32 “And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, 33 and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus:

‘You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.[h]’

34 For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, ‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’[i] 35 Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’[j] 36 This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. 37 No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

38 [k]“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do. 40 Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,

41 ‘Look, you mockers,
    be amazed and die!
For I am doing something in your own day,
    something you wouldn’t believe
    even if someone told you about it.’[l]”

Acts 13:32-41 (NLT) 中文

First Missionary Journey

Paul and Barnabas are on the first missionary journey of the church, sent out by the church at Antioch; but ultimately sent out by the Holy Spirit. They’re now in Perga. John (Mark) has left them. Paul is asked to teach from the scriptures that were shared in the synagogue service (church). First he taught history. Now he switches to preaching Jesus as Messiah. Here he concludes with OT proof Jesus is Messiah.

Still about the resurrection

The previous post pointed out that Paul’s message was focused on the resurrection. Now, as he provides proof from the OT in today’s, the focus remains on the resurrection. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:14, emphasizes the same thing saying to them (and to us), “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain.”

Heed the call

Paul wraps up with a kind of “altar call” and challenges his hearers to consider the Word of God and respond. Don’t be like those the prophets prophesied about who reject the truth of Messiah. We’ll see in tomorrow’s passage how they respond and a major shift in Paul’s focus.

RЯeflection

• Have you heeded the call to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus as the Christ, your Savior? This is our only way to be, “made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.” Something that we cannot do by our own good works. For more about salvation click here. Make your 911 call to Jesus.