Project 119: Acts 13:13-52
| Project 119 | Dr. Wayne Splawn
I really enjoy reading the sermons found in the book of Acts. Here in Acts 13:13-52, we read a sermon Paul delivered in a synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia. The leaders of the synagogue asked Paul and his companions if they had a word of encouragement for the people and Paul seized the opportunity to preach the gospel to all who had gathered that day. What do we learn about the gospel from Paul’s sermon? There are at least three things we need to notice here in Acts 13.
1. The gospel is the fulfillment of all that God accomplished in the Old Testament.
As Paul begins his explanation of the work of salvation God accomplished through Jesus Christ, he reminds his audience of the work of salvation God performed by leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. Paul then highlights the way God provided for the people in the wilderness, led them into the Promised Land, gave them a king in David, and prepared the way for Jesus’ coming through the ministry of John the Baptist. The work of salvation God has accomplished through Jesus was the fulfillment of all that God had done to redeem His people up to this point in history.
2. The salvation God has accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus surpasses all that came before Jesus.
The other thing that stands out in Paul’s sermon is Paul’s teaching that the salvation God accomplished through Jesus is superior to the redemptive works He accomplished in the past. David saw corruption and died; Jesus was raised from the dead and lives forever. God used Moses to deliver the people from bondage in Egypt, but they were enslaved to the law; Jesus freed the people from everything from which they could not be freed from the law of Moses. You and I have been given the incredible privilege of living on this side of the cross and the empty tomb. What Old Testament believers could only see in signs and shadows, we can now see fully in Jesus Christ! We need to constantly remind ourselves of the privileges we enjoy because of what Christ accomplished on our behalf.
3. Many of God’s people rejected the work of redemption God accomplished through Jesus Christ.
In verse 40, Paul issues a word of warning to his audience. He implores them to not miss the work of salvation God has done in their day. Jesus was rejected by His own people and delivered over to Pilate to be crucified. Paul does not want his hearers to make the same mistake. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened. Since they rejected God’s work in Jesus, Paul turned his missionary efforts to the Gentiles.
Many of us have grown up in church, and it is possible for people like us to reject the purposes of God in our lives. We may know all of the right things to say, but God is concerned with the condition of our hearts and whether we have responded to Jesus in faith. Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone for salvation? It would be tragic for those of us who are surrounded by the things of God to reject the salvation He has secured for us through Jesus.
Acts 13:13-52 (ESV):
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. 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.’
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. 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. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.