Acts 13:23-37
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.’
26 “Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.
27 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the declarations of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.
28 And though they found no grounds for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed.
29 When they had carried out everything that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.
30 But God raised Him from the dead;
31 and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people.
32 And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,
33 that God has fulfilled this promise to those of us who are the descendants by raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have fathered You.’
34 As for the fact that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and faithful mercies of David.’
35 Therefore, He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’
36 For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, and was buried among his fathers and underwent decay;
37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.
Pisidian Antioch (4)
Presentation of the gospel (1)
Paul’s sermon continues. After reviewing the Jewish history, he moves on to presenting the Gospel: “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus.” (1) Paul’s sermon jumps about 1,000 years from David to Jesus. (a) Who is Jesus? Jesus is a descendant of David but greater than David. Jesus is the Savior sent by God to the people of Israel according to the promise. (b) What is the promise? “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit” (Isa. 11:1). “Then on that day the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal flag for the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious” (Isa. 11:10). (2) God, through the Davidic Covenant, promised that the dynasty of David would endure forever. (a) The Davidic Covenant prepared the hearts of the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah. (b) Jesus is the eternal King who will sit on David’s throne. (c) The 15th prayer of the Amidah (the Eighteen Benedictions) is a prayer for the coming of the Messiah. “After John had proclaimed, before His coming, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He…” (1) Here, Paul introduces John the Baptist. (a) John fulfilled his mission of preparing the way for the Lord (fulfilling the prophecies of Mal. 3:1 and 4:5). (b) Although about 20 years had passed since John the Baptist’s ministry, he remained well-known within the Jewish community. (2) The climax of John’s ministry was the following declaration: (a) I am not the Messiah. (b) The Messiah is coming after me. (c) I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. “Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.” (1) Once again, Paul addresses both the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles. “The message of this salvation” refers to the truth that “Jesus is the promised Savior.” (2) The ultimate provision God gives is the sending of the promised Messiah. (a) God has always protected the people of Israel and met their needs. (b) Yet, the people have always been rebellious against God. (c) The leaders of Israel made the same mistake concerning Jesus. The gospel is a gift offered to us by God. Blessed are those who gratefully receive it.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, the gospel is a gift that brings salvation to everyone who believes. By this gospel, I will continue to walk in joy today. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.