Contemplate these questions as you dwell in Acts 13:13-52:

1. In this passage, Paul and Barnabas deliver a powerful message in the synagogue, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus, the Savior. How does Paul effectively connect Old Testament prophecies to Jesus' identity as the Messiah? What can we learn from his approach in presenting the Gospel to a Jewish audience?

2. The response to Paul and Barnabas' message is twofold: some Jews and devout converts eagerly embrace the teachings, while others respond with opposition and persecution. How does this dichotomy exemplify the ongoing struggle between acceptance and rejection of the Gospel? What lessons can we draw from Paul's resilience in the face of adversity?

3. The pivotal moment in this passage occurs when Paul and Barnabas declare their intention to turn to the Gentiles, recognizing God's command to be a light to all nations. How does this decision reflect the inclusive nature of the Gospel message and God's sovereign plan for salvation? How can we apply this principle in our own efforts to share the Good News with diverse audiences?

Transcript:

 We've been following this turn in the book of Acts for quite a while now. We have seen that the gospel is turning from the Jewish people now out to the Gentiles, that they might come to faith in Jesus. And so here we see that Paul and Barnabas are going to the synagogues. They're teaching, uh, they're teaching Hebrew people, Jewish people.

They are preaching the gospel of them. And we see how they're doing it here. Uh, Paul is telling the general story of redemption, right? And we see him. Telling the story of David and you can see here in verse 23 That Paul says, of this man's offspring, God has brought to Israel a Savior Jesus, the offspring of David, as he promised.

So, Paul is essentially saying here, this is for us. This is what you have been promised. This is what was to come through the words of Holy Scripture.  is it. And so, he talks about john and how he proclaimed repentance, proclaimed a baptism of repentance. And then he talks about how, how john said that Jesus was not worthy to even, or he was not worthy to even untie the sandal of Jesus.

This is the one he is elevated, he is high, he is the messenger from God. And he continues through, you know, talking about this family connection, he calls them brothers, sons of the family of Abraham. He calls them to hear this message of salvation and to believe. And he calls them back to the utterances of the prophets.

In other words, you should know this. You should know this. You have heard this. But this is what happened to him. He was taken to be crucified, but God raised him from the dead. We, we know the story of the gospel. And then he once again connects it back to the story of David. Goes back to Psalm 110, where the psalmist says, you are my son, today I begotten you, and he talks about how, verse 35,  we see here where Paul says, therefore he says also in another psalm, You will not let your holy one see corruption.

So, what is Paul doing? He's saying that the Psalms talked about this one who was to come from David, and it can't be about David himself Because we know that David is dead and buried. David has seen corruption We see that in verse 36 for David after he has served the purpose of God in his own generation fell asleep.

In other words, the one who is truly to come, the one who is fully going to fulfill this promise, while David was good, he wasn't it. He has seen corruption. But now, Jesus was the promised Messiah, and that is why he could not see corruption. That is why he was raised from the dead. Well, the people hear this.

We, we see this in this story. They hear this long sermon, and they want to hear more about it. And many of the Jewish people and the devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. They spoke with them. They wanted to continue to know about the grace of God. But then, persecution comes. Some of the Jewish leaders try to keep them away. They try to turn the people away from the message of the gospel And so here we get Paul saying  look  if you aren't going to listen then we're going to go to the gentiles Just as god has commanded us to do he told us we're turning We're turning that direction just as we've seen throughout the book of acts here Right that they're turning in this direction towards the gentiles and we see Paul here Say, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

The Lord has commanded them that. And so, the Gentiles hear this and they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. And then we see something very interesting here in this statement. We've, we've been learning throughout the book of Acts.  That God is the one who is doing the work here of salvation, right?

God is the one at work. It isn't the work of man that is bringing salvation. It's the work of God. But look at what is said here. Listen to this. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.  That's the way the sentence is.  That's the way it's rendered in the original. It comes here in English this way.

As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Not as many as believed We're appointed to eternal life. No, as many as were appointed to eternal life believed in other words God is the one who is during the work doing the work. He is giving the gift of faith The Holy Spirit is bringing these people to salvation just as you and I were brought to salvation Because we were dead in our trespasses and sins.

We could not save ourselves, same with these people They needed the Holy Spirit to give them the gift of faith and so as many as were appointed to eternal life They believed. Well, there continues to be issues here that there's persecution. And so, we read here in 51, they shook the dust off their feet.  And then we see in verse 52, and the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

How amazing is that? There's persecution here. They're trying to go to their brothers in the Hebrew, uh, in the Jewish faith. They're trying to go to their, their Hebrew offspring, fellow Hebrew offspring.  And they're persecuting them, but they're filled with joy. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is at work, because the Holy Spirit is bringing people to faith, despite this persecution, God is at work.

And so, as we think about how to apply this to us today, this with the reading and with my explanation here, I guess, we've gotten kind of long, so we'll be quick and to the point.  We need to be filled with joy because we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, and we know we know that if we continue to proclaim the gospel and raise and disciple our children and Disciple those around us and proclaim the gospel.

The gospel will go forth no matter what you and I do it's going to be the work of God because Just as it was in the book of Acts as many as are appointed to eternal life. So, it's our job to proclaim the gospel like the Spirit might be at work, bringing people to faith, just as God has always done.