Acts 13:13-43

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

  “‘You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you.’

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

  “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,

  “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

41   “‘Look, you scoffers,
    be astounded and perish;
  for I am doing a work in your days,
    a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

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Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark left Paphos and went to Perga in Pamphylia. From there John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. We don’t know why Mark left but because of Acts 15:36-40, it seems that it was for an unjustified reason. They continued on to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day, they went to the synagogue where they were invited to speak after the reading of the Law and the Prophets. Paul got up and addressed both the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. Paul spoke about how God had chosen the patriarchs through whom He grew a nation. God led the nation out of Egypt with power after Pharoah turned against them. In the wilderness they disobeyed God but He cared for them for forty years. Then God gave them the land of Canaan as an inheritance, destroying the seven nations in the land (Deut 7:1). In Canaan, God gave the people judges to provide deliverance until Samuel the prophet. Everything to this point was done by God through his sovereign choice. Then the nation asked for a king and God gave them Saul. After forty years, God removed Saul and raised up David as king, a man He found to be after His heart, a man who would do His will. God promised that from David’s offspring a saviour would come. Jesus was that promised Saviour. Before Jesus came, John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance to ready the nation for Jesus’ arrival. When John was finishing his ministry he acknowledged that he was nobody in comparison. The One who would come after him he was not worthy to even untie His sandals.

Paul then explained that the salvation promised was for a broader audience than the Jews. Those in Jerusalem and their leaders didn’t recognise Jesus as the Messiah because they didn’t understand the prophets that they read from every Sabbath, yet they fulfilled those prophecies by condemning Jesus. Though they could find no guilt in Him, they asked Pilate to have Him executed. When they had done all that was written about what was to be done to Jesus, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead and He appeared to many eyewitnesses. Then Paul presents the good news that what God promised to the Jewish patriarchs was now fulfilled when God raised Jesus from the dead. Not only is Jesus resurrected but He will never die again. Paul explained that while David served God, he ultimately died. Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is the subject of the prophecy. Therefore, through Jesus forgiveness of sins is offered and through Him, everyone who believes is freed. Belief is the only way to be justified. The Law cannot free you, it can only condemn. Paul quoted Habakkuk 1:5 in which God spoke of the Babylonian siege against Judah that was considered unbelievable by those who were warned. Now Paul applied it to his hearers warning them not to God’s Word, but to believe it. Those who heard Paul begged him to come and speak again the next Sabbath. They expressed a genuine desire to hear and learn more.

The gospel is only good news in the context of the reality of our sinfulness. Paul gave his hearers a background that helped them recognise that they needed Jesus. When you share the gospel with others, remember that they need to understand the reality of their position before a holy and just God first. When we understand our need for a saviour, then the gospel is truly good news. Perhaps you also need a reminder of how much you need Jesus—even if you’ve already believed.


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