“Acts 13:32-43”

Saturday, January 16, 2016

“‘And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, “You are My Son; today I have begotten You.” As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: “I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.” Therefore He also says in another Psalm, “You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: “Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; For I am accomplishing a work in your days, a work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.”’ As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.”

---End of Scripture verses---

Just as Peter had done on the day of Pentecost, Paul impressed upon the minds of his Jewish and proselyte audience that Jesus had arisen from the dead (Acts 2:24-26). The resurrection of the crucified Messiah is the linchpin of the whole Bible. The Old Testament prophets had prophesied that Jesus would not “undergo decay” (Psalm 16:18-11), and the New Testament teachers and writers repeatedly stressed the importance of the Jesus’ resurrection. All of God’s promises concerning rescuing His people and blessing all the families of the earth were fulfilled in that one momentous, triumphant achievement (Acts 13:32). Yes, it is true that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem had taken Jesus and killed him because of their envy and wickedness of heart (Acts 13:27-28); but this was all done in accordance with the predetermined plan of God (Acts 2:23). And even though they killed Him and “laid Him in a tomb” (Acts 13:29), God did not allow death to corrupt the flesh of His Only Begotten Son or the grave to keep hold of the King of glory.

Paul warned his listeners in verses 40-41, “Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: ‘Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; for I am accomplishing a work in your days, a work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.’” Paul quoted Habakkuk 1:5 to warn them not to be as hard-hearted and unbelieving as their ancestors had been. Habakkuk had admonished Israel that they would be defeated by Babylon because of their unfaithfulness, and the people scoffed at the appalling thought of falling into the hands of those uncircumcised heathens. The biggest obstacle to obedient faith for the Jews in Paul’s day was believing that Jesus was the Christ. That the Messiah actually had to be killed in order to ascend His throne, and that Jesus had actually arisen from the grave and was sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven, reigning as Supreme Ruler over His spiritual kingdom.

As the synagogue services broke up for the day, many of the goodhearted Jews and Gentile converts followed after Paul and Barnabas, wanting to hear and learn more of the truth (Acts 13:43). Those two men encouraged them to “continue in the grace of the Lord” until they assembled again on the next Sabbath day when Paul would address them again (Acts 13:44). We get no indication that these people had obeyed the Gospel and received God’s SAVING grace at that particular point. When Paul encouraged them to continue in God’s grace, I believe he was telling them to continue to study the Old Testament Scriptures in order to verify the truth of what he had just taught them; and to continue to believe and cling to that truth. In Acts 20:24, the same Apostle Paul referred to God’s word as “the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace is unmerited favor. God has given His word to mankind as an act of grace, and within that powerful message is revealed all of the good things that God has done for us and promises to do for us if we are faithful to Him. All of these temporal and eternal blessings are unearned gifts from God. Paul wanted these believers to continue in that grace from that point onward. He urged them to hold on to that truth and cling to it until they had acquired salvation, and then remain faithful to God even until the end of their lives. Nothing less is expected of us!

Please read Acts 13:44-52 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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