BIBLE IN TEN

Acts 13:32

Thursday, 12 January 2023
 
“And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers.  Acts 13:32
 
Paul just referred to the fact that Jesus was seen for many days after His resurrection and that the apostles have become His witnesses to the people. With that, he now continues, saying, “And we declare to you glad tidings.”
 
The words literally mean, “And we preached to you the gospel” as was seen, for example, in Acts 14:21 and elsewhere. The gospel is the good news, and it is “that promise which was made to the fathers.”
 
Of these words, Barnes says, “The promise here refers to all that had been spoken in the Old Testament respecting the advent, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ.”
 
This is certainly not merely speaking of the “fathers” as noted in verse 13:17 which includes those to the time of the captivity in Egypt. Rather, it is inclusive of any of the faithful line of people who anticipated the Messiah and from whom the people of Israel descended. This is certain, for two main reasons. The first is that Paul will speak of the deity of Christ, the incorruptibility of Jesus, the resurrection of the Lord, the forgiveness of sins, etc.
 
These things may have been hinted at simply because of how the Lord structured both the recorded history of the world in His word as well as how He structured the rites and rituals found in the Levitical portion of the law, but to clearly demonstrate them, Paul will cite David in the Psalms, Isaiah, Habakkuk, etc.
 
What was promised in veiled terms to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and so forth became more and more specific through the later prophetic utterances. Eventually, the word carried so much specificity in it that when Jesus came, it should have been evident to Israel that He was what those prophecies were pointing to – He and none other. This is now what Paul proclaims to those in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia.
 
Life application: It is true that the Bible says so many things that anyone can make up almost anything from its pages and create a false religion or doctrine from it. That has happened from the very beginning (see the book of Galatians, for example, to see this even in Paul’s time), and it continues to this day.
 
Many false religions began in recent history that are based on a manipulation of Scripture. Even within the very recent past, this is so. David Koresh used Scripture to identify himself as “the Lamb of God” spoken of in Revelation. The problem with this rests on the fact that those who followed such people 1) do not know Scripture well enough to avoid such falsity, and 2) remain unwilling to check out what Scripture says to determine if what they are being told aligns with what the Bible proclaims.
 
Be sure to know the Bible well enough to avoid being drawn into such traps when they come before you. But more, be sure to tell others to do this as well. Continuously speak of the importance of knowing Scripture personally. One’s knowledge of the word is what will keep him on the straight path concerning what God has done, is doing, and will do for His people. God is telling us the story of Jesus Christ. Let us not get diverted from that basic and all-important point.
 
O God, thank You for Your word. It is there to keep us from the traps and snares set before us and to lead us to the true and right understanding of who Jesus is. Give us both the wisdom and the desire to hold it closely, read it daily, and to contemplate its riches always. Thank You, O God, for this precious and sacred word. Amen.

Acts 13:31

Wednesday, 11 January 2023
 
“He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. Acts 13:31
 
The last verse contained the most wonderful words ever recorded. Paul had told those in the synagogue, “But God raised Him from the dead.” Wonderful words of victory, indeed! Now, he continues with what occurred after that, saying, “He was seen for many days.”
 
Paul bears conviction in his words. Even though he did not personally share in the events he now conveys to those in the synagogue, he had seen the risen Lord and knew that what he had been told by those who saw Jesus after the resurrection was true. The “many days” Paul refers to is explicitly stated by Luke as he opened the book of Acts –
 
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:1-3
 
Paul next states who those were who were blessed to share in these post-resurrection events, saying that it was “by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem.”
 
Paul’s words focus on the apostles. It is true that the women saw Him immediately after the resurrection and many others did as well. In fact, Paul expands on these events in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 –
 
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”
 
As these things are stated as a fact in 1 Corinthians, one might wonder why he focuses on “those who came up with Him from Galilee.” The answer is found in this same paragraph –
 
“Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.”  Acts 13:26-29
 
The events that occurred in the rejection and crucifixion were led by those in Jerusalem and by the rulers of the nation. But they were the stewards of the law. As they chose to reject the One who had fulfilled their law and enacted a New Covenant, Christ revealed Himself after the resurrection to those who had been appointed to administer this New Covenant. It is the same theme found throughout Scripture: Law vs. Grace.
 
Jerusalem, emblematic of the law, was now to be replaced by a new form of worship –
 
“The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’21 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’” John 4:19-24
 
This new form of worship was to enter not merely as a physical location (meaning at a temple in Jerusalem), and yet it was to include a kingdom, nonetheless. In Luke 22, Jesus participated in the Passover. There it notes that His twelve apostles were with Him (Luke 22:14). Later in the chapter, it says –
 
“But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:28-30
 
It is these (minus Judas who hung himself) that Paul focuses on in his words to those in the synagogue. The apostles had a message to convey. As for the audience now, they were of Israel, and they had a choice to make, just as those in Jerusalem and their rules had. It is these who were appointed to herald this New Covenant, and “who are His witnesses to the people.”
 
Someone had to tell what Christ Jesus had done. Those in Jerusalem rejected Him, but those who continued with Him in His trials did not. They would be the ones to judge Israel. As for the direction Paul and those with him were set to take, that will be referred to later in this chapter, specifically in verse 13:47.
 
Life application: There is no contradiction in the idea of those who come to Jesus, worshipping in spirit and truth while at the same time a kingdom that will be judged by the twelve apostles will also be set up. The nation of Israel is not the entirety of what God is doing. The New Covenant allows for the inclusion of Gentiles, but the nation of Israel still has messianic prophecies that are to be fulfilled in the millennium.
 
As such, there is one New Covenant that is based upon a single gospel. How God structures things within that New Covenant is entirely different than what existed under the Law of Moses. Just because Israel will be at the head of the nations someday, that has no bearing on how the gospel is now received. Any who come to Christ, Jew or Gentile, must do so through faith in what He has done, as is revealed in the gospel mentioned in 1st Corinthians 15 above. As Paul says in that same chapter while speaking of Peter and the others, “Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed” (1 Corinthians 15:11).
 
