Transcript

A pastor was retiring after 25 years at his church and moving away. As he came to clear out his bedroom, he found a small basket with 5 eggs and $2,000 in it.

Baffled, he called his wife and said: “Dear, what is this little basket under the bed with five eggs and $2,000 in it?”

She said, “Oh, every time you preached a bad sermon I put an egg in the basket. Hearing this, the pastor was quite pleased. He said: “Not bad five bad sermons in 25 years.”

Then he asked her, “But what about the $2,000?” She replied, “Well every time I got a dozen, I sold them!”

In the preaching of the Apostle Paul, there would have been no need for the basket or eggs. Paul boldly preached the truth of the Word in the power of the Spirit, and it reached hearts for Christ and also stirred hearts to oppose the truth he preached.

Acts 13:30-37: “But God raised him from the dead. And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

“God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

“And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”

As Paul preached the Word at the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia, after giving a short synopsis of Israel’s history and God’s providential care in it, he reached the heart of his sermon in speaking of the risen Christ.

The core of His message was that Christ died, He was buried, and He arose again. And Paul appealed to the testimony of the eyewitnesses and the testimony of Scripture to support the fact and truth of Christ’s resurrection.

After Christ arose victorious over sin and death, Paul said “He was seen many days of them which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem.” Paul is describing Christ’s apostles with these words.

Acts 1:2-3 tells us that Christ gave “commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days….”

Thus, the “many days” Paul referred to are the forty days that His disciples saw Him again and again after He rose again.

Christ was seen by His apostles and by many others as well during this time, including “of above five hundred brethren at once” (1 Cor. 15:6).

Paul said that those who “came up with Him from Galilee…are His witnesses unto the people.” The apostles were sent out by Christ as witnesses of His resurrection. And they were Christ’s witnesses “unto the people” which refers to the people of Israel.

In the power of the Spirit, Christ’s apostles bore witness to Israel that Jesus Christ was risen, that they had seen Him with their own eyes, and that they had fellowshipped with Him and were instructed by Him after His resurrection for 40 days.

Paul then stated that “And we declare unto you glad tidings,” or good news. Paul himself was a witness to the resurrection of Christ, having seen the resurrected, glorified Savior on the road to Damascus.

And after Israel’s fall, Paul was raised up to declare this good news and glad tidings of Christ’s resurrection “unto you,” or to both Jew and Gentile among the nations, such as he was doing in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia.

Paul said that he declared glad tidings of Christ’s resurrection, “how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again.”

Paul made known the glad tidings of Christ’s resurrection which fulfilled the past promises God made in the prophetic Scriptures concerning it.

Then Paul supported the fulfillment of the promise of the resurrection by quoting three Old Testament passages: Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, and Psalm 16:10. These prophetic verses all found fulfillment in the raising up of Jesus Christ.

The first promise that was fulfilled, Paul said, was, “as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee” referring to Psalm 2:7.

This phrase refers to the resurrection, as the Apostle John stated in Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first BEGOTTEN of the dead…”

Christ was always the Son of God from eternity past, but by the resurrection, it manifested that eternal truth, and magnified and glorified Christ that He is the Son of God.

And the Father declared: “Thou art My Son,” as the truth that Christ is God’s Son was plain for all to see and know by Him rising from the dead in power and glory.

As Paul wrote in Romans 1:4, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

The second promise fulfilled in Christ’s resurrection, Paul said, was, “And as concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David,” referring to Isaiah 55:3.

Isaiah 55:3 states, “and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” “The sure mercies of David” refers to God’s promises assured to David in His everlasting covenant with him.

God promised David an everlasting throne and kingdom, and a seed to sit upon that throne forever.

Paul is stating that the sure mercies and blessings promised to David find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Christ was resurrected to fulfill God’s promise to David that his Seed would be the King of Israel with an everlasting reign in His earthly kingdom.

Because Christ rose again and rose to new life in a glorified body, He will “now no more…return to corruption.” As Romans 6:9 states, “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”

Since Christ has risen from the dead and has endless life, the eternal aspects of God’s covenant with David, of an everlasting throne and kingdom, are made sure in Christ and will be fulfilled in Him.

The third promise fulfilled in Christ’s resurrection, Paul said, was, “Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption,” referring to Psalm 16:10.

King David prophesied these words, but he had the coming Messiah, not himself in view. We see that by his reference to the Holy One, which is a messianic title.

And also as Paul said in verse 36, “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.”

After David had lived and served his own generation, he died, was buried, and his body remained in his grave and saw corruption as it returned to dust.

But as Paul preached in verse 37, “But He, Whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” In contrast to David, the Holy One, the Lord Jesus Christ, was raised from the dead the third day before his body experienced the inevitable corruption of the grave.

David had prophesied of the Messiah being raised from the dead, and that promise found its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth, “Whom God raised again.”

