Call to Commitment

 

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 In the synagogue in Antioch, Pisidia

 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. 

30. But God raised Him from the dead. 

31. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 

32. And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 

33. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.' 

34. And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.' 

35. Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.' 

36. "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 

37. but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 

38. 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. 

40. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 

41. 'BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.' " 

 We join Paul again in the synagogue of the Jews in Antioch, Pisidia, where we left off in the last article. He accused the central council of all Jews in Jerusalem that they did not know their God, nor did they understand their prophets. We learned in the last article that the book of Prophets was read every Sabbath, universally, in the synagogues, but Paul knew well from his own experience that they were misinterpreted.

 Their own Scriptures, which they habitually studied, turned against them and they condemned the Messiah, of whom the book foretold (v. 27). Their worship of God corrupted into dead religion and they revolted against the One, Whom they pretended to serve. These deeds have been carried out, not only by the Jews, but by religious hypocrites throughout history. The Jews in Jerusalem went to the despised Roman governor in their supreme hatred of God and looked to pagan Rome to assist them in giving the death sentence, which was required by Roman law. Yet, they had no reasonable or legal accusation to set before Pontius Pilate (v. 28). Jesus confirmed the fulfilling of the Psalmist’s prophecy, “They hated Me without a cause.” (Jn. 15:25 from Ps. 69:4)

 None of this opposition deferred the eternal purposes of God; it only brought condemnation upon themselves.  All the action done in Jerusalem, unwittingly fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. Two of their own number, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, although they were by then repentant believers, took Him down from the cross (v. 29). They laid Him in Joseph’s tomb which, I believe, he purposely prepared, because he understood Daniel 9:26: “And after the sixty-two weeks (of years… Seven times 62 or 434 years) Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.” Joseph saw that they were completed that very year.

 In verse 30, is one of the famous but God declarations that turn all of man’s efforts and all the works of the enemy into vanity. This verse, along with verses 33-35, 37, among others in the New Testament, prove that the resurrection was a trinitarian work: Jesus said, “I lay down my life that I may take it again” (Jn. 10:17) and Romans 8:11: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead…”. Our text tells us that God raised Him from the dead, whereas the text in John says that Jesus raised Himself from the dead and Romans 8 that the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead. All the Galileans, who went to Jerusalem from Galilee, witnessed His resurrection (v. 31). Not only were prophecies made, but also Good News came through promises to the Jews, concerning His resurrection (v. 32). They came through their ancestors and were just fulfilled to their benefit, during the lives of that present generation. Paul, as always, in both his gospel messages in this chapter, based them on Old Testament Scripture, which is essential in evangelism. He gave them one of the promises of David in Psalm 2:7, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You,” to which the writer of Hebrews referred twice: Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5 (v. 33).

 Here is an explanation by John Wesley, concerning the declaration of Christ as the Son in this prophecy: “’Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee’ - It is true, he was the Son of God from eternity. The meaning therefore is, I have this day declared thee to be my Son. As St. Paul elsewhere, declared Him to be the ‘Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead’, Rom 1:4. And it is with peculiar propriety and beauty that God is said to have begotten him, on the day when he raised him from the dead, as he seemed then to be born out of the earth anew.”

 “The sure mercies of David” (v. 34) refer to God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-17, particularly verses 13 and 16: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” and “Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” That David would have a Descendant who would reign forever is confirmed by His priesthood in Hebrews 7: “In the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’” (He. 7:15-17).

 Because the Spirit of Christ was in him, Who is the Spirit of prophecy, David wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Messiah in Psalm 16:10: “You will not allow your Holy One to see corruption” (v. 35). David, said Paul, had certainly died, was buried and saw corruption, therefore he was speaking of Another (v. 36). We saw the same principle working in chapter 8, as the Ethiopian eunuch questioned Philip, concerning Isaiah: “Of Whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” (Ac. 8:34)

 These promises demand that Jesus Christ could not remain in the tomb (v. 37). From these Psalms, from Moses, and from Abraham, the apostles formed their apologetics in the book of Acts that, according to prophecy, Jesus arose from the dead. We have already discovered that they found the truth of the resurrection, along with other eternal principles, concerning the Messiah, in the first few chapters (Ac. 2:25-28 from Ps. 16:8-11; Ac. 3:22-23 from Dt. 18:18-19; Ac. 3:25 from Ge. 18:18; Ac. 4:11 from Ps. 118:22, etc.).

 Therefore, on the firm foundation of the Scriptures, Jesus of Nazareth is the one “name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Ac. 4:12). Paul with full authority from heaven, gave absolute assurance that he was preaching under the only name, in which there could be forgiveness of sins (v. 38). And, he continued, that only by faith in Him could anyone be justified, something which the law of Moses, in which they had trusted all their lives, could not offer (v. 39). He was annulling one, that he might establish the other. All listeners in the synagogue must make a decision of a lifetime, either to receive justification in Christ, or to continue to trust in their deeds, according to the law of Moses.

 With that admonition came a warning, also from the Scriptures (v. 40), that anyone, not only in Paul’s day, but all who despise his message at any time or place, will perish! God is proclaiming a work, which human faith cannot grasp, no matter how plainly it is declared. Paul is quoting from Habacuc 1:5 of something that God would do to the Jews through the Chaldean army, but the principle applies, much more, to anyone, who despises the work that God has done through Jesus. It is absolutely necessary that man yields his own human ability to the work of the Holy Spirit, Who alone bears the faith that comes from God through hearing the word of God, in order that he might be saved (v. 41).