Hear the gospel! Accept what it says through faith! Believe and be saved! Call on Jesus today!
 
Glorious Heavenly Father, how good it is that You have opened the door for the whole world to be saved through the work of Jesus Christ. Those who were never under law are brought into the commonwealth of Israel. And those of Israel who believe are brought out from under the law. All are saved by Your grace through faith in the finished, final, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You for the gospel, O God! Amen. 
 

Acts 13:30

Tuesday, 10 January 2023
 
But God raised Him from the dead. Acts 13:30
 
Paul has been speaking on the Sabbath to the Jews in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia. He just spoke of the fulfillment of all that was written concerning Jesus, at which time they “took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.” But that is not the end of Paul’s speech. Rather, those words lead to his next thought, the greatest words ever spoken, saying, “But God raised Him from the dead.”
 
Paul first and foremost proclaims this because of what it signifies about Jesus Christ. The wages of sin is death. Though this is stated by Paul in Romans, it is not something foreign to the Hebrew scriptures. It is implied in the Lord’s words to Adam at the very beginning –
 
“Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16, 17
 
God could have just not put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden. Or He could have allowed the man to eat of it. If there was something inherently wrong with the fruit of the tree that would negatively affect the man, He could have changed either the fruit or the man to make it acceptable to eat.
 
But these things were not the issue at all. The issue was obedience to the Lord’s command. In other words, the issue was the giving of law. God gave Adam a command. In violating that command, death would result. If the law had not been given, nothing would have happened to the man. The same is true with any other tree. God could have made a list of the trees man could eat and which ones he could not eat.
 
Acceptable:
Durian
Pomegranate
Apple
Fig (but only June 6th through August 27th)
 
Unacceptable:
Cherry
Star Fruit
Fig (from August 28th to June 5th)
Jack Fruit
 
Violating the law, not the nature of the fruit itself, is what brings death. In eating the fruit, which is contrary to the law, the disobedient act calls for the set punishment to be rendered. Jesus was under the Law of Moses, the Lord’s set standard for Israel. In that law, a provision is made for absolute obedience to bring life. That is found in Leviticus 18 –
 
“You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 18:5
 
It is said by various scholars that Leviticus 11:44 contains the central theme of the book of Leviticus, “...you shall be holy; for I am holy.” This is an acceptable postulation. With that in mind, Leviticus 18:5 certainly contains the main logical reason for it.
 
It is such an important verse, that it is what is revealed in the thought of Genesis 2 & 3, and it is substantially repeated several times in both the Old and New Testaments. In Genesis 2, as noted above, the Lord gave a command which promised death if disobeyed. The implication then is that life would result through obedience.
 
In Genesis 3, because of man’s disobedience to the Lord’s law, access to the tree of life, by which man could live forever, was denied. Death entered the world. In Leviticus 18:5, a promise is made that through obedience to the Law of Moses, the man shall live. Many pass this off as meaning “live happily,” have a “higher life,” possess “true life,” etc. This is not at all what is being relayed here. It is a promise that if a man keeps the requirements of the law, he will live and not die. On the flip side, if one does not keep the requirements of the law, he will die and not live.
 
The Lord dwelt among Israel. Access to Him was restricted because of the sin-nature of man, but also because of the law itself. However, in fulfillment of the law, access would naturally be granted once again. It could not be otherwise. The law is given to give life. If life is promised, then it must be granted.
 
If one doesn’t die, then he continues to live. If he lives forever, then he has eternal life. This is the implication of the words, and it is solidified by the using of a definite article in front of the word “man.” The text actually doesn’t say “if a man does.” It says, “if the man does.” This verse anticipates Christ. He is the Man who, in fact, did keep the ordinances and judgments of the Lord. Thus, God raised Him from the dead. He now possesses eternal life.
 
This is because in His fulfillment of the law, the law was made obsolete. It was annulled and set aside. As the law is done away with, there is nothing to ever bring about death again.
 
This is exactly explained in the book of Romans and elsewhere in the New Testament as well. Christ fulfilled the law, and thus the law is fulfilled. In Him, life is granted. If you are looking for access to restored paradise, and to the Tree of Life, you need to look no further than Jesus Christ. He is “The Man who did.”
 
Nehemiah 9:29 refers to Leviticus 18:5 after the people’s return from the punishment of exile. Ezekiel 20 repeats it three times showing that failure to keep the Lord’s law is what resulted in that punishment. Paul then cites the same verse twice, in Romans 10:5, and in Galatians 3:12 to show that Christ, who fulfilled the Law of Moses, is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes in Him. It is faith in His completion of this law that grants eternal life. He did the work; we must do the believing.
 
The second point that Paul is making in his words to the synagogue is the contrast between Israel’s rulers and God. Paul just said in verse 13:27 that “those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, ... did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets.” Now, in verse 13:30, Paul says that “God raised Him from the dead.”
 
The contrast is clear. The stewards of the law did not know their Messiah, but God knew Him. And more, those stewards of the law obviously did not know the law, but Jesus did. And, in turn, they then did not know the Giver of that law, but Jesus did. This is all to be understood from Paul’s words to those at the synagogue, and thus to us who are reading the recorded words.
 
Life application: It is violating God’s law that brings about death. And the more law that is given, the more burdensome the weight is. Take the example above concerning the fruit. That is but a few of the fruits in the world. Suppose the list included every fruit on the planet and it was equally long in what was acceptable and what was unacceptable. Any slip-up would be a violation of the law.
 
Now suppose that the restrictions for the fig about certain times of the year making the fruit acceptable or unacceptable applied to every fruit. And more, each fruit had a different set of days that were ok or that were forbidden. Imagine the weight of the law! And now, let us add in a set time of the day when each fruit cannot be eaten. The burden increases with each law added. This is what Paul is telling the people in Galatians 3:19. The law “was added because of transgressions.” Later, he says that “the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24).
 