Acts 13:38-41: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

“Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”

“The law and the prophets” were referred to at the beginning of this synagogue service, when there was “the reading of the law and the prophets.”

And here we find the law and the prophets again referred to at the end of the service.

Paul and Barnabas were asked if they had “any word of exhortation for the people,” and Paul did have one.

After giving a short history of Israel’s past and God’s mercy and care for her, Paul showed that the greatest demonstration of God’s care was the raising up of a Savior unto her, Who is Jesus.

Though the Lord Jesus was rejected by His people and was crucified, He rose again. His resurrection was in fulfillment of prophecy and declared Him to be the Son of God, Israel’s Messiah, and the only Savior.

Then Paul the preacher, gives a word of exhortation to the congregation: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.”

The “therefore” meant that Paul was drawing a conclusion, and it points to the context of God’s sovereignty, God’s care, and God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His Word.

It also points to Jesus Christ, Who died, was buried, and rose again, Whose shoe latchet John did not feel worthy to loosen and the Father Who declared of Him: “This is My Son.”

To have the forgiveness of sins, God has the authority, the care, and the trustworthiness to give it. And His Son and the sufficiency of His Cross and resurrection, provides it.

It was imperative that the synagogue congregation understand, and it imperative that all today understand that it is through this Man, Jesus Christ, Whom God raised from the dead, that one can receive the forgiveness of sins.

Our greatest need is the forgiveness of our sins, because our sins will separate us from God forever in the lake of fire, unless they are forgiven and taken away.

And the forgiveness of our sins is available to all. Paul was preaching to a crowd of both Jews and Gentiles (or non-Jews) in that synagogue, and he said that through this Man is preached “unto you,” showing that forgiveness is available to both Jews and Gentiles alike, with no difference, it is available for each and every person, through Christ alone.

The word “forgiveness” means to release from bondage. In Paul’s message, he reminded Israel that God brought her out from bondage in Egypt by His almighty power (v. 17).

And so today, anyone can be released from the bondage of their sins through the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And the gospel of Christ is “the power of God unto salvation.”

The forgiveness of sins is available to all through Christ, and how we receive it, is as verse 39 says, “And by Him all that BELIEVE are justified from all things.”

“By Him,” or through Christ. “All,” all people, individually, on the same level. “That BELIEVE” and that’s it. The only condition to be forgiven all our sins is faith alone.

Trusting Christ, that He died for us and rose again, we have the forgiveness of sins. The gospel of Christ is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that BELIEVETH.”

Something changed in the Book of Acts between Acts 2 and Acts 13. Because earlier when Peter talked about how to receive the forgiveness of sins, he said something different.

Peter told Israel on the day of Pentecost: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (2:38).

Peter preached the remission or forgiveness of sins through the Savior by repentance and water baptism.

Paul, however, after Israel’s fall and with the change in God’s dealings with mankind and the ushering in of the dispensation of grace, preached the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ ALONE, apart from all works and apart from the law.

Both responses by Peter and Paul are the truth and are God’s Word. But they are not the same. So the question we need to ask is what is the truth to obey for today?

The answer is Paul is the apostle that God raised up after Israel’s fall in Acts 7 for the current dispensation, and Christ revealed the terms of salvation for this age to him. Thus, we know that faith alone in Christ is how we are saved today.

Based on the Cross of Christ and the full payment of our sin debt, Paul preached in Antioch that just by believing we are forgiven of our sins, and we are “justified from all things.”

Forgiveness takes away the debt of sin; justification gives a positive credit to our account.

At the moment of salvation, when we trust in Christ as our Savior, God not only forgives our sins, but He also gives us the very righteousness of Christ and imputes it to our account. Having the righteousness of Christ, we “are justified from all things.”

Justification is the act of God by which He declares the believer to be righteous.

Justification takes place at a moment in time when we believe the gospel. And this judicial act of God stands eternally and can never be reversed.

Paul proclaimed the gospel of grace and offered these Jews and Gentiles salvation by grace through faith, making it clear that justification is by believing, not by doing; it’s by faith alone and not faith plus works or the works of the law (Rom. 3:28; 5:1).

And Paul added in verse 39, “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

The Law of Moses could only condemn, it could never justify anyone. It gave the standard of whether one is or is not right before God and showed that all fall short, all have sinned, and none meet the standard of God’s perfect righteousness.

Along with being told to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and that forgiveness of sins was through Him, this too was a shattering statement to many in that Jewish synagogue that day. Many there revered the Law of Moses and were trying their best to live by it.

And here this guest speaker was telling them that the law of Moses could not justify them, but they could be justified and made perfectly righteous just through faith in Jesus Christ.

As Paul would later write the Romans, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (3:20-22).

Paul then gave a warning to all who reject God’s salvation and forgiveness that is graciously offered in Jesus Christ. He solemnly charged his hearers to “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets,” which was judgment.

