Connect Acts 13:15 with 2 Timothy 4:2 on preaching the Word. Setting the Scene in Acts 13 - “After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: ‘Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.’” (Acts 13:15) - Paul and Barnabas are visiting the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch on the Sabbath. - The normal pattern in Jewish worship was: • Reading from the Law (Torah) • Reading from the Prophets (Nevi’im) • Invitation for an exhortation or homily - The leaders recognize Paul as a qualified teacher and extend an open invitation: “If you have a word… please speak.” - This moment highlights the expectation that Scripture calls forth proclamation. Revelation is never meant to stay shut in a scroll; it is designed to move from parchment to pulpit to people. Paul’s Response: A Living Example of Preaching the Word - Acts 13:16-41 records Paul’s sermon: • Begins with Israel’s history (vv. 17-22) • Centers on Jesus as promised Savior (vv. 23-37) • Applies the message with a call to believe (vv. 38-41) - Key marks to notice: • Scriptural foundation—every point anchored in Old Testament text (cf. Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 16:10). • Christ-centered focus—Jesus’ death and resurrection are proclaimed as fulfillment. • Direct appeal—Paul moves from information to invitation: forgiveness and justification are offered “everyone who believes” (v. 39). The Charge to Timothy - “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2) - Paul, now near the end of his life, passes the baton to his younger coworker: • “Preach the word”—the same emphasis Paul lived out in Acts 13. • “Be prepared”—literally “stand by,” whether the door swings open or not. • Three functions of the preached word: reprove (correct error), rebuke (confront sin), exhort (encourage obedience). • Attitude: patience. Method: thorough teaching. Connecting Acts 13:15 with 2 Timothy 4:2 - Open door vs. open mouth: • Acts 13: synagogue leaders open the door. • 2 Timothy 4: Paul tells Timothy, “Open your mouth no matter the circumstance.” - Same content: “the word.” • Acts 13: Paul’s sermon flows from Scripture. • 2 Timothy 4: Timothy is commanded to stick to that same reservoir. - Continuity of mission: • Paul models in Acts what he mandates in 2 Timothy. • The pattern becomes prescription: whenever the Word is read, someone should be ready to explain, apply, and urge a response (cf. Nehemiah 8:8; Romans 10:14-17). Why This Matters for Us - Scripture still expects proclamation. Reading is essential, but explanation completes the cycle. - Availability precedes ability. Paul didn’t schedule the sermon; he was simply ready. - Seasons change; the call doesn’t. Whether inside a receptive synagogue or a resistant culture, “preach the word.” - The message remains Jesus—His death, resurrection, and offered forgiveness (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Colossians 1:28). - Preaching’s tone: truth plus patience. Bold correction without love hardens; love without truth softens. The Spirit blends both. Practical Takeaways - Prepare your heart daily so you can speak “in season and out.” - Let your teaching flow from written text to living Christ to clear application. - When opportunities arise—home group, youth class, coffee conversation—step through the open door with confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). - Measure success not by applause but by faithfulness to the Word and the transformation it produces (Isaiah 55:10-11). |
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