What Was to What Is

This morning continue in Acts 13. Paul is going to take us through the History of God.

Acts 13:13–16 “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.”

Paul and his companions arrive in Antioch in Pisidia, and on the Sabbath, they head into the synagogue. They don’t burst in and start preaching; they take a seat and listen. It’s only after the rulers of the synagogue invite them to share “a word of encouragement” that Paul stands up and speaks.

What’s powerful here is the method. Paul and his team don’t force their way into the conversation. They show respect for the setting and let the opportunity come to them. And when it does, they’re ready to speak truth and encouragement—which, of course, is the Gospel.

I think sometimes we have a misconception: that sharing the Gospel boldly means always being loud and in your face.

Sometimes, it’s about being present and waiting for the right moment. Paul didn’t push his way to the front; he was called upon.

If you’re willing to be patient, an opportunity to speak will come.

Now again, this doesn’t mean we are passive.

The Gospel is confrontational but it is not abrasive.

We don’t have to come in shouting to make an impact for the Gospel. Sometimes, the best way to share is to sit with people, listen, and wait for the Holy Spirit to open the door. And when it opens, step through boldly, knowing that the Gospel is the ultimate encouragement.

Acts 13:17–25 (ESV)

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.’

Paul starts by retelling the story of Israel: how God chose their ancestors, brought them out of Egypt, endured their rebellion in the wilderness, and gave them the land of Canaan. He moves through their history, mentioning the judges and then Samuel, who anointed Saul as Israel’s first king. From there, he transitions to David, calling him “a man after God’s own heart.”

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He uses David as a bridge to point to Jesus. He explains that from David’s lineage, God has brought Israel a Savior, just as He promised. Then Paul ties it all together by referencing John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus and declared that he wasn’t even worthy to untie His sandals.

This is the genius of Paul’s approach. He starts with what the people in the synagogue know—their shared history—and gradually moves them toward what they need to hear. He takes them from “what was” to “what is,” showing how everything they hold dear points to Jesus. It’s not a leap; it’s a step-by-step journey.

This teaches us something crucial about sharing the Gospel. Sometimes it’s not about dropping something brand new on people. It’s about starting with what they already know and showing how it all connects to Christ. Paul doesn’t discard the history—he honors it and shows how Jesus fulfills it.

By the time Paul gets to Jesus, he’s already shown them how God’s hand has been at work in their story the whole time. That’s the beauty of the Gospel.

Acts 13:26–31 (ESV)

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.

Paul now gets to the heart of his message: the death and resurrection of Jesus. But notice his method. He doesn’t start with, “Jesus loves you and died for you,” as many Christians might today. Instead, he leads them through their shared history, showing how their story has always been pointing to Jesus.

Paul connects the dots, explaining how the leaders in Jerusalem fulfilled the very prophecies they read every Sabbath by condemning Jesus, even though He was innocent. He tells them how Jesus was crucified, buried, and then raised from the dead by God, appearing to many witnesses.

Paul’s approach isn’t random; it’s intentional. He builds on what they know to help them understand what they need to know. This is the beauty of the Gospel—it’s deeply rooted in history but profoundly personal in its impact.

The Gospel calls out to everyone, but reaches people personally.

Paul isn’t just giving a history lesson; he’s showing them that the story of Jesus is the fulfillment of everything they’ve been waiting for. This isn’t just about what happened in the past—it’s about what God has done for them, right now, through Jesus. The death and resurrection of Christ isn’t a distant event; it’s deeply personal and has the power to change their lives.

Acts 13:32–37 (ESV)

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.

Paul continues by bringing them the core of the Gospel: the good news that what God promised to their ancestors has been fulfilled through Jesus. He highlights the resurrection, using Scripture to show how Jesus’ rising from the dead was foretold and how it sets Him apart from even their greatest king, David.

When Paul says, “You will not let your Holy One see corruption,” he’s making it clear that Jesus’ body didn’t decay in the tomb like David’s did. David was a servant of God in his time, but he died and remained in the grave. Jesus, however, rose again, conquering death itself.

And this is the good news Paul declares in verse 32: “We bring you the good news.” The good news isn’t just that Jesus died—it’s that He lives. His resurrection proves that the curse of sin is broken. Everything Israel had been striving for through the law and rituals was accomplished in Jesus. He fulfilled and completed the work they could never do on their own.

People often think the Gospel is about being good enough. But here’s the hard truth: you will never be good enough. No matter how much good you do, how much you give, how much you strive to live a moral life—it will never be enough to make you right with God.

And that’s where the power of the Gospel comes in. It’s not about me being good enough; it’s about Jesus being good enough. I am not, and never will be, good enough—but the One who is took my place.

Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That’s it. Because of Him, I don’t stand condemned based on my sin; I stand forgiven because of His resurrection.

That’s the Gospel! It’s not just that Jesus died for me or that He has a wonderful plan for my life. It’s that I was dead in my sin—completely hopeless—but God sent Jesus to take my place of death. He didn’t just die; He rose again, defeating sin and death forever.

This is what Paul is communicating to the people in Acts 13.

The Freedom You’ve been searching for is found in Jesus! The hope you’ve been searching for is found in Jesus! The Peace you’ve been searching for is found in Jesus!

Are you searching for yourself? You will be found in Jesus!