Sunday, March 12, 2017

Acts 13 - The forgiveness of sins

Scripture Reading

Acts chapter 13

Scripture Verse

Acts 13.38 ‘therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins’

I really like seeing new places. It’s great to visit different areas to learn about what goes on there! In Bible times people didn’t travel as much as we do, as there were no planes, trains or buses. Travelling would be by walking, on horseback or by sea. Sea travel could be quite dangerous. People often stopped travelling in winter when it got too dangerous.

In this series we have already met Paul. Hopefully you will remember that he is the man with two names – Saul and Paul. He travelled quite a lot. I am going to tell you about some of his journeys over the next few days.

Paul was born in Tarsus. Tarsus was a busy and important city in the country of Turkey. We don’t know how long he lived there. At some stage he moved to live in Jerusalem where he went to school. Eventually Paul became a Christian and went to live in Arabia for a short period. After this he moved to Damascus in Syria. Three years later Paul went back for a visit to Jerusalem.

In the chapter we have read today Paul, and his friend Barnabus, set off on a special journey. The first place they arrived at was Cyprus. Many people nowadays go to Cyprus on their holidays? I’ve been there; maybe you have as well. Paul and Barnabus weren’t going on holiday or even on business. The reason they were travelling was to tell people about Jesus.

In Cyprus there were lots of people who had not heard about Jesus. Paul explained how that Jesus really was God’s Son. He told them that their sins could be forgiven because of what Jesus had done through His death, burial and resurrection. You might not live in Cyprus but you can become a Christian if you repent of your sin and trust the Lord Jesus today.