Acts 13:13-25 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Acts 13:13-25. Let’s go!
Acts 13:13-15 (NIV)
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
On verses 13-15: Here John Mark decides to leave Paul and Barnabas and go back to Jerusalem, while Paul, Barnabas and the rest of their team continue a physically challenging and dangerous journey to Pisidian Antioch. You can’t tell from Acts 13:13 that John’s decision to leave bothered Paul, but it did. In fact, John’s decision to leave would become a point of contention between Barnabas and Paul later on (see Acts 15:37-38).
Dealing with the frustration of John Mark leaving in the back of his mind, Paul still gets up to speak a word of encouragement to the people in the synagogue, with the aim of pointing them to Jesus.
What can we learn from Paul’s example? As a minister in God’s kingdom, you will from time to time be disappointed by people, yet still you will be looked upon to speak an encouraging word to the people around you. How can you encourage others when you yourself are discouraged, disappointed or frustrated? Fix your eyes not on your disappointment, but on Jesus. Notice that everything that Paul is about to say in the verses that follow is pointing his listeners to Jesus. Paul’s actions here remind me of Hebrews 12:1-3, where it says:
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you can persevere and stand up even while disappointed and discouraged and speak a blessing. Other people will come and go, but Jesus will always remain and its His example that we want to learn from.
Acts 13:16-25 (NIV)
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!
17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country,
18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert,
19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.
20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.
24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.
25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
On verses 16-25: Notice that in recounting Israel’s history, Paul’s focus is on what God did: “God chose our fathers” (v17). “God made our people prosper” (v17). “God endured the Israelites’ conduct” (v18). “God overthrew nations and gave the Israelites their land” (v19). “God gave them judges” (v20). “God gave them Saul” (v21). “God made David their king” (v22). “God brought to Israel the Saviour Jesus” (v23). What can we learn from this? When you look back at your history, or the history of your family or nation, have an eye for what God was doing. Try to see history through a lens of God at work. Also, when you’re feeling discouraged and disappointed like Paul was, remember that God is still in control and isn’t finished with your story.
Also, we learn from this part of Paul’s sermon that all of Israel’s history culminates in the coming of Jesus Christ. The history of Israel is like a gift that has so many layers of gift wrapping around it. You peel off one layer called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and then another layer called Israel by Moses, then another layer called Israel led by judges, then another layer called Israel led by kings, then another layer called Israel in exile, then another layer called the ministry of John the Baptist, and if you keep on peeling, the gift you uncover in the end is Jesus Christ, the ultimate king and Saviour of Israel.
As we scan the history of Israel in the Bible, we see that God is in the business of providing leaders to lead His people. But all of these leaders are like imperfect shadows pointing to the real deal: His name is Jesus.
Jesus, through all the ups and downs I go through, may my eyes be fixed on You, because You’re the one that all of history, including my story, are ultimately pointing to. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
