After Paul’s dramatic encounter of spiritual warfare with Elymas the magician and then the wonderful conversion of Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, Paul and his companions sailed away from Paphos in Acts 13:13, arriving at Perga in Pamphylia. Of no small significance, John Mark left their mission and returned to Jerusalem. The remaining missionaries pressed on to Antioch in Pisidia.
In Antioch, Paul and his companions entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day. After the rulers read to the people from the Law and the Prophets, they invited Paul and the others to share a word of encouragement with the gathered assembly. Assimilating more and more into a role of prominent leadership, Paul took the initiative to stand and address the people.
Paul gestured to the people (both Jews and God-fearers) and asked them to intently listen to his message. He then preached to them “the God of this people Israel,” reminding them how God had chosen the patriarchs out of all the people on the earth and how He had greatly multiplied the people of Jacob while enslaved in Egypt. This same God delivered the Israelites, leading them out of slavery with an uplifted arm.
Despite the rampant rebellion of the people, God patiently carried these people in safety in the wilderness for 40 years. And as He had promised, He provided to them the land of Canaan as an inheritance, accomplishing this by destroying before them the 7 nations that occupied the land. From the calling of the patriarchs to the conquest of the land took about 450 years. But God did not leave them to be on their own in Canaan – He continually gave them judges all the way up to Samuel the prophet to reprove them of their sinful disobedience.
Even then, the people rebelled and demanded a king. God obliged, giving them Saul the Benjaminite who reigned as king over them for 40 years. But God took the kingdom away from unfaithful Saul, instead raising up David the son of Jesse as king, a man who “will do all my will” (Acts 13:22). Through David’s lineage, God graciously brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just as He had promised them … the direct revelation of God to His people through His Son, Jesus.
Before Jesus entered this world, putting on human flesh, John the Baptist immediately preceded Him, proclaiming a bold message of repentance accompanied by baptism: this he declared to all the people of Israel. Shortly before John “was finishing his course,” referring to his subsequent martyrdom at the hands of Herod, John famously stated that in case anyone incorrectly thought he was the Promised One, that the One coming after him was so much greater than him that he was not even worthy to unlatch the sandals of such a divinely sent one.
Paul’s sermon certainly was not done at this point, but this is where we finished the teaching, setting the stage for a second follow-up teaching that will address the second half of Paul’s formidable sermon in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. You can listen to this teaching on Acts 13:13-25 by clicking on the following link: Jesus As Presented By God