Bible in Acts 13, Paul

Bible

In Acts 13, Paul delivers one of his most powerful sermons. Speaking to a Jewish audience in a synagogue, Paul reminds his listeners first of their own faith. Paul refers explicitly to the Old Testament: "The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance," (Acts 13:17-19). Here, Paul establishes trust with his audience, endearing them so that they may be ready to receive the reality of Christ as a continuation of their beliefs. This is important: Paul does not expect the Jews to abandon their faith for a new God. Instead, Paul understands that Jesus fulfilled the covenant of God outlined clearly in the Old Testament. He states, "From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised...he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie," (Acts 13: 23; 25). Paul does, however, ask that the Jews be willing to take an important step in their spiritual development: to place faith in Christ above all, including the old laws that have governed Jewish life. To persuade his audience in the sermon, Paul again returns to his knowledge of the Old Testament. Paul points out, "The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed," (Acts 13: 27-28). Paul presents the reality of Jesus in terms the Jews can understand and relate to, thereby building trust. He discusses the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in frank terms. Finally, Paul presents the crux of Jesus' life: dying for the sins of humanity. "I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses," (Acts 13:38-39).

Peter also delivers powerful sermons in the book of Acts. Like Paul, Peter addresses his sermon in Acts 2 to a Jewish audience. There are some key differences between Peter's sermon in Acts 2 and Paul's in Acts 13. Peter uses the miracles of Jesus as a rhetorical device, as a means to prove the power of Christ and to urge his listeners to pay attention. Paul relies more heavily on the faith of the Jews in the laws of Moses, although Peter does mention the prophet Joel and notes, "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people," (Acts 2:17). Therefore, both Peter and Paul show that Jesus Christ is a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know," (Acts 2:22). Like Paul, Peter also mentions the death of Christ as being a devastating but integral part of that Biblical prophesy. Peter invokes the king of Jews, David, in his sermon. He claims that David was "a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ," (Acts 2:30).