If all men fell in Adam because of one law, imagine the burden of meeting God’s perfect standard! Now consider the magnitude of what the words “But God raised Him from the dead” mean! Jesus! God’s grace is found in the giving of Jesus for our sins. He prevailed over the huge burden of the law. Why would any person on this planet want to go back under the Law of Moses where only death, condemnation, and eternal separation from God are found? Let us consider carefully where we will hang our hats. Let us come to God through Jesus Christ our Lord because God raised HIM from the dead!
 
Lord God, thank You for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Hallelujah and Amen.
 

Acts 13:29

Monday, 9 January 2023
 
“Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. Acts 13:29
 
In the previous verse, Paul noted that the rulers of Israel asked Pilate to have Jesus put to death even though they found no cause for death in Him. Paul now continues with, “Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him.”
 
This is an all-encompassing statement of what occurred. It includes Christ’s rejection by the rulers, His being apprehended, tried, beaten, handed over to Pilate, scourged, offered gall, crucified, mocked, given sour wine, and so on. The Scriptures are filled with hints of these things. And even though some of them were written about the trials or afflictions of others, such as David, they bear a dual fulfillment in anticipation of Christ Jesus.
 
Of the words “all that was written,” Bengel rightly says, “They could do no more (nothing beyond what was written). In Jesus all things that were written were fulfilled.” All that was done to Jesus is just what was prophesied about Him. Without leaving anything out, and without their adding anything not recorded, what happened to Christ Jesus is the exacting fulfillment of what was written beforehand. After that, Paul says, “they took Him down from the tree.”
 
This was approved by Pilate once it was confirmed that Jesus was dead. The body was taken down by Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:46). Nicodemus joined him (John 19:39) and together they prepared the body for burial according to the custom of the Jews. After this, Paul says, “and laid Him in a tomb.”
 
This was also accomplished by Joseph and Nicodemus –
 
“Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.” John 19:41, 42
 
Even these actions were prophesied in advance. These things, recorded in the four gospels, exactly fulfill a vast array of prophecies found in Scripture. Paul carefully detailed all of this to ensure that those who heard it would be fully aware of things they may not have heard before. From there, it would be their responsibility to check out what was said. If they simply dismissed his words, or if they were just too lazy to determine if what he said was true, the responsibility for their failure would rest solely with them.
 
Life application: There are many who dismiss the things written about Jesus as fables, but it is beyond credulity to think that the Scriptures that were maintained and built upon for well over a thousand years were somehow not speaking of what the gospels later detail. Everything was written precisely and with the minutest detail to let Israel, and now us, know that Jesus Christ is the exacting fulfillment of everything that was written.
 
Each person is expected to check these things out. In accepting the word is what it claims to be, we should then be prepared to defend it and explain what we have learned. There are many who will simply refuse to believe. There are also people who have been told the stories aren’t true, but who are curious to check them out anyway. It might be you who they come to to start that process, so be ready! Let us share all we can about this wonderful story concerning what God has done in the sending of Jesus to bring us back to Himself.
 
Thank You, Lord God, for the precision of Your word. It is so carefully structured and meticulously detailed that we have every assurance that Jesus is truly the Christ. And through tears of joy in our confidence of this fact, help us to share the good news with others as well. Jesus! Jesus has come! Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts 13:28

Sunday, 8 January 2023
 
“And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Acts 13:28
 
The previous verse contained Paul’s continuing words concerning Jesus, noting that those in Jerusalem and their rulers fulfilled Scripture in condemning Jesus. With that, Paul continues, saying, “And though they found no cause for death in Him.”
 
The verb is an aorist participle, and the word “though” is not in the Greek. The words are more closely rendered, “And having found no cause of death.” Jesus was put on trial in a manner that was in violation of the Law of Moses as well as the later codes of the Jewish people. In fact, it has been noted that as many as eighteen violations of law occurred during His trial. Despite even having false witnesses presented, there was nothing found in Him that was worthy of condemning Him. Even a charge that He committed blasphemy was completely subjective and could not in any way align with the Law of Moses’ statutes and judgments.
 
Further, this charge of blasphemy could not stand the scrutiny of Pilate. Therefore, they went to him with a different charge, pitting Jesus against the Roman authority and claiming His actions were seditious, something the gospel records completely refute. Despite all of this, Paul simply states that “they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.”
 
Jesus was a threat to the leadership of Israel. It was quite apparent that He was approved of God, and they knew He was who He claimed to be. This is not explicitly stated in the gospels, but it is perfectly evident at every turn of a page. They, however, were not looking to cede their power, status, and authority to anyone and they did everything in their power to frustrate Jesus’ work every step of the way.
 
Eventually, Jesus became such a threat to their positions within the nation that they illegally set about to have Him done away with. In this, they had no authority to put Him to death and so they appealed to Pilate to do so. Despite Pilate not desiring to be a part of the matter, the rulers of Israel manipulated him to the point that he conceded to allow the execution of Jesus.
 
Of the words of this verse, Charles Ellicott does a magnificent job of tying the entire scenario of what Paul says together with references from the gospels –
 
“And though they found no cause of death in him.—Technically, the Sanhedrin had condemned our Lord on the charge of blasphemy (Matthew 26:66), but they had been unable to prove the charge by any adequate evidence (Matthew 26:60), and finally condemned him by extorting words from His own lips. When they came before Pilate they shrank at first from urging that accusation, and contented themselves with stating in general terms that they had condemned Him as a malefactor (John 18:30); though afterwards, as if seeking to terrify the wavering governor, they added that by their law He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of God (John 19:7), and that by making Himself a king He spake against the emperor (John 19:12).”
 
Life application: Despite all that occurred in the illegal trial of Jesus, the death of Jesus was preordained by God. And more, John confirms that even the high priest of Israel prophesied of this fact –
 
And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” John 11:49-52
 
The death of Jesus was necessary for the people of the world to be reconciled to God. However, this does not in any way mitigate the crimes committed by the Jewish leaders. They were responsible for their actions which were contrary to the law of God, despite the overall matter being in accord with the will of God.
 
