Paul’s sermon in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch in Acts 13 is one of the three sermons in his missionary journeys (Acts 13:16-41; Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:22-31). Paul’s exhortation begins with a survey of his people’s history and God’s saving grace in their exodus from Egypt. Paul then moves on to their history in the Promised Land and then he proclaims Jesus as the promised Son of David. He then shifts the focus of his speech to the fact that through Jesus his listeners have forgiveness of sins and he ends with an appeal not to reject the Savior and a solemn warning about the consequences of unbelief.

 

Paul uses the common platform of the Scripture to powerfully present the case that Jesus is the Messiah through whom any man can be saved.

 

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Jesus is the Anointed Son of God

 

Paul quotes two more texts to establish the “raising up of Jesus” (Acts 13:33). This raising up is prefigured in Psalm 2:7: “You are my son; today I have become your father.” This is echoed when God spoke after Jesus’ baptism: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus was then anointed by the Holy Spirit, “raised up” or assigned to be the Messiah. With a Jewish audience it had first to be established that Jesus was the Messiah. The resurrection was the key to convince them. For the Jews, Jesus’ crucifixion remained an unbeatable obstacle to accepting Him as Messiah. As Paul says, “We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews…but to those whom God has called… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor.1:23-24).

 

Paul later writes that Jesus “was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). He was already the Son of God; but after the resurrection, he is declared even more powerfully to be the Son. Thus, Jesus becomes Savior of the world by being “raised up” in resurrection.

 

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Jesus, the source of blessings

 

In his synagogue speech, Paul cites Isaiah 55:3 as his second proof-text: “I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.” He does this by claiming that the resurrection itself is the fulfillment of the blessings promised to David. Paul also quotes from Psalm 16:10: “You will not let your holy one see decay” (Acts 13:35). David died an ordinary death and his body decayed whereas Jesus’ body does not suffer corruption. Jesus’ tomb was empty and his body had not been found. Peter and many others were a witness for Jesus’ resurrection, something Paul mentioned earlier (Acts 13:31).

 

The message here is very profound: the resurrection of Jesus brought to life the promises made to David. Accepting the resurrection is key to enter into God’s promises. Jesus is the Messiah who did not see “decay” – He is the resurrected and anointed Son of God who has the power to break the shackles of sin over your life, set you free and save you.

Will you accept Him?

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Will you let His divine power to set you free?

 

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Prayer:

Lord Jesus I pray that I may experience Your resurrection power in my life this day and always. Amen

Acts 13:32-33