Atos 14
Marvin Vincent · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 14
Vincent observes "the writers (of Scripture) habitually use the preposition dia (through) to denote the instrumentality (Ed: serving as a means) through which God works or speaks." These two missionaries were simply "spiritual conduits," veritable "vessels of honor" (2Ti 2:21+), through whom God worked miraculous signs and wonders. John
Atos 14
Vincent writes that "Disbelief is regarded in its active manifestation, disobedience. The verb peitho means to persuade, to cause belief, to induce one to do something by persuading, and so runs into the meaning of to obey, properly as the result of persuasion. Obedience, however, includes faith. (Ed Note: See discussion of phrase "obedience of faith" at Romans 1:5)." Apeitheo speaks of a stubborn, stiff-necked attitude. It speaks of disbelief manifesting itself in disobedience. It is opposed to pisteuo, the verb translated "believe". Apeitheo means not to allow oneself to be persuaded; not to comply with and to refuse or withhold belief (in the truth, but elsewhere in Christ, in the gospel) From the preceding comments, it should not surprise you to discover that in the New Testament the word group translated disobey, disobedience, etc (apeitheo and the related words apeithes, apeitheia = unwillingness to be persuaded thus unbelieving as in Heb 4:6,11) does not stand in contrast with obedience but in contrast with faith! In sum, what is the essence of disobedience to the Gospel? Clearly it is unbelief, lack of faith, without which no man can be saved (cf Heb 11:6). Apeitheo 14x in 14v in the NT - disbelieved(1), disobedient(10), do not obey(1), obey(2). Jn 3:36; Acts 14:2; Acts 19:9; Ro 2:8; Ro 10:21; Ro 11:30; Ro 11:31; Ro 15:31; Heb. 3:18; Heb. 11:31; 1 Pe 2:8; 1 Pe 3:1; 1 Pe 3:20; 1 Pe 4:17 "ANTI-EVANGELISM" BY THE JEWS It is notable that just as genuine belief shows itself to be authentic by subsequent good works, so too disbelief shows itself to be authentic by its evil works. I like the way the old King James describes these "evil works" - those who disbelieved "made their minds evil affected against the brethren" Larkin points out that "As in physics every action spawns an equal and opposite reaction, so in the spiritual realm the proclamation of the truth will always encounter opposition (Lk 8:12)." (The First Missionary Journey 13:1-14:28) Stirred up the minds of the Gentiles - More literally they cause their minds to think evil. Unbelief likes company! This reminds one of the enemy of my enemy is my friend which says that two opposing parties (Jews and those who they normally held to be "Gentile dogs") can work together against a common enemy (Paul, the Gospel, the grace of God and ultimately God Himself!) THOUGHT - “The greater the effectiveness of a ministry, the greater the resistance and opposition” (Tim Keller) Stirred up ("poisoned") (1892)(epegeiro from epi = upon + egeiro = to raise) literally means to wake up, awaken or arouse but is used only figuratively here and in Acts 13:50 and means to incite, to provoke, to stir up. Epegeiro is used widely in the Septuagint where it means to “be aroused against someone” or “rise up or revolt against someone.” E.g., "the God of Israel stirred up (Lxx - epegeiro) the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them (NORTHERN 10 TRIBES) away into exile." (1 Chr 5:26) This is very likely the events to which Paul refers in 2 Ti 3:11+ where he describes "persecutions (diogmos) and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch (Acts 13:50+), at Iconium (the present passage) and at Lystra (see Acts 14:19); what persecutions I endured, and out of them all (ALL) the Lord rescued me! (cf 2 Ti 4:17-18) ." ILLUSTRATION - Almost all poisonous snakes have what we call hematox poison. Hematox poison goes straight to the blood stream and attacks the blood. There is one snake that is different and I believe he is kin to the old serpent Satan. The King Cobra snake has what we call neurotoxin poison. When a King Cobra bites an animal or a person the poison goes to the mind. It poisons the mind and paralyzes the mind. It affects the whole person! Satan used the unbelieving Jews to sting the Gentiles with their venom that poisoned their minds. (Jack Andrews Expository Sermons). Larkin explains that "Literally they "made their souls evil against," pointing to an assault on the feelings not intellect. (The "soul" is that inward place of feeling that may be influenced by others.)" (The First Missionary Journey 13:1-14:28)
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Vincent adds that anaggello means "to bring the tidings up to (ana) or back to him who receives them." Jack Andrews rightly says that the church needs "to hear from our missionaries, pray for our missionaries, and let our missionaries hear from us. Illustration: When Warren Wiersbe was a pastor he once had a church officer say to him, “I don’t care how much money you want for missions, I’ll give it; but just don’t make me listen to missionaries speak!” Warren Wiersbe said, “I felt sorry for him that his spiritual temperature was so low that he could not listen to reports of what God was doing in the difficult comers of the harvest fields.” (Bible Exposition Commentary) THOUGHT - Does your church regularly allow returning missionaries to share their great adventure about their great God and His great Gospel? Today one could even share by live feed with Skype. If your church is not doing this, then you are truly missing out on some of the most exciting, stimulating, encouraging, challenging and convicting gifts that God gives to His church, for in them you get to see first hand things occuring that only God's Spirit could accomplish! Just imagine if Paul and Barnabas had returned and the pulpit committee told them "We really don't have a time slot for you in our regular service!" If you would like just a sample of what you might be missing let me encourage you to take about 24 minutes to watch for one of the most fascinating Gospel encounters I have ever heard as you follow missionaries from New Tribes Mission taking the Gospel deep into the jungles of Papua, New Guinea. The video is entitled "Ee-Taow: The Mouk Story." ("Ee-Taow" means "It is true!" "It is good!") If you have already seen it, you know it is time well spent. If you have never seen it, you are in for a treat, as you watch the light of the Gospel penetrate into one of the darkest places of paganism in the world! If you are thinking "It's just another missionary video," then just look at a few of the comments from those who have watched it! I challenge you to watch it without tearing up! May our Father by His Holy Spirit use this moving true story of redemption to stir your heart to become seek to become more involved in some way in reaching the millions of souls who are still lost for Jesus' sake. Amen. GOD WAS NOW SAVING GENTILES! God opened the door on this first journey and it is still wide open to Jews and Gentiles alike. Have you walked through the open door God has placed before you in you city, your job, your school, etc? Toussaint points out that "how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles, is most important: (a) It shows the Gospel had gone to Gentiles. (b) It was a "by-faith" message and not by works of the Law. (c) God did it, for He opened the door. (See The Bible Knowledge Commentary Acts and Epistles - Page 17) And how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles - Opened...door is a metaphor that speaks of what is possible or what was a feasible opportunity. Notice again the juxtaposition of God's sovereignty and Man's responsibility. God opened the doors which only He could open, but the missionaries walked through the doors (so to speak) taking the Gospel of grace in which the Gentiles placed their faith. One is reminded of Jesus' words to the church at Philadelphia... “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.(Rev 3:7-8+) Paul used this same metaphor of a "door" in requesting prayer for an open door to present the Gospel, a request which is somewhat ironic as Paul is in prison! Praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word (Gospel), so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ (Gospel), for which (Gospel) I have also been imprisoned (Colossians 4:3+)