11 - Set The Gospel Free

Here are Anthony's outlines for the Paul's sermons The sermon at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:16-41). ⦁ Paul begins by steeping his message in Israel’s history (vv.17-22).⦁ Paul points out God made a promise to David about a Savior (v.23).⦁ Paul points out that John the Baptist knew he was not the promised one (vv.24-25).⦁ Paul explains why Jesus was rejected and killed by the rulers and residents of Jerusalem (vv.26-29).⦁ Paul speaks of God raising Jesus from the dead (v.30).⦁ Paul points out that Jesus appeared to his disciples for many days and these disciples are now witnesses of his resurrection (v.31).⦁ Paul quotes from the Psalms and Isaiah to validate his point that Jesus is the promised, resurrected Messiah (vv.33-37).⦁ Paul explains that God’s purpose in this was to provide forgiveness and release from sins (vv.38-39).⦁ Paul warns them about rejecting his message with a verse from Habakkuk (v.40-41).  The sermon at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17:22-31).⦁ Paul begins by complimenting the Athenians for being religious (v.22).⦁ Paul draws everyone’s attention to the altar of the unknown god (v.23).⦁ Paul introduces them to this unknown god: This god is different. He does not live in shrines because he is the Lord of heaven and earth. In addition, humans are not the ones who care for him; God is the one who cares for all humans (vv.24-25).⦁ Paul explains that this God made all the peoples of the earth from one ancestor. In addition, God is near to everyone; and he puts people in specific locations on the earth so that they will seek for him and find him (v.27).⦁ Paul supports his argument by quoting verses from Greek poetry (v.28). The first is from Cretica by Epimenides of Crete and the second is from Phainomena by Aratus.⦁ Paul explains since God made human beings we ought not to think that humans can make this God out of silver or gold (v.29).⦁ Paul explains that God now expects humans to turn to him (v.30).⦁ Paul warns his Athenian listeners that God has fixed a time when a man will judge the world (v.31).⦁ Paul says that God confirmed his appointment of this man as judge by raising him from the dead (v.31).