Acts 13:13-41 "Paul's Proclamation"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 13. Acts 13:13-41 today.

Last time, Barnabas and Saul were separated by the Holy Spirit for missions work, and then the prophets and teachers in Antioch laid hands on them and sent them.

This began what is commonly known as “Paul’s First Missionary Journey”… which we continue to look at today.

Their journey began in Antioch in Syria, over to the port city of Seleucia… where they sailed to the Island of Cyprus (where Barnabas was raised).

The first city they came to was Salamis… on the east coast of Cyprus… and they preached the word in the synagogues of the Jews.

Preaching the Word was a key focus of their ministry… as it is for our church today.

After Salamis, they traversed 115 miles by foot or beast… or possibly sailed around the island of Cyprus… to the west coast city of Paphos…

Where they encountered the Roman Proconsul… the Governor, Sergius Paulus… an intelligent man… a Gentile… a seeker of truth.

But, he was clouded by a sorcerer… a wise man… but, a false prophet… a Jew named Bar-Jesus or Elymas… and he withstood the gospel.

As Saul steps up to confront Elymas… for the first time… we see his name changed to Paul… and he begins to lead the mission journey.

Quite the contrast last week… the Gentile seeks the truth, and finds it in Jesus… while the Jew rejects the truth and seeks to stop the Gentile from finding it, but he is cursed blind.

Which may have been the most merciful thing for Elymas… to shake him up. Blindness certainly had an impact on Paul.

That whole scene is a set up for what we look at today… as we observe a major turning point where the Gospel is directed to Gentiles…

Today, we observe Paul’s first recorded… and most extensive Gospel sharing message. The title of today’s message is “Paul's Proclamation.”

Let’s Pray!

Acts 13:13-14 “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia [pam-fool-ee´-ah} ; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue [singular] on the Sabbath day and sat down.”

Let’s look at a map of Paul’s First Missionary Journey. I numbered the destinations. 1-3 we discussed last week… Antioch and two cities in Cyprus…

Today, we see Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark sail to Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)… to the city of Perga… the religious capital of the region of Pamphylia.

In Perga, John Mark left them to depart back to Jerusalem. Which may be why there is no mention of ministry activity in this city.

We are not told why John Mark departs… but there are theories…

Maybe John Mark didn’t want to follow Paul.

His departure occurs after Paul assumes the role of the leader beginning at Acts 13:9.

We see Paul’s leadership confirmed in Acts 13:13 “Now when Paul and his party set sail...” Emphasis on “his party.”

John Mark may have initially followed his cousin, Barnabas (according to Col 4:10), to assist Barney, but now John Mark possibly became disillusioned with Paul’s leadership.

After all, one of Paul’s first acts as leader was to shift focus to the Gentiles…and maybe John Mark sensed this change of focus from Jews to Gentiles… and this was just too much for this good Jewish boy.

Additionally, the area they traveled to was also known for dangerous roads.

And, it was a dangerous time… Perga was known for malaria outbreaks (possibly the infirmity Paul contracted in Gal 4:13).

John Mark’s mom also seems to have been a widow according to Acts 12:12, so perhaps he felt home sick and a sense of duty for her.

We don’t know what happened, but we do know…John Mark’s departure was unacceptable to Paul… and would lead to a sharp dispute between Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:36-41.

As they planned to depart on their Second Missionary Journey Barnabas was determined to bring John Mark, and Paul insisted they not bring John Mark who departed them and the work.

I appreciate that the Bible records moments like these where God’s people are not at their best. It tells us the Bible is true… not just recording triumphs, but also the failures of God’s people.

And, it shows us that God’s people were real people, with real feelings. They had real moments… and not all perfect… not all patient. Boy, am I glad we’re nothing like them!

And, yet God used them… in despite of them.

Just like He uses us. Imperfect people called by His grace!

God even used this contention for His good… as they divided, God now had two missionary parties…

While the division was not good… having two missionary parties in two separate areas was good for the Gospel reach.

Further, God’s people demonstrate humility… through reconciliation.

In Paul’s Swan Song… 2 Timothy…some of Paul’s final words penned… before being martyred… “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” 2 Tim 4:11

God made what was useless… useful. He took this broken relationship and restored it.

The world says, “Ew… throw it away.” But God restores.

God took the person Paul thought was a deserter… and turned him into the person Paul called for in the end.

Only our God does that.

