Link Acts 13:15 & 2 Tim 4:2 on preaching.
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).

How can we prepare to speak when given opportunities like in Acts 13:15?
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