Missions in the Book of Acts
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
We will set before you the steps which were preparatory to the coming of the Spirit, and the inauguration of the great missionary endeavor.
1. The period between the resurrection and the ascension. This period was the preparation of the disciples for their world task. The Lord Jesus showed Himself alive after His passion to His disciples on various occasions. His ministry with them during those forty days was speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
One of the things that He explained to them was the mission of the Church during this age. Another thing was the fact of His blessed Return, and the setting up of His Kingdom, with the restoration of His people Israel. The third thing that was prominent in His speaking to them, was the glory of His resurrection, His ascension, His exaltation, and the power that had been invested in behalf of His people.
The fourth great thing that He taught them was concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the part He should play in their earth ministry. Read Acts 1:4 of our chapter, also Acts 1:8
2. The importance of due preparation on the part of preachers and missionaries. It is not simply the calling of great numbers of men and women, who have passed through our schools and colleges and are ready to go out and preach to the unevangelized. That is an easy task. The real thing is the calling out of men and of women who are filled with the Holy Ghost, and ready for the task.
Do you think, for one moment, that the devil will give way easily to the entrance of the Gospel where he has his throne? When the Children of Israel were sent to Canaan, the Canaanites were under the power of the wicked one. Did Satan make a nice bow and withdraw? Not he. Every inch of conquest had to be obtained through walls of opposition. Jericho, the place of entrance into Canaan, was straitly shut up against them; Ai was ready to fight, and so it was through the whole story of the conquest of Canaan.
Think you that we can go out to fight against a world buried in sin, without being panoplied from on High? The Lord said, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses," None have the right to attempt to be witnesses to the Gospel unless they have definitely yielded their lives to God, and been filled with the Holy Ghost.
3. The call of God in its geographical scope. The Gospel was to begin at Jerusalem, according to Acts 1:8, press on into Judea, then into Samaria, and still on into the uttermost part of the world. Let us not dare to think that we have pleased Him, until we have obeyed His voice. Every creature, every nation, must be the breadth of our missionary vision, and of our missionary attempt.
4. The call of God in its chronological scope. It was after these things, as they beheld, that the Lord was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. The Lord, however, had one other message to impress, as well as one other inspiration to impart. "And while they looked stedfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, * * This same Jesus, shall so come in like manner." To us it seems that the Lord was saying two things:
(1) He would inspire His disciples for their task by the thought of the glory of His coming again.
(2) He would set before them the chronological boundaries of their toil, just as He had already set before them the geographical boundaries. They were to work only during the period which covered the time lying between the Lord's death, till He come.
I. THE REPRESENTATIVES OF MANY NATIONS AT JERUSALEM (Acts 2:7-12)
1. Why had people gathered from so many places? No doubt they had come because they knew of the wonderful happenings in Jerusalem. They had heard of the crucifixion, which had been, as they knew, followed by the resurrection. The crucifixion had occurred on the day of the Feast of the Passover; the resurrection had occurred on the day of the Feast of the First-fruits; and now, almost forty-nine days had passed, and the Day of Pentecost was at hand.
2. What happened as they gathered together. We read "And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"
The unexpected had happened, and the people from all over Jerusalem rushed together.
As they gathered together, they were confounded because they were hearing every word that the Apostles spoke in their own languages. Many knew not the Hebrew, yet they understood the men who talked in Hebrew. God was working a miracle before them, and when the Apostle Peter spoke, God turned his words into the language to suit the ear of each hearer.
Our Scripture tells us that there were present at Jerusalem that day, "Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians." Do you marvel that they were all amazed when they heard the testimony the Apostles gave of the wonderful works of God?
3. The "tongues" question. The multitudes said: "What meaneth this?" This may have meant many things, but to us it meant one supreme thing. Christ had given a command to the disciples to preach to every nation. The Church had been born upon its knees, and baptized with the Holy Ghost. It had been born and baptized under the command to preach to every creature.
Now, representatives of as many as a dozen nations were hearing the Gospel all at once.
God was giving a proof of the sincerity of His command, when, on that first day of the Church's history, He brought to Jerusalem the representatives of so many countries that they might be saved, and, being saved, might carry the Gospel to the lands from whence they came. Truly, the middle wall of partition was broken down, and God was reaching out to the Jews and to proselytes, Cretes, Arabians, and ail the rest.