  

Hope for the Gentiles

42. So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 

43. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 

44. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 

45. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 

46. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 

47. For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I HAVE SET YOU AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BE FOR SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.' " 

48. Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 

49. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 

50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 

51. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 

52. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 

Ancient ruins of Antioch, Pisidia

 The Jews had heard, so now was the time to preach to the Gentiles, who were begging to hear the message of salvation (v. 42). After the synagogue congregation dispersed, many Jews and serious proselytes were convinced and went to Paul and Barnabas to receive more enlightenment, concerning the gospel. Their advice was for them not to be satisfied with what they had just heard, but to go on with determination, seeking for God to pour out His grace on their lives. The grace of God is what they needed to work in their lives, for they could do nothing by themselves (v. 43).

 The Jews had not anticipated this tremendous response from the entire city of Antioch. The gospel message came in power, through the Holy Spirit moving upon the city. Not in the synagogue, but in the days that followed, in places of business and in the homes, He descended to convict people of their need of a Savior. Many transformed lives gave testimony to a reality that had worked in the center of their beings. Within a week, an awakened population sought salvation, gathering somewhere to hear the gospel. We do not know, where this place was, but certainly, the synagogue could not hold this crowd (v. 44).

 The enemy had controlled the city for generations and was now experiencing a serious defeat, already losing a large number of his people, while many more were turning away from his purposes. We have seen throughout the Gospels and into the book of Acts that religious people are the most susceptible to the influence of evil spirits. A horde of demons descended upon the loyal Jews with a cloud of envy, as they saw the multitudes turning to the Lord and away from their religion. They began to react with fanatical contradictions and blasphemy, opposing the words of the preacher, Paul (v. 45).   

Paul and Barnabas responded courageously with Scripture, as the opposition among the Jews demanded their holy protest. They threatened that the purposes of God were coming to a close for them, because of their rejection of His mercy, after He sent His messengers to their synagogue for salvation. All are unworthy sinners without His grace, but the Lord gives grace, so that we might respond worthily to the remedy for our sin. Condemnation falls on those who react unworthily, bringing judgment on themselves. Now, said the apostles, “We turn to the Gentiles” (v. 46).

We see the doctrine, which Paul gave us in Romans, carried out in practice in Antioch, as it had already worked in every place that the gospel had been preached previously and as it continued throughout the book of Acts. “That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” (Ro. 9:23-24). In Romans 9:25 y 26, he showed that the inclusion of the Gentiles was promised by the prophet Hosea, and then, how the work among the Jews in Israel, would only be represented by a remnant, according to Isaiah (Ro. 9:27-29).

 In this message to people in Antioch, Paul also affirmed by Scripture, that what he was claiming was the truth. In verse 47, Paul quotes Isaiah, prophesying that through Jesus, Israel would carry the light to the Gentiles. Luke, in Acts, is giving us a clear picture of that transfer of Light. The Gentiles respond happily to the fact, prophesied firmly by many Scriptures, of their inclusion: “They glorified the word of the Lord.” God’s word and God’s word alone, gives us, as it did the people in Paul’s day, full assurance, guaranteeing that He has taken us into His New Covenant. Those, who respond positively to God’s promise and believe, that is, put their full trust in it, are those, “who had been appointed to eternal life” (v. 48).

 In verse 49, we see an extension of the word of the gospel, spreading beyond the city of Antioch, as a wildfire gone beyond the control of men, blown by the Spirit of God, throughout the territory. The rabid anger of men and demons reached an apex and they managed to run Paul and Barnabas out of their territory. However, this will serve the purpose of God and bring the apostles into other regions (v. 50).

Shaking the dust off their feet or shaking the garments, here in verse 51 and in chapter 18:6, fulfilled the commandment of Christ, that He gave them in all the synoptic Gospels, Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5 and 10:11.  This symbolic action was done to show the completion of the apostles’ duty, given by God, and released them from all responsibilities. They had done all that was required of them. This is an eternal principle, spoken in Ezekiel 3:19: “If you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium.

The product, of all that had taken place in Antioch of Pisidia, was joy… the joy that came from heaven: “Believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,” was the way Peter defined it in his letter, 1 Peter 1:8. In verse 52, it came to the disciples, joined with the Holy Spirit. It is not earthly, human happiness, it is greater and it is good for all circumstances, good or evil; joy is forever a fruit of the Spirit, something that Jesus promised: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jn. 15:11).

Church ruins on site where Paul may have preached

 Paul and Barnabas were no longer with the disciples, who had believed in Antioch, but the local people had not put their trust in the apostles, but in God. They were joyful in Him, Who was still present with them for time and eternity. Paul told the Corinthians that he purposely preached and behaved, so that the hearers would not trust in him: “That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Co. 2:5). The disciples in Antioch’s experience, included an infilling of the Spirit. As for Paul and Barnabas, Paul expressed to the Thessalonians, something that was true, concerning all believers, who came to faith through his ministry: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Th. 2:19-20).