“We bring you the Good News that what God promised to our ancestors He has fulfilled for us — by raising Jesus.” Acts 13:32-33A (NRSVCE) Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the Words of the Prophecy and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it. For the time is near — Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come…and from Jesus Christ. the Faithful Witness, the first born of the dead and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!
Look He is coming with the clouds; Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him and on His account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be Amen! –Revelation 1;3; 4A -7
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia
Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, John however left them and returned to Jerusalem but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia and on the Sabbath Day they went into the Synagogue and sat down.
After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the officials of the Synagogue sent them a message saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people give it.’
So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:
“You (men) of Israel and others who fear God listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the Land of Egypt and with uplifted arm He led them out of it. For about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. After He had destroyed seven nations in the Land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. After that He gave them judges until the time of the Prophet Samuel then they asked for a king and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man of the Tribe of Benjamin who reigned forty years.
When He had removed him, He made David their king. In His testimony about him He said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse to be a man after My heart, who will carry out all My wishes.’
Of this man’s posterity, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus as He promised; Before His coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel and as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No but one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on His feet.’
My Brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family and others who fear God, to us the message of this Salvation has been sent because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Him or understand the Words of the Prophets that are read every Sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning Him. Even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have Him killed.
When they had carried out everything that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree (Cross) and laid Him in a tomb but God raised Him from the dead and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem and they are now His witnesses to the people and we bring you the Good News that what God promised to our ancestors He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus as also it is written in the Second Psalm, (Psalm 2:7) ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’
As to His raising Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way, ‘I will give you the Holy Promises made to David.’ Therefore He has also said in another Psalm, (Psalm 16:10) ‘You will not let your Holy One experience corruption (decay).’
For David after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation died, was laid beside his ancestors and experienced corruption but He who God raised up experienced no corruption.
Let it be known to you therefore my Brothers, that through this Man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. By this Jesus, everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses. Beware therefore, that what the Prophets said does not happen to you.
‘Look you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tell you.'” (See: Habakkuk 1:5)
As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next Sabbath. When the meeting of the Synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the Grace of God.
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to heard the Word of The Lord but when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and blaspheming they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly saying, ‘It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has Commanded us saying, “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'” (See: Isaiah 49:6)
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Word of the Lord and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the Word of the Lord spread throughout the region but the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, driving them out of the region. So they shook the dust off their feet (See: Matthew 10:14) in protest against them and went to Iconium – the Disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. –Acts 13:13-52
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