Wonder and save or wonder and perish?
A. Main scriptures for this study: Acts 13:40-46
1. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you! Acts 13:40
2. Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you
would never believe, even if someone told you. Acts 13:41
3. As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,
the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. Acts 13:42
4. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed
Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. Ac.13:43
5. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. Acts 13:44
Attention: Many of these above people wonder and saved!
6. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and
talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Acts 13:45
7. Apostle Paul warned them: Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: We had to speak the word of God to you first.
Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
B. Fulfilled what says in Habakkuk 1:5-11!
1. Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Hab.1:5
2. I am raising up the Chaldeans, that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. Hab.1:6
3. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.
4. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong;
their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour; Hab.1:8
5. They come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand.
6. They deride kings and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them. Hab.1:10
7. They sweep past like the wind and go on-- guilty men, whose own strength is their god. Hab.1:11
Attention: Think about these and figure out who are these people in our present days!
C. 2000 years ago this happened in Jesus’ time!
1. It came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching:
for he taught them as (one) having authority, and not as their scribes.
And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. Matt,7:28-8:1
2. Jesus came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. Mark 6:1
3. when the Sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were
astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and, What is the wisdom that is given unto
this man, and (what mean) such mighty works wrought by his hands? Mk.6:2
4. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon?
and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him. Mk.6:3
D. This happened in Athens! Acts 17:18-20
1. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with Paul.
Some of them asked: What is this babbler trying to say?"
Others remarked: He seems to be advocating foreign gods.
They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Ac.17:18
2. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him:
May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? Ac.17:19
3. You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean. Acts 7:20
4. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said:
We want to hear you again on this subject. Ac.17:32
5. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the
Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. Ac.17:34
Conclusion: How about you? Wonder and save or wonder and perish?
Video: English Cantonese – Recorded 6/26/16
Part 1