This should give us comfort when we see wrongs committed against Christians, or even if they are committed against us because we are Christians. God’s ultimate purposes are being met, even through our trials, whether the events are contrary to God’s law or not.
As an example, a missionary may be martyred for his faith by a bunch of Hindus. This is against the law of God and those Hindus will be punished for what they have done if they fail to come to Christ. However, many may see the death of this missionary and convert to Christianity, maybe even one of the perpetrators. The expansion of God’s kingdom has occurred, and His ultimate will for this to come about has been met, even though the details were contrary to His law.
This is what happened with Joseph when he was sold by his brothers to Egypt, and it is something that occurs elsewhere in the Bible. God takes the wrongdoings of man, and He turns them into wonderful things that ultimately bring Him great glory. So, when evil comes upon you or others, trust that God is in control, and He is working out something far greater than any of us could ever imagine.
 
Lord God, how grateful we are to know that You are in total control of all things. We need not worry one iota about what lies ahead because we know that through good or bad or life or death, our salvation and eternal destiny are set because of what Jesus has done for us. Thank You, O God, for Your kind hand upon our eternal destiny. Amen.
 

Acts 13:27

Saturday, 7 January 2023
 
“For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. Acts 13:27
 
Paul just mentioned that the word of salvation had been sent to his people, the sons of the family of Abraham, and to those among them who feared God. Now Paul explains the purpose of the mission going forth, beginning with, “For those who dwell in Jerusalem.”
 
Paul brings the attention of the matter back to where it began. Jerusalem was the seat of power in Israel. It was where the temple was, where the high priest ministered, where the oracles of God and the genealogical records were maintained, and so on. It is the focal point of God’s dealing with the people, even if events in Jesus’ ministry occurred elsewhere in the land. Paul next says, “and their rulers.”
 
The rulers of the land determine its direction. This is a precept found both implicitly and explicitly throughout Scripture. All people are individually responsible for their actions, but the rulers of a land direct how the land, meaning the nation of the land, will be determined in the eyes of the Lord. In the case of Jerusalem, being the seat of power, what occurred there was because of what the rulers determined. In the case of their Messiah, Paul continues, saying, “because they did not know Him.”
 
This does not mean:
 
1) That they didn’t know who Jesus was as an individual. The gospels are replete with the rulers’ interactions with Him. There was certainly not a ruler in Jerusalem who didn’t know who He was.
 
2) That they didn’t know His claim to be the Messiah. He told them, but they didn’t listen (John 10:25). Many of the people either proclaimed Him the Christ or learned through interacting with Him that He was the Christ.
 
3) That they didn’t have sufficient evidence that He was the Christ. He had performed many miracles, fulfilled ancient prophecies, and walked in sinless perfection before them.
 
In saying that they did not know Him, it means that they willingly failed to recognize Him for who He truly is. He even said this explicitly in John 10:40, saying, “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” And more, Paul demonstrates that they were wholly without excuse in this, saying, “nor even the voices of the Prophets.”
 
Being the stewards of the oracles of God, they had direct access to every prophecy ever recorded in their Scriptures. These were both exacting and readily available to them. In fact, when Herod wanted to know where the Christ would be born, this is exactly what He did –
 
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.5 So they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:6 “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;For out of you shall come a RulerWho will shepherd My people Israel.”’” Matthew 2:3-6
 
As such, these rulers of Jerusalem were completely without excuse. Again, Jesus told them this explicitly in John 5 –
 
“Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” John 5:45, 46
 
And again, not only did they have the voice of the prophets, but he notes that they were the prophets “which are read every Sabbath.” Rather, the verb is a present participle. They “are being read every Sabbath.” The process continues even to this day.
 
It wasn’t as if the oracles of God were sequestered away and taken out only when a person claimed to be the Messiah, at which time the sages poured over the Scriptures hoping to remember what they said and where to find out the needed details to confirm or disprove a claim. Rather, they were read every Sabbath in synagogues throughout the land and even throughout the dispersion, as evidenced by Paul’s commenting on a Sabbath day reading now in the synagogue in Pisidia of Antioch.
 
With this marked stain upon those in Jerusalem who had personally seen, interacted with, and rejected their Messiah, Paul next says that they “have fulfilled them in condemning Him.” This is the height of irony. The very people who had the oracles of God before them, and who had interacted with the living fulfillment of those oracles, rejected Him and condemned Him. Paul says that they were so blind to their own Scriptures that they could not even see what was plainly before them.
 
Life application: The point of Paul’s words is that those in the synagogue were about to be on a sort of trial, just like those in Jerusalem. They were Jews, they had the oracles of God laid out before them, and they had eyewitness testimony of who Jesus is and what He did while among the people. And more, the oracles before them in the synagogue not only told of the things that transpired up until the time of Jesus’ rejection and crucifixion, but they also even told of those things.
 
In other words, when Paul finishes, they would be just as responsible for their acceptance or rejection of Jesus as were the leaders of Israel who were in Jerusalem. And that same type of trial continues to this day.
 
The word of God contains the same message today that it did two thousand years ago. We have the exact same witness and testimony that those in the synagogue in Pisidia of Antioch had because we have Luke’s record of it. We also have the rest of the New Testament now written and on permanent record before us.
 
And yet, despite it being read in churches all over the world, many are just as blinded to what it says as the Jews in the synagogue Paul is speaking to. They open up the word, read what it says, and say something ridiculous like, “Jesus is not God.” Or they might say, “Jesus is loving and love wins, we will ordain a homosexual to be a leader over us.”
 
The very oracles that tell us what God expects of us are ignored, manipulated, or dismissed as archaic writings with no bearing on how we should conduct our affairs before God now. Those with such attitudes will receive their just condemnation. Let us hold the word close to our lives, live in accord with its precepts, and be willing to never waffle in our convictions concerning what it proclaims. God has spoken. Let us consider this soberly.
 
