SERMON 139: ACTS 13:14-42. PAUL’S SERMON IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT ANTIOCH, PISIDIA.
Germaine Charles Lockwood

READ ACTS 13:14-42.

Paul, the apostle, spoke to the people in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, in the city 
of Antioch, Pisidia, in Asia Minor. Let us look at the evidences that were given.

Paul spoke about the promises that God had made to King David of Israel, that God 
had brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, Yeshua. The witness of John the baptist to 
Jesus Messiah, Yeshua Mashiach was given by Paul. The scriptures were fulfilled
when Messiah was crucified. The prophets had foretold the crucifixion of Messiah.
After God raised Jesus from the dead, he appeared to his apostles and others who
became eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Messiah, and preached the good
news of the promise made to the fathers. Promises of God had been prophesied in
Psalm 2 and Psalm l6 about the resurrection of Messiah a thousand years before.

Let us look at these evidences together, that from the offspring of David God has 
brought a savior Jesus.

John the son of Zechariah the priest proclaimed to Israel that Jesus is the Messiah.
John said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.
John said about Jesus, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His
hand.” John 3:35. Listen to what John said as recorded in John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Yes, John the son of Zacharias the priest was a witness to Jesus the Messiah the Son of God. John had testified as a prophet of God to the people of Israel to prepare them for the coming of Messiah Jesus. Will you believe his testimony?

The next evidence that Paul presented in the synagogue is what we read in verses 27-29: Please listen as we read again:

For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. And though they found no ground for putting Him to death they asked Pilate that He be executed. And when they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. Acts l3:27-29.

What prophecies did the people of Jerusalem fulfill when they condemned Jesus Messiah and had Him crucified? Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and Zechariah l2:l0.

You can study Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 for yourself. But listen to what the Lord said in Zechariah l2:10: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced. . . .”

Yes, the people of Jerusalem and their rulers fulfilled the prophecies that they read
on Sabbath days. But God raised Messiah Jesus from the dead.

The next evidence that Paul gave to the people in the synagogue was the testimonies of the eyewitnesses who had seen Jesus Messiah after He was raised from the dead and appeared to them. They were witnesses to the people. They are also witnesses to you. You can read their testimonies in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which are the first four books in the New Testament. Paul himself was an eyewitness of the resurrection of Messiah Jesus. Paul, who was Saul of Tarsus, was a rabbi trained in Jerusalem. He was against Jesus and persecuted those who believed in Jesus. But Jesus appeared to Saul and made him an eyewitness of the resurrection of Jesus Messiah. So Saul became Paul the apostle. He said: “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers.”

Then Paul gave the people in the synagogue the evidence of three prophecies: Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3 and Psalm l6:l0. He quoted:

Psalm 2:7: ‘THOU ART MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE.’ Psalm 2:7.

Yes, Messiah Jesus is the Son of God. 

Paul quoted Psalm l6:10 which foretold that Messiah would be raised from the dead.

 ‘THOU WILT NOT ALLOW THY HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY; Psalm l6:10.

King David who prophesied Psalm l6:l0, was not writing about himself, because 
he died and underwent decay. Listen to what Paul said next:

but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:37, 38.

Yes, you can have forgiveness of sins through Jesus Messiah who died for our sins
in accordance with the prophecies. Will you believe? We have studied the evidences
the testimony of John a prophet of Israel, the witnesses of the resurrection of Messiah Jesus, and the evidence of the fulfilled prophecies. You can believe.

Listen to what Paul said next which is a warning to us as well:

Take heed therefore, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:  ‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH  SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’ Acts l3:40, 41.

Please consider the evidences that you have heard. God loves you. He sent His
Son to die for your sins, to pay the price of your redemption from the slavery of sin.
You can be set free from your guilt and bondage. You can have eternal life in the
heavenly New Jerusalem. Would you be saved from eternal punishment in hell?
Jesus Messiah is the only one who has died for your sins. He is the only Savior.
Jesus said: He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not
believe will be condemned. Mark l6:l6. Listen to:

Acts 2:38: . . . “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38.

AMEN.