Year 2, Week 41, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 41, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Acts 13.

Today’s reading continues with the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts is a selective history of the early church, which demonstrates how Jesus, by the Spirit, empowers His followers to continue His work. While the Book of Acts traces the early history of the church in general, eventually, as the history unfolds, there will be a strong focus on the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Today’s reading and a portion of tomorrow’s reading reports on the Apostle Paul’s first missionary journey. Acts 13 describes how the missionary effort by Paul and Barnabas came about: “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers…While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1-3). The church at Antioch would become an important base of operations for the early church’s missionary task of taking the Gospel, “to the end of the earth.” The idea for the journey originated not with the church but with the Holy Spirit, who moved the church to action. While Paul’s commission was specifically to the Gentiles, the pattern that unfolds during this missionary journey entails proclaiming the gospel to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles: “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” (Acts 13:46). Ironically, while some Jews would embrace Christ, it would be the hostile rejection by the Jews to Paul’s message that serves as the means of reaching the Gentiles: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47, quoting Isaiah 49:6).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is how Paul’s message, rooted in the Old Testament Scriptures, pointed to Jesus: “And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus” (Acts 13:32-33a). Paul’s message begins with the history of Israel, summarizing the release from Egyptian captivity to the reign of King David: “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. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance…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” (Acts 13:17-22). Arriving at David, Paul is naturally led to the claims of Christ, for the storyline of the Bible is fulfilled only in Christ: “Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised” (Acts 13:23).

Framing Christ as the One the Scriptures promised, Paul then explains the events surrounding Christ’s crucifixion: “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 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. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 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” (Acts 13:26-29). But not only did Christ die according to the Scriptures, He was raised according to the Scriptures: "But God raised him from the dead, 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. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers” (Acts 13:30-32). Paul expressly adds some of the Old Testament Scriptures that point to Christ’s resurrection and highlights the significance of His resurrection: “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.’ 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.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption” (Acts 13:33-35, quoting Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 55:3; and Psalm 16:10).

Then Paul points to what Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection, for the resurrection is not merely a historical instance of God’s keeping his promise; it is His means of salvation. It is through the resurrected Jesus that: “through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38b-39). And yet this offer of forgiveness comes through trusting in Christ: “Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: “‘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” (Acts 13:40-41, quoting Habakkuk 1:5). Paul concludes with a clear warning that explains the extreme danger of not embracing the preached message concerning Christ. For to reject the message about Christ is to reject Christ. And to reject Christ is to reject God’s offer of forgiveness as well as the freedom that comes through Christ. 

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe