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3. Preaching in Antioch of Anatolia (Acts 13:13-52)
ACTS 13:26-43
26 Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32 We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’ 34 Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ 36 For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. 37 But he whom God raised up saw no decay. 38 Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins, 39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets: 41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’” 42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Paul began the main part of his discourse by cordially addressing the children of Abraham and the seekers of God, testifying to them that the message of salvation had been sent directly to them. All the prophets until John the Baptist expected the fulfillment of God’s promises. Now salvation had been fulfilled, complete and ready to be realized in those who heard it.
Paul did not hold his tongue about his nation’s rejection of Jesus, nor did he hide the unjust judgment of the High Council of the Jews in Jerusalem. He called their mutiny, disobedience, and injustice ignorance, and at the same time guilt, crime, and a great transgression. They had not obeyed the voice of the Holy Spirit. Through their delivering up Jesus to the Roman governor and inciting the people to demand He be crucified, the evil judgment of the High Council had accomplished what had been foretold by the prophets. Paul was greatly interested in proving to his hearers that Jesus had not died as the Jews wished, but everything had taken place exactly according to prophecy. Nothing happens in the world but according to the will of God. The cross shows us that men are sinners, in spite of their desire to do the will of God. The love of God is always opposed.
Yet the might and power of God did not expire when people killed the Savior of the world. The Most High was, particularly through the death of His Son, shown to be more than a conqueror, for He raised Jesus from the tomb. Paul mentioned four times in his discourse that the raising of Jesus is the great work of God. He who was crucified did not die as a criminal, but had always remained in harmony with the plan of God. The resurrection of Christ from the dead was the solid cornerstone of Paul’s message. He testified that Jesus, following His death and crucifixion, appeared for many days to His disciples, who were eyewitnesses to the truth of His spiritual, resurrected body.
On the basis of the resurrection, Paul clarified from the Old Testament that God has an eternal, holy, glorious Son. Thus God was Jesus’ Father. He continued in faithfulness to Him, took Him out of the tomb, and raised him high into His glory. David, the great king and prophet, heard all these sublime prophecies. Yet he did not receive them for himself. His body remained in the grave. It moldered away and returned to its native dust. Peter confirmed at Pentecost that the prophecies in Psalm 16:10 and Acts 2:27 had had their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Paul testified in Antioch that it is impossible for the Holy One of God to see corruption.
The life and holiness of God were resident in the Man Jesus. Therefore, He who had risen from the dead was, at the same time, a fountain from which all the other gifts of God could flow. The apostle testified that the living Jesus forgives our sins. No man is justified by keeping the law, but whoever holds fast to the Triumphant One is justified. This holding fast signifies faith, straight and simple. He who believes in Christ is justified, sanctified, and lives forever. Are you really holding fast to him?
The gospel requires decision, either to accept or reject it. Such decision leads either to salvation or hardheartedness, either to everlasting life or eternal death. Paul had already proclaimed to many of his hearers that they would not believe his words, for they would appear impossible to them. This is truly what Habakkuk the prophet foretold (Habakkuk 1:5). God would work a great work, beyond the mind and imagination of man´s heart, so that many would not believe what God had really done.
At the end of the meeting, the Gentile converts invited Paul and Barnabas to come back the next Sabbath and tell them more about the message of salvation. Their words had stirred their minds and filled them with spiritual desire. Some of the Jews and those who feared God accompanied them to their house, where they spoke with them for long hours about salvation by grace. The apostles had made it apparent from the beginning that grace is the foundation of salvation, and that the gospel is not a legislative law, demanding man to do things he is unable do of his own accord. The gospel testifies to us of the work of God, who offers us forgiveness. The power and life of Christ are given freely to those who believe in Jesus with all their hearts.
PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, we thank You that You raised your Son Jesus from the dead, and forgave us all ours sins for His sake. Establish us in Your Son, and fill our minds with the message of Your salvation, so that we may testify to Your power, Your work, and Your triumph.
QUESTION:
- What did Paul preach about Jesus’ resurrection? What was the good news that he based on His resurrection?