And thus, the apostle did use the opportunity to exhort his hearers from both the law and the prophets that day. From the law, it was: “Do not trust in the law; trust in Christ.”

From the prophets: “Do not reject God’s gracious invitation to receive His salvation.”

Quoting, Habakkuk 1:5, Paul said, “Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”

This verse warned those who rejected God in Judah of King Nebuchadnezzar’s threat of invasion, should the nation not repent. In Paul’s use of it, he meant to show that God would bring eternal judgment on those who rejected salvation through His Son.

The prophecy speaks of severe judgment that God would carry out that was so frightening and of such magnitude and so awful, that even if someone tried to describe it, it would seem impossible, yet it was true. That’s the way the lake of fire will be as God’s judgment is poured out upon those who die in their sins.

Paul’s example in preaching shows us that a vital part of proclaiming the gospel is to warn others of the certain judgment to come if they do not trust the Savior.

The gospel calls for a decision to accept it or reject it, and one needs to know the consequence and danger of rejecting it. Accepting salvation brings forgiveness of sin and eternal blessing; rejecting it ultimately brings judgment and eternal condemnation.

Acts 13:42-47: “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

“And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

“For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”

Paul’s dynamic and soul-stirring preaching about salvation through Jesus Christ created great interest in the hearts of many people who listened to him. Verses 42-52 show the responses of both Jews and Gentiles from Paul’s sermon.

When the service in the synagogue was over, the Gentiles who were present that day were interested and wanted to hear more from Paul and Barnabas.

They approached the Jews who had left the synagogue and begged them that Paul might speak again at the services on the next Sabbath.

Others were so affected that they could not wait until the next Sabbath, and when the meeting had broken up, many Jews and God-fearing proselytes, or Gentile converts to Judaism, followed Paul and Barnabas and spoke with them.

Paul and Barnabas “persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” This implies that they responded to Paul’s offer of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and were saved, and then Paul and Barnabas encouraged them to continue in the grace of God.

In this age, we are saved and enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by grace alone, and then we are called to grow and continue in the grace of God in our walk with the Lord and in our service for Him.

One week later, on the following Sabbath day, almost the whole city came to the synagogue to hear Paul preach the Word of God.

And Antioch was no small village but a substantial city, so this was quite a large gathering! It was standing room only in the synagogue on this Sabbath.

On the first Sabbath when Paul and Barnabas preached in the synagogue, there was a good response of faith and interest to hear more. But here on this following Sabbath, there was a mixed response, some very hostile and some very receptive.

The unbelieving Jews were antagonistic and filled with envy when they saw the large crowd and this Gentile city coming together to hear Paul and his message of grace.

The blessing of God’s salvation being extended to and received by Gentiles also filled them with envy and anger.

As a result, these Jews were stirred to action. And they spoke against Paul’s message of grace, “contradicting and blaspheming.” They openly opposed Paul and attempted to refute his words, and they spoke blasphemously against Christ in their rejection of Him and vehemently denied that He was the Messiah and that He rose from the dead.

They did all this to steer people away from Paul and the salvation that he proclaimed in Christ apart from the law.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Paul and Barnabas courageously stood up to this opposition. They told these unbelieving Jews that “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you.”

Paul also stated in Romans 1:16 that the gospel of Christ “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

With Israel being set aside temporarily and the change in God’s program, Paul went to the Jew first that they might hear and know God’s Word for today and the salvation that God was now offering to both Jew and Gentile in and through His Son by faith alone.

It was for the purpose of leaving Israel without excuse, and for the apostle to hopefully reach some of his countrymen individually in doing so.

But their brazen rejection of his message and ministry led the apostle to boldly announce to them that he was turning to the Gentiles.

This is the first of three times in the book of Acts that Paul told the Jews that he was turning to the Gentiles. The other two times are in Acts 18:6 and 28:28.

These pronouncements are significant in Acts because they demonstrate how God had changed His dealings with mankind, had set Israel aside temporarily, and had begun a new program with the Gentiles, raising up Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles that he might take God’s message of salvation to the nations.

And this turning to the Gentiles, Paul said in verse 47 is what “the Lord commanded” them to do.

In verse 47, Paul quoted Isaiah 49:6 and told the Jews that God’s purpose had always been to reach the Gentiles. In time past, it was to be through Israel and her being a channel of blessing to the nations.

And Israel’s fall and rejection of their Messiah would not stop God’s purpose in reaching the nations with His salvation.

God has set Christ to be a light to the Gentiles and for salvation unto the ends of the earth. This is done apart from Israel today.

And Paul was commanded to proclaim Christ to the nations, taking God’s salvation for today of faith alone in Christ unto the ends of the earth. And this salvation that was revealed to Paul, is how one any person is saved today. It’s just trusting that Christ died for your sins personally and rose again.