II. THE GREAT PERSECUTION (Acts 8:1; Acts 11:19-21)
1. Satan's great effort to undo the march of the Gospel. At Pentecost about three thousand had been baptized: shortly after, about five thousand believers were in Jerusalem. The Word of God began to multiply, and there were multitudes of them that believed. The waves of blessing were rolling on and on. Not only were "believers * * the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women," but even, "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Satan began to bestir himself, and there arose against the Church, at that time, a great persecution.
2. How God made Satan's wrath to praise Him. Did the death of James and Stephen, and the persecutions of that hour, stop the saints in their testimony? Not at all. We read "And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the Apostles."
With the thousands scattered, what happened? Acts 8:4 says, "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word." We believe that God used this persecution to force the disciples out with the message of truth.
He had said, "beginning at Jerusalem," but had not told them to stay in Jerusalem. His command was, "In Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 8:1 says, "They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria." Thus, the Holy Spirit was fulfilling exactly what Christ had commanded.
3. A startling statement. When Stephen was stoned to death, we read that the clothes of the persecutors, who ran against Stephen, were laid down at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Again we read, "And Saul was consenting unto his death." Thus, in this persecution God was again working toward the great goal of missions, by sowing the seed of conviction in the heart of Saul, who was destined to become God's great missionary to the Gentiles.
III. THE PREACHING OF PHILIP (Acts 8:5)
1. Philip had gone down as far as Samaria preaching the Gospel. As Philip preached, the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which he spoke.
Philip wrought miracles: he cast out unclean spirits, the palsied were healed, and the city was filled with joy. The result of this preaching was that the Apostles which were at Jerusalem, having heard that the Samaritans had received the Word, sent down to them Peter and John. These two entered into the vision of the heart of God toward Samaria, and they laid their hands upon the converts, and they received the Holy Ghost. God was moving on!
2. The second preaching of Philip. The Lord said unto Philip, "Arise, and go toward the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert." Samaria was not the final reach of God's missionary vision; the goal was the uttermost part of the earth.
"A man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, * * had come to Jerusalem for to worship, (and he) was returning." As he went on his way, he was pondering the words of Isaiah the Prophet. Philip, who had just reached the spot under God's direct orders, was told to go near and join himself to the chariot; and he ran thither.
You all know the result.
3. The purpose of all this. It is not difficult to see the missionary vision. First, the persecution sent Philip to Samaria; the results of the persecution brought Peter and John from Jerusalem as far as Samaria. Second, the call of God sent Philip out on a desert road, and the Ethiopian was saved. This was God's first great step toward reaching Ethiopia.
IV. THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS (Acts 9:15-16)
En route to Damascus, Saul was still breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. He had gone unto the high priest seeking authority to go to Damascus. Saul's purpose was to bring the Christians bound to Jerusalem.
1. The light from Heaven. As Saul journeyed along, there shined about him a light from Heaven, and he fell to the earth. He heard a Voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?"
You are familiar with this remarkable story, and how Paul said, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Here was a persecutor suddenly saved. Already we begin to see the hand of God putting His finger upon a man whom He had definitely chosen to carry His Gospel to the ends of the earth.
2. The call of Ananias. Ananias was, no doubt, in hiding with other Damascus saints, when the Lord spoke unto him saying, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth."
Ananias was filled with fear, but the Lord said, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Children of Israel."
3. Saul filled with the Holy Ghost. When Ananias entered the house where Saul was, he put his hands upon him that he might receive his sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. The result was that, "Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."
Saul straightway preached Christ in the synagogues. He had been saved, he had been baptized, he had been filled with the Holy Ghost.
V. PETER AND CORNELIUS (Acts 10:44-46)
We now come to the story of Cornelius of Caesarea, who was a centurion of the band called the Italian band. He was, "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house." Cornelius gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. It was to such an one that God spoke.
1. The command to Cornelius. God said unto Cornelius, "Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." God is teaching us here the need of a preacher.
2. The net let down. On the following day, as the men-were drawing near to the city where Peter was, Peter had a vision. He became very hungry, and while they were preparing his food, he fell into a trance, "And saw Heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth."
In this sheet there were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, creeping things, and fowls of the air. The Voice said unto Peter, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." Peter demurred, saying, "I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." God said, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." This happened three times, and Peter wondered, doubting within himself what the vision should mean.
3. The great consummation. The result of it all was that the men from Caesarea were entertained in the house where Peter was; and on the morrow, taking with him certain brethren, Peter went with them to Caesarea.
When Peter arrived, he opened his mouth and said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." You know the result.
