DAY #201: Acts 13:14-41

When they went to a new city to witness for Christ, Paul and Barnabas went first to the synagogue. They would go on the Sabbath, taking advantage of the Jewish custom of inviting itinerant teachers to speak. Paul and Barnabas did not separate themselves from the synagogues but tried to show clearly that the very Scriptures the Jews studied pointed to Jesus.

In a synagogue service, first the “Shema” would be recited (Deuteronomy 6:4, which Jews would repeat several times daily). Then certain prayers would be spoken, followed by a reading from the books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy), a reading from the Prophets (intended to illustrate the law), and a sermon. The invitation from those in charge was to speak a word of encouragement. Such an invitation was all Paul needed.

Paul’s sermon, was included as a typical example of what Paul would say to a synagogue gathering. It shows how Paul first preached the Good News to a Jewish congregation. The opening address to the people of Israel and to the devout Gentiles who fear the God of Israel covered both groups of possible worshipers—Jews by birth and Gentile God-fearers.

Paul began his message by emphasizing God’s covenant with Israel. This was a common form of address known as a “historical retrospect”—a sketch of the course of God’s work in the nation’s history. Paul would move quickly from Abraham to Moses, Samuel, and David and eventually come to Jesus.

With this direct address to his Jewish brothers, Paul appealed for them to come to faith in Jesus Christ—the one to whom all the prophecies of their Scriptures pointed. The salvation that Christ offers is for both Jews and Gentiles.

Paul joined Peter and Stephen in blaming the Jews who rejected Christ. The failure of the Jews to recognize him as the one the prophets had written about was made all the worse by the fact that they had sat every Sabbath and had heard the prophets’ words read. They had been exposed to the prophecies but had missed the fulfillment of those prophecies.

Paul tied together all of the events that he had been recounting to that moment when he and Barnabas were standing before them as the bearers of this Good News. The promise God had made to their common ancestors had come true. After centuries of waiting, watching, and wanting, the Messiah had come. His name is Jesus.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Pretty simple assignment. Preach the good news. Jesus came, He died and He rose again. Why is that so hard for so many? Why do we tense up and choke when opportunities come our way to share with others? Why is it that more people are interested in the message of Jesus, then there are people to share that message?

Lord, raise up folks who will invite their friends to church to hear the message.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:13-15 (NIV)

Lord, make COV a church where first things are first. Love God and love people.