Acts 13:26-51

Why is it important we read both the Old and New Testament?(V 26-33)

Paul has a logical flow in his thought

He is talking to a group of gentiles

He is showing that this messianic message is not one that is a random conglomeration of a leader and its followers

But the story of his arrival is rooted hundreds of years before Christ comes

We cannot understand the signs and wonders of the final scene if we have not seen the rest of the film

Sixth Sense

Yes the entire story hinges on that very moment in the climax, but we don’t understand how important that is until we’ve hit said climax

If that is all the case, then in order for us to have a proper understanding of what Christ has done and the magnitude of his arrival, we must understand what he fulfilled

What are some things Paul points out that separate Christ from the rest of the OT figures?(V 34-41)

He is the awaited messiah

The hope of the OT comes to fulfillment in Christ

Like imagine your people had waited for literally hundreds of years for a figure to arrive

You might be skeptical too if someone said they were here and especially more so if it didn’t appear to be as you said

He does not die, but rather is the only human in the history of the world to where death submits to him, rather than he submits to death

Why do you think people used to reject this gospel? Why do they still do it today? (V 42-52)

At this time, Jesus threatened the norm and the medium of Jewish culture

Christianity was completely separate from Judaism and therefore acknowledging Christianity could mean the rejection of Judaism

Paul and Barnabus did experience success in their endeavors to preach the gospel

But they also faced persecution for the very same message

What does this mean?

If Paul didn’t have a 100% success rate in converting others, we won’t either

We have to expect that when we share the good news of Jesus and when we tell others about the Joy of Christ, not everyone will take well to it ‘

Yet neither of them ceased their ministry

As we go out into the world to model what it means to truly follow Christ, what we can come to discover is that some will like us and hate us

Let us be faithful. Full of Grace and Truth. Not desiring to bend to the opinions of others