(མཛད་པ། 13:26-41)

 

“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

“‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’

And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

Therefore he says also in another psalm,

“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed[c] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

“‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’” (Acts 13:26-41)

 

Paul continued his speech by describing the trial of Jesus, his crucifixion, his burial, then his resurrection and appearances alive to the disciples. It all happened according to God’s plan and purpose as shown by the Jewish scriptures:

1. In Psalm 2 it is shown that Messiah was to be God’s Son

2. In Psalm 16 it describes Messiah’s rising from the grave

3. In Isaiah chapter 55 God declares how Israel would enjoy the promises made to King David.

David of course died but everything foretold about a descendant of David came true in Jesus, whose resurrection was final proof that he was the Holy Saviour and King that was to come. Obeying Moses’ Law could not save, but belief in Jesus does give liberation from all bad karma.

Finally Paul quotes a sutra from the prophet Habakkuk warning us not to ignore such wonderful promises of scripture.

(མཛད་པ། 13:42-52)

 

As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:42-52)

 

It was right for the Jews to be told the word of the Lord by Paul and before the non-Jews, because it was through the Jews that God had chosen to enlighten the whole world by revealing the treasure of his plan of salvation to them first. 

(མཛད་པ། 14:1-7)

 

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel. (Acts 14:1-7)

 

Iconium (Konya in modern Turkey) was 90 miles (145 km) east of Pisidian Antioch along the Roman road in the Province of Galatia (See the map posted on November 16). Here again it was Jews, unbelieving ones, who resisted the preaching of the good news.

So Paul and Barnabus moved on another 18 miles (29 km) to the small town of Lystra where there was no Jewish synagogue.