We are not told how they reconciled, but they did… Paul came around on Mark… and Mark proved himself to Paul.

There may be times when you have a sharp dispute with another believer. There may even be a season of separation.

Prayerfully, both hearts will soften and there will be a time of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is not easy… it involves vulnerability, humility, and the risk of more hurt.

But, there’s also potential for forgiveness… and release.

Paul and John Mark eventually reconciled.

God is a God of reconciliation. He sent His Son, that whoever believes in Him would be reconciled to the Father.

And, if He can reconcile a relationship between us and Father God… He can reconcile your earthly relationships as well.

What is too big for Him?!? He is the God…

… who brings light to darkness…

He brings life to dry bones… (Ezk 37)

It’s our God who exchanges “beauty for ashes… and joy for mourning.” (Isa 61:3)

He can “restore to you the years… the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25)

The Bible says we can be confident that “… He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:6).

God can redeem the years… and if He is leading you to reconciliation… pray He would show you how.

Have faith in the God who can move mountains.

But, at this time in Acts… in Paul’s party… John Mark leaves the band for a season. In V14, Paul and Barnabas press on… north to Antioch in Pisidia… not to be confused with Antioch in Syria (their headquarters).

In Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas “…went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.”

Synagogues allowed any man able to teach… to address the people.

So a door opens for Paul to address Jews who studied the OT, and awaited the Messiah.

In Acts 2:10, at Pentecost, there were Jews from all over the known world present to witness the Holy Spirit’s outpouring on the disciples.

People from froog-ee´-ah (Phrygia) were at Pentecost, which is essentially where Pisidian Antioch is located.

Even back in Acts 2, seeds were planted for this encounter today.

Let’s continue…

Acts 13:15 “And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

And, I’m sure Paul is thinking, “Oh, do I.”

The Law and the Prophets signify the entire OT.

The custom was two readings: one from the Torah… the Law, and one from the Prophets.

And, each synagogue had rulers… Gk. archisunagōgŏs, ar-khee-soon-ag´-o-gos. Rulers were directors of the synagogue services.

Jairus, who’s daughter was healed by Jesus in Matt 9… was a ruler of the synagogue.

Crispus and Sosthenes in Acts 18… also rulers… and both come to Christ.

These rulers in Antioch seem familiar with Paul and Barnabas… perhaps they met prior to the Sabbath service…

If the rulers discovered that Barnabas was a Levite, and Paul a Pharisee… coming from Jerusalem… to their little county synagogue...

It wouldn’t be surprising why they "sent to them” for “word of exhortation”… a word of encouragement.

So Paul steps up to lead this Gospel message.

His message parallels earlier messages of Peter… which Paul did not hear…

Which tells us the Holy Spirit spoke through both of them. Same God… similar message.

Paul’s message also parallels a message he did hear… that of Stephen’s.

Which tells us Paul approved of plagiarism.

No… this tells us that Paul was deeply impacted by Stephen’s message to the point that some 15 years later… he’s still playing that record in his mind.

The words we say matter. The tongue has the power to spark life or bring death. What we say… and what we don’t say… it matters.

Later in 2 Cor, Paul would compare the sharing of the Gospel… to a Roman triumph procession where incense was burned.

Listen to Paul’s words in 2 Cor 2:14-16 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God [your life is…] the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”

After war, the triumph procession meant life to the victor and death or slavery to the defeated. The incense is therefore sweet to the victor and noxious to the defeated.

The Gospel presents a similar paradox. Those who accept Christ find the Gospel to be sweet, and those who reject Christ find the Gospel to be noxious.

And, as Paul shares the Gospel, we will see those who find his message to bring life or death depending on their position on Jesus.

Continuing on…

Acts 13:16-22 “Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said [What’s this hand motioning? Does he do one of these?… Or the wave?], “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, [God-fearers… Gentiles not fully converted to Judaism] listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. [Funny how Paul worded that. King James says, “… suffered He their manners…” God is still suffering patiently today]. 19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan [Dt 7:1 Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites,… termites… mosquito bites… and a couple others], He distributed their land to them by allotment. [Josh 14- the twelve tribes inherit the land] 20 “After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. [450 years could go back to the patriarchs… the chronology of the Judges is difficult.] 21 And afterward they asked for a king; so 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 for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”

Lot’s of history… lot’s of faithfulness by God to Israel...

