was easy to move around to do business and spread new ideas. The apostle Paul spent the second half of his life traveling these roads, announcing that Israel’s God had appointed a new King over the nations, one who didn’t rule with force and aggression but with self-sacrificing love. Paul served as a herald of this news as he invited all people to live under the loving rule of King Jesus. 

The stories of Paul’s travels and how people received his message is what the third part of Acts is all about. In this section, Luke shows us how Paul and his coworkers moved out from their homebase, the city of Antioch, and into strategic cities throughout the empire. At each city, Paul’s custom was to go first to the Jewish synagogue to show his people how Jesus was the messianic fulfillment of the Hebrew Bible. Some believed his message and began living under Jesus’ reign, but others opposed Paul’s message. Some Jews felt jealous and lodged false accusations at the disciples, while some non-Jews felt their Roman way of life was being threatened and drove the disciples away. But opposition never stopped the Jesus movement. In fact, the persecution actually worked to propel it forward into new cities. Full of  joy and the Holy Spirit, the disciples kept going.  

Read, Reflect, and Respond:

• Carefully review Paul’s message (see Acts 13:40). Notice which Old Testament stories, details, and quotes he chose to cite in order to show that Jesus is the King Israel had been waiting for. What do you observe?
• Have you ever felt jealous of the attention someone else received as they used their gifts and followed Jesus? Review the reaction of some of the religious leaders (see 13:42-50) and the response of the disciples (see 13:51-52). How does this encourage or challenge you today?
• Jesus purposes to bring unity, but he knows his message will be violently rejected by some, so he instructs his disciples accordingly. Review today’s reading in light of Luke’s first volume account of Jesus’ words (see Luke 10:5-16). What do you notice?
• Copy Acts 13:38-39 in your own handwriting and place it somewhere you’ll see it throughout the week. Jesus offers complete forgiveness and freedom in ways that the old covenant could not. Is there anything besides Jesus that you tend to look to for help, hope, and freedom? Talk to God about that now. Ask him for help to see and honor him as the one true King of your life.