Context of Paul’s Pisidian Antioch sermon
This message to Pisidian Antioch came well into the journey after the Holy Spirit told the Antioch church to set aside Barnabas and Saul for the work for which He called them. This journey of Paul and Barnabas began and ended in Antioch of the Syrian region, but the message to Pisidian Antioch along with nearby Lystra and Derbe are in the Galatian region. Paul and Barnabas had covered the whole of Cyprus and now we find them in the Galatian region.
On the sabbath Paul and Barnabas entered a synagogue and sat down. After the scriptures were read the leaders of the synagogue ask them if they had a word for the people and if they did speak it.
Main message of Paul’s Pisidian Antioch sermon
So Paul did stand up as they'd requested and motion with his hands for the Israelites and the gentiles who were there who worshipped God to listen to him. He began talking about how God had prospered the people Israel and he really began with the people in Egypt and how God mightily delivered them. Paul went on to talk about how they we're in the wilderness and then by God’s power overthrew the nations of Canaan and gave them the land He promised as an inheritance.
Paul mentions the time of judges up until Samuel and how the people ask for a king. God gave them the king Saul and after the removal of Saul was King David was a man after God's own heart that would do anything for God. From David's descendant God brought forth to Israel the savior Jesus as he promised so Paul had specifically walked them through the Old Testament salvation history and how Jesus Christ was a fulfillment of the awaited Messiah and a savior of the Old Testament.
Before Jesus came God had orchestrated the events. Then came John the Baptist the forerunner to announce the coming of the Messiah Jesus.
Paul addresses the fellow children of Abraham and God fearing gentiles that this message of salvation has been sent in Jesus Christ. He went on to say that the people of Jerusalem and the rulers didn't recognize Jesus and they condemned Jesus. But that they did to Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets as they handed Jesus over to Pilate to be executed.
All they did and carried concerning Jesus death was written beforehand in scriptures. There was Jesus death on the cross, his burial and the resurrection when God raised Jesus from the dead. Many had seen Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem and these are the witnesses.
So Paul says, I'll tell you this good news what God has promised our ancestors he's fulfilled for us by raising up Jesus and he quotes the psalmist to draw the connection between the Old Testament prophets and the coming of the savior Jesus.
Paul said therefor my friends through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you and everyone who believes in Jesus is set free from sin. He warns them not to let what the prophet said happened to them that the scoffers would perish.
There was an incredible reception to Paul's message. As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue the people invited then to speak further about the things on the next Sabbath.
Results of Paul’s Pisidian Antioch sermon
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. This made the crowds of Jews jealous and they began to contradict Paul. They heaped abuse on Paul then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly and said to the Jews, “we had to speak to you first and since you've rejected our message and don't consider yourselves worthy of eternal life we now turn to the gentiles.”
This was the historical turning point where Paul began a concentrated ministry to the gentiles. He was called to be an apostle of the gentiles, but this was the turning point where he began to give his attention to preaching the gospel to the gentiles.
This made the gentiles glad and many were ready to honor the word of the Lord and believe. Because the Word spread so much through the region we can assume that it wasn't just Paul's preaching, but it was the movement of new believers that were spreading the word. The word spread throughout the whole of the region so they were taking this good news and they were sharing it with others. There must have been testimonies shared by the new believers testifying of what they experienced and heard of the word of the Lord.
So this was a movement of God of people turning to the Lord and the whole region spreading the good news and then there was incitement by the Godfearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and they expelled them from the region. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet. This was a model that Jesus had given them found recorded in Luke 10. The disciples there were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit even as Paul and Barnabas moved on to the next city.
Conclusion
This sermon became a turning point for the gospel going to the ends of the earth. The gospel would be preached to all for the gentiles to receive. They did not have to first become Jews, but that the salvation in Jesus Christ was for gentiles to directly come to faith in God through Jesus Christ. This was indeed for “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:1-3). This meant that the Messiah went beyond the physical decedents of Abraham to the spiritual descendants of Abraham. Now the gentile disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
All of these events were a fulfillment of the scriptures. Isiah 49:2
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
From the fall of man in the Garden of Eden to the call of Abraham it has been God’s desire to offer eternal salvation through his plan and his Messiah Jesus Christ. Christ’s salvation and the forgiveness of sins is available to all who will believe in Jesus Christ.