Yet…in all of God’s faithfulness, they rejected God… asking for a king like the pagan nations around them.

Samuel was displeased by the people’s request, but the LORD told Samuel, 1 Sam 8:7 “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”

And, they chose a king by appearance. Saul was describes as “a choice and handsome son… not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” 1 Sam 9.

But, Mr. tall, dark, and handsome quickly fell and led the nation astray.

Still patient, God did not forsake Israel, but raised up David… and in V22… Paul quotes two OT scriptures:

Ps 89:20 “I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him...”

And, after Saul violated his role and offered a burnt offering… Samuel said, 1 Sam 13:14 “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart…”

Now, what made David “a man after God’s own heart”? Didn’t David commit terrible sins? Like murder?

Yes he did. David transgressed God in some terrible ways.

He multiplied wives… taking 8 wives total.

Adultery with Bathsheba, and got her pregnant.

When his attempt to cover up her pregnancy failed… he commanded for her husband, Urijah, to be abandoned at the front lines of battle to die. David was a murderer.

This sin would plague their family.

His first son, Amnon, raped Tamar… Amnon’s half-sister.

David was angry, but did nothing about it… how could he after all he did with Bathsheba and to Urijah? David was failing as a Father.

Two years later, Absalom, the brother of Tamar, got his revenge on Amnon… having him killed.

And, nine years late, Absalom would successfully lead a coup against his own father. David was failing as a king.

David was NOT a man after God’s own heart for his perfect sinless life…

God saw David as a man after His own heart was for many other reasons… as reflected in the Psalms of David:

David no doubt failed, but he would repent… he would turn back to God… read all of Psalm 51. “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

Despite trials and self-inflicted troubles, David praised God. In Ps 26:7, David wrote, “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.”

David had absolute faith in God’s deliverance… in 1 Sam 17:37, regarding Goliath, David reasoned, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Throughout David’s life and he never went after foreign idols… he stayed true to the God of Israel.

In Ps 31:6, David wrote, “I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the LORD.”

David obeyed God’ will. Just look at Acts 13:22 “… a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”

In Ps 40:8, David wrote, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, Your law is within my heart.””

Lastly, David loved God’s law… which he repeatedly wrote about in the Psalms.

Ps 19:7-9 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”

Your life may be riddled with sin… but where is your heart?

David was a man after God’s own heart because he turned from sin, he praised God, he had absolute faith in God, he didn’t go after idols, but obeyed God’s will and loved God’s law.

And in these things… we learn something about the mind of God.

If God can view an imperfect man like David as a man after His own heart… then we can expect He would view us the same if our heart and our mind is set toward Him.

Through this historical recount... Paul demonstrates that he knows the word of God…

… which will give credence to everything else he has to say about Jesus and the Gospel.

And, as Paul recounts their history and God’s timeless faithfulness… this would also stir up the anticipation ingrained in the Jews for their awaited Messiah… their Savior.

And, from the subject of David… Paul is able to make a quick and easy transition to Jesus, who came from David’s line.

Acts 13:23 “From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—”

David was promised the Messiah would come from his line in 2 Sam 7:12-13 “I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

The promise was reiterated in Messianic passages like…

Isa 11:1 “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, [David’s father] And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

Jer 23:5-6 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS...”

These passages look forward to Messiah’s coming and his millennial reign.

The Jews held onto these promises… and lived in anticipation of… and longed for the coming of their Messiah. And, Paul boldly declares to them His name… “the name which is above every name...” Jesus.

God indeed raised up for Israel a Savior… meaning “deliverer”… Jesus… Yehôwshûʿa, meaning “Jehovah is salvation.”

And, Paul heralds the name of Jesus to these Jews.

But, Paul was not the first herald. John the Baptist was, who Paul speaks about next…

Backing up… “… God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— …

V24 “...after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

As Malachi closed out the OT, there were 400 years of silence from God… until John the Baptist… the last of the OT prophets… spoke as the forerunner to Christ.

When a king came into a town, a forerunner would go before him to announce, “The king is coming! Fix your roads… make your paths straight.”

According to Matt 3:3 John the Baptist was Jesus’ forerunner. “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”

John’s preparation was not of roads though… but of the heart. ‘The King is coming… get right with God. Turn from sinful things, and be ready to receive Him.’

That’s what John preached. And, if you need to hear it… I would say the same today, ‘The King is coming… get right with God. Turn from sinful things, and be ready to receive Him.’