Lord God, help us to accept Your word for exactly what it is, Your unchanging, infallible, and complete revelation to us concerning the redemption of mankind. May we never trifle with it. Instead, help us to hold it in the highest reverence while we walk in Your presence. It is our light and our guide to return us to You. Thank You for Your precious word. Amen.
 

Acts 13:26

Friday, 6 January 2023
 
“Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. Acts 13:26
 
Paul had just spoken of John the Baptist’s denial of being the Messiah, instead pointing the people of Israel to the One who was coming after him. Paul now proclaims that this One has come. His words begin with, “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham,”
 
The words are surprisingly widely translated, dividing the three designations into two or three categories. Literally, the words read, “Men, brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham.” This is probably how Paul intended. He is speaking to the men of the synagogue. He refers to them next as brothers. And then, he notes their lineage being traced back to Abraham as a particular point of note because of what he will say in verse 13:32 concerning the promise made to the fathers, a promise that first came to Abraham.
 
He is carefully defining them so that they pay heed to the details of what he will say. The importance of heeding or not heeding will make all the difference in their eternal future. Therefore, he speaks precisely so that they will be without excuse in their decision concerning the matter presented. Next, he adds another category, saying, “and those among you who fear God.”
 
An important question arises here: Is this another descriptor of those he just addressed or is it a separate category altogether? In other words, is this a way of saying, “You sons of Abraham who fear God,” or is it “and anyone who is not a son of Abraham but who fears God” as in verse 13:16? Notice the difference between the two verses:
 
13:16 – and those fearing God
13:26 – and those among you fearing God
 
The reason this is important is that these are words of warning to his people as much as they are words heralding the good news concerning Jesus. The two are actually inseparable. To reject the good news will lead to being handed the results of that rejection.
 
The confusion continues with the next words to some degree. They say, “to you the word of this salvation has been sent.” In this, the words are directed to whoever is hearing, be it Jew or Gentile. However, some manuscripts say, “to us.”
 
In this, it may or may not change the meaning. It still could mean that God’s salvation has been sent to both categories, but it also may be that he is saying that God’s salvation was sent to the literal descendants of Abraham who fear God as opposed to Abraham’s literal descendants and those Gentiles who fear God as well.
 
In Acts 10:2, the same term is used when referring to Cornelius. He was a man “that feared God.” Because of this, it is hard to be dogmatic, but even if it extends to proselytes of the gate who are in attendance, the result will ultimately remain unchanged. If those proselytes were to reject the message of Paul and continue with observance of Moses, they would – henceforth – be separated from what God is doing in Christ.
 
This is to be seen quite clearly in verses 13:38 & 39 –
 
“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
 
Whether Paul’s words include the proselytes of the gate, or whether they are solely directed to the Jews at this point, an absolute distinction is made between “everyone who believes” and “the law of Moses.” To follow the law will mean that you are not included in everyone who believes. That then means no justification and thus eternal separation from God. This is because, as Paul says in Galatians –
 
“...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16
 
&
 
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’ 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’” Galatians 3:10-12
 
Life application: Faith in Jesus Christ saves. Nothing else will do.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to be people of faith, trusting in the merits of Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. And then, Lord, help us to be faithful people, working out our salvation in righteousness and holiness all our days. May our walk be in accord with the honor bestowed upon us when we first believed. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Acts 13:25

Thursday, 5 January 2023
 
“And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’ Acts 13:25
 
The previous verse referred to John’s preaching a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Paul continues now with, “And as John was finishing his course.”
 
Paul uses the term dromos or “course” for the first time in Scripture. It signifies a racetrack where runners on foot competed in the Greek games of old. It will only be seen again in Acts 20:24 and 2 Timothy 4:7, both of which give us the same sense as he now uses –
 
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
 
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:6, 7
 
Paul equated the ministry of John the Baptist to such a course and noted that as he was coming to the end of it, “he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He.’”
 
Paul again uses a new word, huponoeó. Literally, it signifies “to think under” and thus privately. As such, it means to suppose or conjecture. The people were thinking privately about who John might be. He was aware of it and asked them to consider what he would reveal. As for what Paul has said, his words of the previous verse and this one now follow the narrative of Luke 3 closely. In the previous verse, it mentioned the preaching of repentance to Israel. That was seen in Luke 3:3. It continued with instruction after that. Then, it next says –
 
“Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not.” Luke 3:15
 
The question was proffered. From there, John’s denial of being the Messiah is not explicitly spoken in the same manner that Paul speaks to those in the synagogue. Rather it is implied in John’s response to the people’s question which Paul states as, “But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.”
 
Rather, the word is “sandal” in the singular. John is saying that he was unworthy to undo even a single sandal on the feet of the Messiah, much less both of them. This follows Luke’s narrative –
 
“Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.’” Luke 3:15-17
 
Untying the feet of one’s master would have been the most menial of all tasks. As today, it would be considered degrading to be told to remove the shoes of someone as he sat and relaxed. John, however, knew that even such a lowly assignment was above his right to perform. It is a surprising statement when considering Jesus’ words to the people –
 
“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written:‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,Who will prepare Your way before You.’28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:26-28
 
John was highlighted by Jesus in this manner and yet he knew his unworthy state before the Lord. It makes the rest of the narrative of Israel’s interactions with Jesus all the more relevant and striking. Their rejection of John was like their rejection of all the prophets who came before him. Their rejection of Jesus, of whom all those prophets spoke, was intolerable and inexcusable.
 
Life application: In considering our position in relation to Jesus, there is a dichotomy that needs to be considered. He has given His life for us and there is a bond of closeness that arises from that where we can speak to Him now in the most intimate way. He is nearer to us than any blood relative and He should be dearer to us than our own spouse or children.
 