VI. THE CONFERENCE AT ANTIOCH (Acts 13:1-4)
There was a remarkable conference in the Church at Antioch; certain prophets and teachers, such as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger; and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch; and Saul, were among the notables in the Church attending that momentous gathering. We would like you to drop in on them with us, and observe one or two things.
1. As they ministered to the Lord the Spirit of God spoke to them. This is the time that God the Holy Ghost has His opportunity. Ministering and fasting before the Lord, is the time that the Lord will find a right of way in our lives.
Some of us may have wondered why God never speaks to us, or tells unto us His secrets and His plans. Perhaps it is because many of us never give Him an opportunity so to speak.
2. What the Holy Spirit said. Here are the words that were spoken from Heaven: "Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." It was no doubt pleasant, and also profitable, to be in the Antioch meeting; God, however, had a very different task for Barnabas and Saul.
We do not believe that they would have purposely or willfully delayed their call. Nevertheless, the Spirit had to remind them that it was time for marching orders. Acts 13:4 tells us, "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost * *."
To be sure, the saints, according to Acts 13:3, laid their hands on them, and sent them away; but they were only cooperating with the Holy Spirit. They were really under orders from the Holy Ghost. If you will follow the story of Paul and Barnabas, and of Paul, with his other comrades, throughout the Book of Acts, you will find that it was always the Holy Ghost who was telling them where to go.
3. The deeper meaning of the above instances. God was doing more than showing that the Holy Ghost is sovereign in the directing of the steps of His saints. He was really showing that the heart of the Spirit is leading His servants to new districts and territories, which He, Himself, had selected.
The whole course of the ministry of the Church was changed by Paul's departure into Macedonia. Until this hour we can see the heart of God in those particular commands of the Spirit of God.
Truly the Spirit of God is pressing forward with men and women definitely chosen and panoplied to do a mighty work before the Lord's Return. At least, we are determined to occupy till He comes.
VII. PETER'S DEFENSE IN BEHALF OF THE SPIRIT'S LEADINGS (Acts 11:15)
The visit to Cornelius has passed. God, in sending Peter down to Caesarea, was teaching him a new thing.
1. God was calling Peter into the spirit of cooperation with Paul. Peter himself was not given, the commission of going to the Gentiles, in the same sense that it was given to Paul. Peter, however, had to find out that the God who let the net down from Heaven, was the God of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews.
All pastors may not be called to minister on the foreign field; we must have pastors at home. However, all pastors at home should have perfect fellowship, and the deepest interest in, the missionaries who labor abroad. None of us should, for one moment, try to claim that the Gospel is for us, and for our group, to the exclusion of the last man on earth.
2. Peter's recognition of the Spirit's inner movings. Peter said, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." He saw that the Lord was giving unto the Gentiles the like gift as He had unto the Jews.
Acts 11:18 distinctly says that when Peter had finished his discourse, "They held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
All of this is emphasized and enlarged in the 15th chapter of Acts. Paul and Barnabas had passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. When they finally reached Jerusalem, they were received by the Church.
However, certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, demanded that the believing Gentiles should be circumcised. Peter then rose up and said unto them, "Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the Word of the Gospel, and believe." Peter was, no doubt, referring to that of which we have just spoken the conversion of Cornelius and of those with him. Peter then insisted that God made no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, purifying their hearts by faith.
Beloved, we thank God for Peter's defense of the great world missionary work of his day. We of today should arise in defense of the call of the Spirit of God, and stand behind every man and woman who is definitely called of God to the ends of the earth. When we discover men and women who are led by the Spirit, and panoplied by Him with power from on High, who are we that we should seek to hinder their forward march? If we cannot go, let us help those who do go.
AN ILLUSTRATION
"Two missionaries went to a village in Korea in which the Gospel had never been preached. It was noised abroad that they had come, and practically the whole population gathered. The interest of the people was so great that the meeting continued until a late hour. Finally, the missionaries closed the meeting and were shown into an adjoining room for the night. But the people did not go away, and the murmuring of their voices kept the missionaries from sleeping. Along about two o'clock, one of them went back and said to the people: 'Why don't you go home and go to bleep? It is very late and we are tired.' The head man of the village answered in substance: 'How can we sleep? You have told us that the Supreme Power is not an evil spirit trying to injure us, but a loving God who gave His only begotten Son for our salvation, and that if we will turn away from our sins and trust Him we may have the deliverance from fear, guidance in our perplexities, comfort in our sorrows. How can we sleep after a message like this?' How could they, indeed? And the missionaries, forgetting their weariness, sat down by these people and communed with them until the morning dawned.