As John’s ministry was coming to an end, which John knew would come… he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease”…

John pointed people to Jesus… “Behold the Lamb of God!” And, never did he get out of his lane as forerunner. When asked by the priests and Levites “Who are you?”… we read in John 1:20 “He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

Compared to Jesus, John humbly assigned himself the role of the lowest slave… the doulous…

Who would remove the sandal and wash the feet of guests entering your home… a job greatly looked down upon…

And even that lowliest of jobs… John said he was not worthy… not deserving… to wash the feet… not even to touch the sandal of Jesus… for He is their Messiah.

In Matt 3:11, John declared, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

John’s baptism was of water for repentance.

Jesus would present two more baptisms.

A baptism of the Holy Spirit for empowerment to all who believe.

And, a baptism of fire unto judgement for all who deny Him.

And, too… here in Acts… as Paul presents the life and ministry of Christ…

He will announce the good news of cleansed sins and reconciliation with God through Christ… and warn against rejecting Him.

Acts 13:26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham [Jews], and those among you who fear God [Gentiles following Judaism], to you the word of this salvation has been sent.”

Paul reminds his listeners that the word of this salvation was sent to the Jews first.

But, then he adds… the Gospel was also for the God fearers…

Can you imagine being a Gentile seeker of God… like the Roman Centurion Cornelius in Acts 10… and hearing these words from Paul?

“TO YOU the word of this salvation has been sent.” “To me??”

The Gospel to the Gentiles was proclaimed in the OT…

Isaiah declared…

“For the Gentiles shall seek Him...” Isa 11:10

That Messiah would “bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” Isa 42:1

That Messiah would be “a light to the Gentiles… salvation to the ends of the earth...” Isa 49:6

It was foretold, “The Gentiles shall come to your light…” Isa 60:3

These things were written. It was foretold that Messiah would come to the Gentiles… over 700 years before Paul spoke these words.

Paul says… to you Jews AND to you Gentiles… “the word of this salvation has been sent.”

BECAUSE…

V27 “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.”

The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize their Messiah when He came.

The Prophets foretold His coming.... scriptures they read every Sabbath, but they failed to connect the dots.

One of the saddest moments to me was when Jesus was a young child and the wise men came in Matt 2.

Herod the king was troubled by the thought of another King and gathered all the chief priests and scribes to inquire where the Christ… the Messiah was to be born.

Without hesitation, they said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet...” and they quote Mic 5:2.

The sad part is they never walked the short 5 miles south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to investigate.

They lived their whole lives studying the word but they couldn’t put feet to their faith.

Be careful NOT to make the same mistake.

Not only did they miss the reality of their Savior who came, but they also fulfilled scriptures like Ps 22 in condemning Jesus.

They expected a conquering King who would deliver them from the oppression of Rome… and Jesus will in His second coming.

They didn’t understand Jesus would first come in peace… to conquer sin and death… the greater enemy of eternity and mankind.

So, they plotted against Him… arrested Him and brought Him before a kangaroo court…

VSS 28-31 “And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree [the cross… wood of a tree] and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.”

In V28, Paul recounts Jesus stood on trial… was found innocent… and unjustly sentenced to death.

1 Peter 3:18 declares, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit…”

In V29, Paul alludes to many OT messianic prophecies that would be fulfilled in Jesus’ trials & death… Psalm 22 is a perfect example of Messiah’s trials, suffering, and death.

And, he was laid in a rich man’s tomb… Joseph of Arimathea… fulfilling Isa 53:9 that He was buried “… with the rich at His death…”

In V30, Paul declares… death was NOT His end… foretold by Jesus many times… He would die and three days later rise again.

V31 accounts for the 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, where man eye witnesses saw Him.

In 1 Cor 15:5-6 Paul wrote, “He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once...”

And Paul was the last of the eye witnesses… as he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. So, Paul declares…

V32 “And we declare to you glad tidings [the Gospel]—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ 34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ 36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.”

Paul now announces the Gospel… “glad tidings” in V32 is - the same Gk word for the “gospel”… by def. “to announce good news.”

Paul describes the Gospel in V32 as “the promise which was made to the fathers.”

And, the Good News of a promised Messiah who would bring salvation and deliverance is found all throughout the OT.

In fact, in John 5:39, to the Jews, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

Starting in V33, Paul sites several OT scriptures (as good expositors do today as well)… to help his audience know that the Gospel he declares… the promise given… truly was fulfilled in Jesus.... as evidenced by Jesus being raised up… which points to His resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ validates all that He said was true because no other person in Earth’s history said they would die and come back to life three days later… and it was so.

But, Jesus said it and it was so… thus we can trust all else He said regarding salvation, eternity, glorification… everything He said.

The resurrection also demonstrates that the Father accepted Jesus’ perfect sinless sacrifice.

And, models for us what happens to us after we die. We die physically, but live spiritually… eternally.

The resurrection of Jesus is a hallmark to our faith.

Paul later wrote in 1 Cor 15:13-14 “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

Wow! That’s a pretty big deal.

In fact, in becoming saved, Paul wrote it’s not just about faith in Jesus, but also believing in His resurrection.

Rom 10:9 declares, “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Without a belief in His resurrection, how can we have hope for our life after death?

The resurrection is a major theological concept in our faith.

And, Paul will use the resurrection and scripture to proves Jesus is Messiah…

First, quoting Ps 2:7 “‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’”

This was fulfilled when Jesus came from heaven and was born as a baby in Bethlehem.

At the beginning of John’s Gospel he wrote of “...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” Who’s glory was “...as of the only begotten of the Father.”

Jesus was glorious and the only Son of God.

A divine Son of God, and from David’s line was expected by the Jews. This is who their Messiah would be as written in…

2 Sam 7:12-14 “When your days are fulfilled [speaking of David] and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.”

This points to Messiah… who Paul gave a name to… Jesus.

In V34, Paul states God raised Jesus from the dead… and His body would not see corruption… speaking of decay.

And Paul quotes Isa 55:3 “… I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies [or “sure blessings’] of David.”

Which points back the Davidic covenant we just read in 2 Sam 7… God would establish an everlasting throne from David’s seed.

And, for extra credit you can re-read Jesus’ genealogy…

How through legal rights… He is a descendant of David through Joseph. Matt 1.

And, through blood… Jesus is a descendant of David through Mary. Luke 3.

Jesus is the seed of David… and since He is raised from the dead… and is seated at the right hand of God in eternity… and will come again to rule and reign for a thousand years and into eternity…

The eternal covenant and throne is realized and is a sure blessing of David.

It’s sure. It’s reliable. You can believe it, for it’s trustworthy.

In V35, Paul quotes Ps 16:10… also quoted by Peter in Acts 2:27.

This verse is about how the Lord’s body would not decay in the grave… which further emphasizes that death has no power over Him…

David wrote Psalm 16, but he could not be speaking of himself as the Holy One who did not see corruption…

V36… David served as king… died… was buried… and his physical body decayed.

V37… Not Jesus. Jesus IS the Holy One spoken of in Psalm 16… yet another Psalm fulfilled by Him.

And, on the basis of Jesus’ resurrection, and the messianic scriptures fulfilled in His life, death, and resurrection…

Paul can confidently proclaim that Jesus has the power to forgive sins.

Acts 13:38-39 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness 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.”

Justification is a huge theological concept… it’s what happens the moment you place your faith in Jesus.

I like this definition “Justification is a Christian’s judicial acceptance by God as not guilty because his sins are not counted against him.”

Simply speaking Justification is… “Just as if” your sins never existed as your stand before God.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow...” (Isa 1:18)

Not by the Law of Moses… “not of works...” (Eph 2:9).

And many in this crowd were exuding joy to hear this Good News… this hope found in Jesus.

V42 states, “… the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” Beautiful.

Paul concludes with warning…

VSS 40-41 “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

So, Paul closes it out on a real upbeat note… a solemn warning to those who would reject the offer of salvation is Jesus Christ.

Paul quotes from Habakkuk 1:5 where the prophet warned against impending doom against Judah by the Babylonians.

But, the bigger warning was for all who heard Paul… and for anyone hearing these words today… a choice a laid before us all.

You heard the proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah… the Savior.

Paul warns against anyone who would despise the Gospel message… perishing… destruction is their end.

The Good News is there is a better way… a road less travelled… receive the Gospel and believe Jesus is Lord… He has a seat for you at the table.

Let’s Pray!

Read ahead… next week we finish Chapter 13 and see “The Response to Paul’s Proclamation.”

Go share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ with someone this week! It’s the best news out there.

God bless you as you go!