And yet, we must also consider the absolute magnificence, splendor, and holiness of the Lord as well. We stand before the perfection of God when we stand before the Lord Jesus. He is our Creator, Sustainer, and continued life. Our conduct before Him should be that of reverential fear and always conducting our lives in a circumspect manner.
 
Even if those who are “least in the kingdom of God” are greater than John the Baptist, we are no more worthy than he was to untie the strap of one of His sandals. Let us remember this and share our lives and intimate thoughts with Him as our nearest and truest love, and yet let us honor Him with the due respect that is owed to our God. All glory to Jesus, our All in all.
 
Glorious Lord Jesus, we stand in awe of You. We were created by You, we exist because You allow it to be so, and yet You came to die for us so that we could be reconciled to God through You. How great You are. How magnificent, splendid, and beautiful! Glory to You in the highest, Lord Jesus. Amen.
 

Acts 13:24

Wednesday, 4 January 2023
 
“after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Acts 13:24
 
Paul is in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia. He has been addressing those gathered on the Sabbath, telling them about God’s plan of salvation. In the previous verse, he specifically introduced Jesus as the Savior. He now notes that Jesus’ ministry began “after John had first preached.”
 
This is referring to John’s preaching which immediately preceded the ministry of Jesus. It was not that John preached before the coming of Jesus at His birth, but before the designated time for His ministry to begin.
 
The significance of this was that John didn’t preach like the other prophets as if the Messiah was coming at some unstated point in the future. Rather, his words indicated that the Messiah was right at hand and ready to appear. This was, as Paul continues to note, “before His coming.” The Greek literally reads “before the face of His entrance.”
 
It is a Hebrew expression indicating an appearance, the face representing the person’s presence. In this, a new word is used, eisodos. It is essentially the opposite of exodus. It indicates an entrance and extends to a means or place of entrance. Because Paul is connecting John’s ministry to that of the coming of the Messiah, he is indicating that the two events are inextricably linked. The herald had come and then the One he proclaimed had immediately followed. As for John, his proclamation was “the baptism of repentance.”
 
The meaning is that John called the people to repent. In his calling, those who agreed with his proposition were then baptized to outwardly acknowledge the inner change that had taken place. It was a symbolic act of repentance. The word “repent” must be defined to understand what is being said –
 
“A word compounded of the preposition μετά, after, with; and the verb νοέω, to perceive, and to think, as the result of perceiving or observing. In this compound the preposition combines the two meanings of time and change, which may be denoted by after and different; so that the whole compound means to think differently after. Μετάνοια (repentance) is therefore, primarily, an after-thought, different from the former thought; then, a change of mind which issues in regret and in change of conduct. These latter ideas, however, have been imported into the word by scriptural usage, and do not lie in it etymologically nor by primary usage. Repentance, then, has been rightly defined as ‘Such a virtuous alteration of the mind and purpose as begets a like virtuous change in the life and practice.’ Sorrow is not, as is popularly conceived, the primary nor the prominent notion of the word. Paul distinguishes between sorrow (λύπη) and repentance (μετάνοια), and puts the one as the outcome of the other. ‘Godly sorrow worketh repentance’ (2 Corinthians 7:10).” Vincent’s Word Studies
 
It was this changing of the mind that John was called to proclaim. The Messiah was soon to appear and there was to be a national preparing for His arrival –
 
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:“Prepare the way of the Lord;Make His paths straight.”’” Matthew 3:1-3
 
This call for the people to change their minds was “to all the people of Israel.” Jesus came to the people of Israel. His ministry was to the nation of Israel. No Gentiles were a part of the nation. He had come to fulfill the law and then initiate a New Covenant. This covenant was to be “with the House of Israel and with the house of Judah” as stated in Jeremiah 31:31.
 
As such, what Paul is conveying to those at the synagogue is a restating of the process of preparation for Israel to enter into this New Covenant based on their lives under the Law of Moses. As the Gentiles were never under the law of Moses, what Paul says here does not apply to them. It is simply a restating of the facts as they occurred just as the Messiah was ready to come forth. That was prophesied by the prophet Malachi –
 
“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,With the statutes and judgments.5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophetBefore the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.6 And he will turnThe hearts of the fathers to the children,And the hearts of the children to their fathers,Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:4-6
 
Commentaries quite often shove Paul’s words here in Acts 13 into their “Gentile” theology concerning entry into the New Covenant, meaning “how to be saved.” But this is entirely inappropriate. Christ has come. And more, the Law of Moses was never in effect for any Gentile at any time or place in human history. The entrance of Gentiles into the New Covenant was anticipated by Isaiah, and it is something that was only available after the work of Christ was accomplished –
 
“And now the Lord says,Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,To bring Jacob back to Him,So that Israel is gathered to Him(For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,And My God shall be My strength),6 Indeed He says,‘It is too small a thing that You should be My ServantTo raise up the tribes of Jacob,And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:5, 6
 
Israel had to repent because they were under the law. To be brought out of that state, they needed to be in the right condition for that to occur. Now, with Christ’s work complete, salvation is solely by faith in what He has accomplished.
 
Life application: Remember the basics of the gospel –
 
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3:4
 
By faith in this message, one is saved. At that time, the Holy Spirit is given as a seal, a guarantee, of that salvation –
 
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14
 
The process is of God. The work is accomplished by Jesus. Belief in this results in eternal salvation. Nothing can be added to this message without causing damage to its purity.
 
Glorious God, we stand in awe of what You have done. You have brought us from darkness into the wonderful light of Christ. Thank You for restoring us to Yourself. And thank You for Your word that reveals these things to us. We can have confidence in our walk and hope concerning our future because of what You have provided for us. Hallelujah! Amen.
 

Acts 13:23

Tuesday, 3 January 2023
 
“From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— Acts 13:23
 
Paul has been speaking about the history of Israel. In the previous verse, he noted the raising up of David because of having removed Saul as king. In his words, he said that God had found David a man after His own heart and a man who would do His will. With that, Paul now continues with, “From this man’s seed.”
 
