God's Grace

Let’s go ahead and turn to Acts 13:13-25;

Acts 13:13–25 NASB95

13 Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 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 an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18 “For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19 “When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. 20 “After these things 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 “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24 after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 “And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

As we look at Acts 13:13 we find that Paul and his companions now leave the island of Cyprus and they go north to the area of Asia minor. Here we find a little side note that John had left them and returned to Jerusalem. There is no mention why here but we will find John Mark once again later in the book of Acts. Paul and Barnabas continue to move along and they go from Perga and as they move on from Perga they come to a city called Pisidian Antioch. There were a lot of Antiochs in that day so some were had other names as well. They go into the town and they want to share the gospel with the people. They want to tell the people about Jesus Christ so the first place they go is to the synagogue to those who have the Scripture to teach from the Scripture who Jesus is. When we get to verse 14 we find Paul and Barnabas go to a synagogue. This was customary and I am not sure because the text doesn’t tell us but somehow the synagogue official, that is the synagogue elder, knew that Paul and Barnabas were teachers of the law.

So when we find them in verse 15 which says, “After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” The synagogue official would go up before the congregation and read Scripture. It was not all of Scripture it would be selected texts from what we call today the Old Testament. Since they somehow knew Paul and Barnabas was traveling rabbis they asked them to bring a word of encouragement to them. They wanted to be comforted by the Scripture. So Paul stands up to take the posture of a teacher and begins to teach those who are there an incredibly comforting lesson, from Scripture. He teaches them about God’s Grace, Specifically how God demonstrates Grace to a disobedient people.

God Demonstrates Grace to a Disobedient People

Look with me how Paul starts, he address the crowd in verse 16, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen,” He is addressing two groups of people who are in the synagogue. The Men of Israel are the covenant people of God and the God fearers are those who trusted in the Scriptures but didn’t want to become fully converted Jews by taking on the rituals and the circumcision. So Paul is speaking to a mixed group of people, Israelites and non Israelites who were familiar with the Scripture. So as Paul explains the Scripture he points out how God has demonstrated Grace to the nation of Israel.

We see God’s Grace in His Selection

By Grace He Calls His People

Look at verse 17 with me, “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He lead them out from it.”

Paul doesn’t go back to Abraham but by mentioning that God did call them.

By Grace He Bears With His People

By Grace He Keeps His Promise

By Grace He Wants Your Heart