Jesus the Promised Messiah

Paul preaches in the Pisidian Antioch synagogue, tracing Israel’s history and proving Jesus is God’s promised Savior through Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in His death and resurrection.

[Scripture]

[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. (Acts 13:13-18, ESV)

[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. (Acts 13:19-24, ESV)

[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. (Acts 13:25-31, ESV)

[Daily Word]

When Paul and his companions arrived at Perga in Pamphylia, a region in southern Asia Minor, John Mark departed from them. The exact reason for his departure is not known, but verse 13, “departed from them” — examining the word “departed” — has led to several interpretations: that he was displeased with Paul taking a leading role over Barnabas; that he disagreed with the policy of Gentile mission or how far into Gentile territory they should go to preach the gospel; or simply that he was homesick.¹

This same word is also used in Jeremiah 46:5², where it is used as an expression depicting someone fleeing in terror. Whatever the reason John Mark abandoned the missionary journey midway, we can see from (Acts 15:37–39)³ that his departure was viewed with displeasure, and it was precisely because of John Mark that Paul and Barnabas later had a sharp disagreement and parted ways from each other.

Paul and his companions entered the synagogue on the Sabbath in Pisidian Antioch.

Pisidian Antioch was home to Romans, Greeks, and Phrygians, and since Jews also lived in the area, a synagogue existed there. In the synagogue, the Law of Moses and the Prophets were regularly read aloud. (15) The synagogue rulers then asked Paul to share a “word of exhortation.” Here, the “word of exhortation” refers to a sermon delivered on the basis of the Scripture passage that had just been read. ⁴So Paul proceeded to preach to both the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles present.

Paul addressed the Jews as “men of Israel.”

He called them by this name to highlight the fact that they were the people chosen by God. The God-fearers, on the other hand, refers to Gentiles who feared God but had not undergone the formal rite of circumcision like ethnic Jews.

The sermons of Paul and Stephen share a common feature in that both preach through the history of Israel. However, Stephen focused on the rebellion of the Israelites, while Paul focused on the faithfulness of God. In this light, Paul emphasizes today that the Exodus (17–18), the conquest of Canaan (19), the period of the judges, and ultimately the establishment of David as king were all the result of God’s mighty power. (17)

After recounting the history of Israel from the time of the patriarchs down to David, Paul then shifts his focus to Jesus. (23) Just as God had promised to David, ⁵ God raised up Jesus as the Savior for Israel.

In particular, Paul divided his audience in verse 16 into two groups: the people of Israel and those who fear God. However, by verse 26, he brings them together under one name, calling them brothers. He specifically refers to the Jewish people as descendants of Abraham, yet addresses them together with the God-fearing Gentiles as brothers. This is because the reason Jesus was rejected when He came to this earth was due to the ignorance of all people — they did not understand the words of the prophets. (v. 27)

What is significant is that the ignorant people asked Pilate to have the sinless Jesus put to death. Yet God raised Him from the dead. And the many disciples who saw Him became living witnesses of the resurrection.

The heart of the message Paul proclaimed was the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The more faithfully we bear witness to the cross and resurrection, the more fully we are able to proclaim God’s message of salvation — His plan to redeem us from our sins. May we all, like Paul, lean upon the Lord today and become vessels of that powerful message. We pray this in the name of the Lord.

Paul’s sermon, Old Testament prophecy, Jesus Christ, the message of salvation, the fulfillment of Scripture

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Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com