The meaning is that a direct descendant of David is who is being referred to. The word “seed” as understood from Scripture indicates a direct connection between one entity and another, just as when a stalk of wheat bears seed. That seed bears the characteristics of the stalk from which it came. It will be none other than a seed of wheat. And more, if it is a particular class of wheat, it will remain in that same class.
 
Because this Seed is from David, it remains a fixed part of the line of David in nature and in attributes. The Seed being referred to is next said to be “according to the promise.” The inserted word “the” does not belong there. Nor is the word “his” found in many translations. The words should be rendered just as the Greek, “according to promise.” It is not a specific promise, but a succession of promises all related to the same unchanging nature of God.
 
This Seed was promised in Genesis 3 as the “Seed of the woman.” He was promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. He was promised through the words of the prophets in a multitude of ways, all of which were in accord with one another. It is this one overall promise that Paul refers to now. With that understood, Paul then explains the fulfillment of this promise. It is that “God raised up for Israel.”
 
The promise that began in Genesis, and which was the hope of all people who anticipated a return to paradise as indicated there, eventually became the hope of Israel. This was not only as a hope of the people in general, but the hope of its specific fulfillment through them as a people.
 
Eventually, it became the hope of the house of David, being promised to him personally in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. This promise is also recorded later in the psalms and in the prophets. Paul, speaking to those in the synagogue now, confirms that the promised seed has come, noting that to them God has raised up “a Savior—Jesus.”
 
His words, however, would cause an immediate conflict in the thinking of these Jews. How could Jesus be the Savior of Israel if Israel isn’t saved? Their minds were attuned to the idea that Jesus would deliver Israel from her enemies, gather them back to the land of Israel, and lead  them as the head of the nations. And yet, they were sitting in a synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia some years after Jesus had come.
 
It won’t be until verse 13:38 that he will exactingly explain what Jesus came to save them from. And then in verse 13:39 he will continue that thought with words that would trouble any Jew unless he understood what their history under the law was intended to reveal. Until he gets there, Paul will continue to explain the proofs that verify Jesus truly is the promised Seed of David.
 
Life application: Heresies are points of doctrine that destroy the message of salvation by changing the fundamental tenets of what God has revealed in Christ. For example, God has revealed that in the Godhead, there are individual “persons” in one essence. Scripture reveals that the Father is God. It reveals that the Son is God. It also reveals that the Holy Spirit is God. And yet, they are not the same “person.” We may not understand the concept, but to deny it as a fundamental tenet of the faith is heresy.
 
Despite teaching that Jesus (the Son) is God, the Bible also teaches that Jesus is a Man. To deny this would then be heresy. But going further, Jesus is not just a Man who was created by God, directly and immediately in Mary’s womb. Rather, He is a man who descended from Adam. From there He descends from a long genealogy recorded in Luke 3. He also descends from others as is recorded in Scripture. He is the Seed of these people. Lot, for example, is not in the direct genealogy of Jesus as recorded in Luke 3, but he is still an ancestor of Jesus as the pages of Genesis reveal.
 
Jesus is also said to be the “Seed of David” here in Acts and elsewhere, such as in Romans 1:3 and 2 Timothy 2:8. Because this is so, to deny His humanity is derived from these people is to teach heresy. A person does not need to know these things to be saved. Salvation comes through belief in the gospel. However, if a person is told, in advance, that these things are not true when the “gospel” is proclaimed, he will not be saved. He has believed in a false Jesus.
 
It is important to be exact when speaking of the nature of Christ. God has carefully and meticulously revealed Him in Scripture. And so, let us carefully and soberly consider what is recorded there.
 
O God, we stand in awe of what You have done for us. You set forth a plan and You have meticulously brought it about in human history, finally revealing the purpose of that plan when You sent Jesus. We are the recipients of the glory and splendor of what You have done for us. Thank You, O God. You have done it all, and now You ask us to just believe that it is so. And we do! Thank You for the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Acts 13:22

Monday, 2 January 2023
 
“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ Acts 13:22
 
The previous verse referred to the reign of Saul. With that remembered, it now says, “And when He had removed him.” It refers to Saul who had disobeyed the Lord in two critical matters. The final one cost him the kingship. The account is found in 1 Samuel 15, and it is summed up with these words –
 
“And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.’” 1 Samuel 15:27-29
 
From there, Paul continues with, “He raised up for them David as king.” Israel had asked for a king, rejecting the Lord as king over them. Therefore, He gave them what they asked for. In Saul’s disobedience, but still in agreement with the will of the people, the Lord continued a kingship over Israel. But this time, it would be in accord with the prophecy of Jacob that the scepter (the rule of a king) would not depart from Judah until Shiloh came.
 
Shiloh is an anticipatory appellation for the coming Messiah. In raising up David, this prophecy would come about. The name David means Beloved. Of David, Paul next says, “to whom also He gave testimony,”
 
The meaning is “about David also the Lord gave testimony.” In other words, the Lord spoke words concerning David that defined his character and the Lord’s attitude toward it. The Lord spoke, “and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse.’”
 
The words mean that the Lord searched out David, knowing all that his life was and would be. The sum of what could be found in David is what the Lord “found” concerning him. He was the proper choice by which to continue the redemptive narrative. Despite David’s many faults, he was a man of great character in his dealings with the Lord and with those around him.
 
The name Jesse means My Husband. But it also means Yehovah Exists. As such the name Jesse contains the weighty notion that human marriage reflects divine revelation. In considering these names in the surrounding Old Testament accounts, great hints of God’s workings in relation to the coming Messiah become evident. As for David, the Lord says he is “a man after My own heart.”
 
