Paul's First Speech

Themes of the speech

God’s soverignty in Israel’s History (13:13-25)

God chose Israel

exalted the people in egypt

led them out of egypt

sustained them in the wilderness

cleared out their promised land

divided up their land as an inheritance

gave them leaders—judges

when they asked for it, He gave them a king—saul who was not a good king

He raised up David

God brought a Savior—Jesus Christ

John the Baptist was the one God sent to prepare the people for the Savior—Jesus.

God’s Message of Salvation has come to all (13:26-37)

Jerusalem and her rulers didn’t recognize Jesus as the Savior nor understand the Scriptures of their own prophets testifying to Jesus’s identity despite sitting under their reading each week.

Even in their defiance of God’s Word their unbelief fulfilled OT phrophecy.

Jesus was truly innocent.

Luke is intentional here to clarify that even though Jesus died a “criminals death”, He was prononced innocent by Pilate.

Jesus really died.

We’re seeing elements of a creed even here in the points that Paul is intentionally bringing to light.

It was a popular theory that Jesus didn’t actually die but rather passed out on the cross—Swoon Theory.

Jesus actually dying is a essential element of the gospel; without a divine, sinless sacrifice, there can be no eternal salvation for sinners.

Jesus was raised from the dead.

Walked around for days; had many witnesses.

Jesus was the Promised One.

It is Christ’s resurrection from the dead that was the chief sign that He was truly and undeniably the Messiah.

“My Son” from Psalm 2 is to be understood here as a messianic title attributed to Jesus to which the resurrection solidified.

Then we see serveral verses explaining how David died and his body saw decay, meaning he died and he stayed dead.

But David’s words in Psalm 16:10

Psalm 16:10 HCSB

For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay.

Find their fullest fulfillment in Christ’s bodily resurrection.

God’s Message Demands a response (13:38-41)

Through “this man” comes forgiveness, not through the law or any other means.

There is no other way to the Father except through the Son.

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Warning from Habakkuk

Stop “scoffing” before the “perish”; believe instead.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

God’s message never returns void. (13:42-52)

Just like Paul and Barnabas, we have no control over the ground on which the seed of the gospel falls, it’s merely our job to continually cast the seed.

Some begged to hear more about what Paul had said.

I believe the language here indicates that God was stiring in the hearts of some of the “jews and devout proselytes.”

Some began insulting Paul.

Here again we see the root of the Jewish contention—jealousy.

Some “rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord”.

“all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

God’s soverignty in choosing His people—the doctrine of election—book ends this passage.

Where the gospel goes to work, so does the devil.

The gospel spreads “throug the whole region”

Luke gives fair historical reporting here, proving his letter to be a credible historical document.

Luke not only records the positive reactions to the gospel, he records the negative ones as well, especially the ones of high status Romans.

Do not grow weary of doing good...

The prophetic gesture of “shaking the dust off their feet against them” shows that Paul and Barnabas do not want to be associated with their unbelief and it’s consequences.

Sharing God’s message always cultivates joy in the heart of the messenger.

Even in the face of persecution and being driven out of the district, true followers of Christ can have joy that comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.