Acts 13:13-41

Proclaiming the Gospel in Antioch of Pisidia

Ash says they would have landed at the port of Attalia and then gone on the short distance to Perga. For some reason, John Mark decided to leave "Paul and his company," as Luke writes, at Perga. They went on to Antioch in Pisidia, which, at that time, was considered to be part of Galatia. The missionary group went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and listened to the reading of the scriptures. The rulers of the synagogue asked if they had some instruction to give them. Paul seized the moment and addressed the men of Israel and God fearers assembled there.

Paul briefly related the story of God's deliverance of the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. He told of the forty years of wilderness wandering and how God defeated seven nations so Israel could have a home in Canaan. He reminded those assembled that God had ruled in Israel for 450 years by using judges. When the people asked for a king, God gave them Saul, then, David, after Saul was removed. It was from the seed of David, that God raised up a Savior for his people named Jesus. First, though, he sent John to prepare the way by preaching the baptism of repentance. John had told the people he was not the Messiah, but the One coming was He (Acts 13:13-25).

Paul then proclaimed that the message of the salvation brought by the Messiah was being delivered to them. The Jewish leaders and people fulfilled the prophecies about Christ's death because they did not recognize the Savior nor understand what the prophets had foretold. They crucified the Innocent and fulfilled all the other prophecies concerning his rejection, death and burial. However, God did not abandon Jesus, but raised him up. Many witnesses could tell of their seeing the resurrected Lord. So, Paul and Barnabas were delivering the message of the coming of the Holy One promised by God. The fact that Jesus' body was raised and did not stay in the tomb set him apart above David as God's promised Messiah (Isaiah 55:3; Psalms 16:10). Through him, then, remission of sins was made available to all who would obey him. The apostle warned them not to fulfill the prophecy of Habakkuk 1:5 which said some would reject the one God had clearly approved by great signs (Acts 13:26-41).