Paul takes two Old Testament verses and combines them to give a full description of the character of David. The first concerns what he was looking for in a king when addressing Saul –
 
“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Samuel 13:14
 
The second is a reference to David from the psalms –
 
“I have found My servant David;With My holy oil I have anointed him.” Psalm 89:20
 
Taken together, the two thoughts show that David is what the Lord searched for after first giving what Israel asked for. Because of whom David was, and because that included being a man after the Lord’s own heart, the Lord knew that he was one, as he says, “who will do all My will.” The sentiment is found in the continued words of Psalm 89. In verse 21, it says, “With whom My hand shall be established.”
 
In other words, the Lord’s will, His hand, would be realized in the person of David, who would establish that will in all his doings. Unlike Saul who rejected the word of the Lord, when the Lord spoke, David complied. In the times he did not, such as in his adultery with Bathsheba, his heart was convicted, and he returned fully to the Lord. Thus, the will of the Lord was wholly established through David.
 
Life application: The Lord “found” David in a certain condition, a certain state, before Him. As noted, this means that the Lord looked upon David, from beginning to end, and knew that he was a man whose very character defined what was good and right in his overall attitude and conduct.
 
The Lord has also “found” you out. He already knows everything about who you are, from beginning to end. However, you do not. This sentiment is expressed by David –
 
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;You understand my thought afar off.3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,And are acquainted with all my ways.4 For there is not a word on my tongue,But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.5 You have hedged me behind and before,And laid Your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;It is high, I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:1-6
 
David understood that the Lord knew everything about him from beginning to end. As he knew this, he directed his life toward the Lord’s ways. Now that you know this is true about you, you can also demonstrate the wisdom of David and direct your ways to the ways of the Lord. What God has “found” in you does not have to simply be who you have been in the past, but who you can be in the future.
 
In turning to the Lord and living for Him now, what the Lord has “found” already about you is that you are a person who is willing to turn wholly to Him and follow in His ways. If you don’t do this, then that is what the Lord has “found” about you. Contemplate this and understand that you can be “found” by the Lord in a manner that pleases Him from this point on. He already knows what you will do. Do what is right, and in your doing, you will be found a person after His own heart.
 
Lord God, You already know everything about us. We can only direct the future by our conduct as we express it from moment to moment. May what You know about us be something that shows we are people who live after Your heart from this moment forward and for all our lives. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.
 

Acts 13:21

Sunday, 1 January 2023
 
“And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. Acts 13:21
 
In the previous verse, Paul mentioned the giving of judges to Israel for about four hundred and fifty years. With the time of the judges ending, the time of the kings began. Paul explains that beginning with the words, “And afterward.”
 
Samuel was the final judge of Israel. Israel was a theocracy with the Lord as their King at this time. The judge was appointed to lead the people under the authority of the Lord. However, Israel desired a change in this arrangement, and so after this time of judges “they asked for a king.”
 
To anyone who knew the recorded account of this act, it would be a reminder of the people’s rejection of the Lord. For Paul to bring this up is not a lesson in the right attitude of the people. Rather, it is a reminder of exactly the opposite –
 
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.’” 1 Samuel 8:4-9
 
After this, Samuel instructed the people on the additional burdens they would face with a king over them, warning them. And yet, the record says –
 
“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord. 22 So the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed their voice, and make them a king.’” 1 Samuel 8:19-22
 
With that remembered, Paul next says, “so God gave them Saul the son of Kish.” The name Saul means “Asked for.” It is thus a biblical pun. The people asked for a king and the Lord gave them a king as they had asked for. His father was Kish. The name comes from qosh, a snare. Hence, his name means Snaring. This very well may be a pun as well. Israel had ensnared itself in asking for a king.
 
After Saul’s initial conquests, Samuel called to renew the kingship (1 Samuel 11:14), and so the people were called together at Gilgal. During this coronation, Samuel reminded them of their wickedness in asking for a king. This was acknowledged by the people –
 
“Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: 17 Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.”18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.” 1 Samuel 12:16-19
 
This is what Paul is implicitly reminding those gathered in the synagogue. Though not apparent yet, he will tie all of this in with the people’s rejection of Jesus. For now, he continues this verse with, “a man of the tribe of Benjamin.”
 
This is to be implicitly understood as a mark of the Lord’s disfavor if for no other reason than that the Messiah was promised to come through Judah, not Benjamin (Genesis 49:10). Benjamin’s blessing by Jacob was that he was a ravenous wolf that devours the prey and divides the spoil. It is not at all unlike the reign of Saul. But more, Benjamin was the smallest tribe, having been almost utterly wiped out by the other tribes for its defense of the horrifying actions of the people of Gibeah as is recorded in Judges 19 and 20. With that, Paul finishes the verse with “for forty years.”
 
This is not recorded in the Old Testament, although Paul’s stating it means that it was understood to be so. Various chronologies have been provided and explanations have been made to justify Paul’s words. One explanation is that the times of Samuel and Saul have been combined. Hence the words of the previous verse “until Samuel the prophet” mean that the reigns of Samuel and Saul are combined into forty years. Others have developed timelines showing how Saul could have reigned forty years. In the end, Paul has stated a literal time that was accepted within the synagogue as factual.
 
Life application: The Bible records actual events from Israel’s past to reveal God’s purposes and intent for the time of the New Covenant. The time of the judges was one of constant apostasy and then turning back to the Lord. The people’s asking for a king that would rule over them was to be taken as a rejection of the Lord as well.
 
And yet, some judges and kings directed the people to the Lord, exalting Him above their own reigns. Others turned from the Lord in varying degrees. Each of these stories is given as a lesson for us to see something about Israel’s need for the Messiah to come and rule. Without knowing what is recorded there, we have a void in our understanding of why we need the Lord as our Head. The proclivities of man necessitate it and the biblical stories of the Old Testament highlight this fact.
 
Be sure to read the Old Testament as well as the New. In it, you will find the state of man in need of God’s Messiah. In His coming, we see how Jesus fulfills each and every need.
 
Lord God, thank You for the giving of Your Son so that we can have an eternal Leader who can reveal to us the extent of Your greatness for all ages to come. In Him, we have all of who You are in a form that we can see and understand. Yes, thank You for the sending of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.