(Read Acts 13:13-4413Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30But God raised him from the dead: 31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. 42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. (Acts 13:13‑44); Psalms 2:7,127I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7)
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12).)
ACTS 13 shows us the wonderful effect of a simple, plain statement regarding Christ, and what He has done. Paul’s address one Sabbath at Antioch brought almost the whole city together to hear him the next. How his heart must have been gladdened! He brought them news of the Saviour, and of salvation, never before heard by them. Many received Him and believed the gospel that first Saturday.
“Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God” (vs. 43).
This is
THE FIRST GOSPEL “AFTER-MEETING”
that we have in Scripture. Some people do not believe in after-meetings. Paul did. His hearers were so reached, moved, turned upside down, and inside out, that it was not the preacher going after them, but many of them followed Paul and Barnabas. Wonderful preaching was that!
See how he addresses them. Knowing that his audience was composed of many Jews, and some Gentiles, he goes over some of Israel’s history. Thus he catches their attention. But God knows what they are, and He reaches [them where they are. He knows what they need―salvation―and He provides it. Who was the Saviour? Of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, yet “God over all, blessed forever.” A Jew, although, of course, the Son of God. Paul went over the history of the nation, and led them on till they came to the times of David, whom they all loved and respected, and then he said: ―
“Of this man’s seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel A SAVIOUR, Jesus” (vs. 23).
Now mark―God had promised. Some people say, I like to rest on the promises. There is an immense difference between the promises and the fulfillment of the promises, between the hope of expectation and what is now proclaimed in the gospel. God, who promised He would bring in a Deliverer, a Messiah, has brought Him in.
WHAT IS HIS NAME?
Jesus! They probably bad not heard of Jesus. You have heard of Jesus―do you know Him? Have you believed in Him? Have you trusted Him?
You say, I have often heard of Jesus. Yes, but that does not mean salvation. You may hear of Him, and go away, like many at Paul’s meeting, quibbling at the very grace of God, putting themselves in the company of those whom God calls despisers. His Spirit says, “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little” (Psa. 2:1212Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12)). You say, Judas kissed Him but he was not a real man. Then be you true: be you real. He betrayed the Son of man with a kiss, but that does not affect the solemn injunction, “Kiss the Son.” There is something very blessed in a true kiss. It betokens affection, trust, confidence. The woman in Luke 7. kissed His feet, and went to her home pardoned, saved, happy, at peace, the result of personal faith in God’s blessed Son.
God has fulfilled His word, and brought in Jesus; He has raised up a Saviour, because men need salvation, and the name of the Saviour is Jesus. Observe the character—it is that of a Saviour. What do blind men need? Sight. Hungry men need bread; thirsty men need water.
WHAT IS SUITED TO A LOST SINNER?
A Saviour. You may say, I do not think that I am lost. The devil, if he get his way, will not let you learn you are lost, till it be too late to find a Saviour.
You say, Are all men lost? All, without exception, unless they get to know the Saviour. You have only to read the New Testament to see how again, and again, that word “lost” comes in. Read Luke 15. The sheep, the silver, the son, were lost. Paul writing to the Corinthians says, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost” (2 Cor. 4:33But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (2 Corinthians 4:3)), not going to be lost. Many think that if they were to die in their sins they would be lost then. They are lost long before that. God has brought in a Saviour that you might never know the meaning of that terrible word perish.
Remarkable tidings Paul was telling here, and, what was the end of it? Some of them rejected, them―do not you. I appeal to you. Listen, “a Saviour, Jeans.” Sweet name! It is music to the heart of a Christian. He is worth knowing. We can recommend Him―Jesus, a living Saviour, the sinner’s Friend, the Son of God and Friend of man, the One who has defeated the devil, annulled death, broken the power of the tomb, and brought life and incorruptibility to light. Will you not have Him?
HE IS WORTHY OF YOUR HEART
and mine. Is He not worthy of all that you are? Surely.
Hear Paul’s fervent words: ―
“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth, God, to you is the word of this salvation sent” (vs. 26).
What has God sent? Salvation―salvation in connection with the Person of Christ, but presented in language that men can understand. There is nothing mystical about salvation. There is a man asleep in, bed, and his: house is on fire. You see the flame, you are conscious, that the house is doomed, you get a ladder, spring up, smash the window. He is stupefied by smoke: you risk your life, and bring him out. You are his saviour.
What do all men need? Salvation, and “to you is the word, of this salvation sent.” Happy the man that brings it to you. The gospel brings you tidings that will justify you in, every respect.
Let us read on:—
“For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him.”
“They knew Him not”― what a testimony! When you pass into eternity the question will be raised, Did you know Him or did you not? How do people act when they do not know Him? Make light of Him. He had been in their midst, He had raised the dead, healed the sick, gladdened hundreds, yea, thousands of hearts, and yet
“THEY KNEW HIM NOT.”
“He: was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Hire not” (John 1:1010He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (John 1:10)). Could anything more terrible be laid to the charge of anyone than this―you have had an opportunity of knowing Jesus, but you do not know Him. Let me urge you to face this now They were heedless of Scripture. We live in a day in which the Scriptures and the atonement are set aside. Why? “They knew Him not.” Men little know what they are doing. They think they can tear Scripture to pieces—they are doing what they did that day. Paul describes it here―they have not understood the voice of God in His own blessed Word: they have not recognized the Person of His Son when He was incarnate in this world, and they have fulfilled the Scriptures in the condemnation of the Son of God.
“And though they, found no cause of death in Him, yet desired they Pilate that He should be slain” (ver. ‘24). What deep-seated hatred is in man’s heart to God’s Son.
“And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulcher” (vs. 29).
The apostle does not say who the “they” were.
God tells us elsewhere. (See Acts 4:26, 2726The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:26‑27).)
“But God raised Him from the dead” (vs. 30). Do not forget that. There is no dead Jesus now.
You may be dead―dead in sins―He is not dead.
“GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.”
Hatred slew Him. Love buried Him. Those who were attracted by His grace buried Him. When man had put Him in the grave a stone was put against the mouth of the cave. They put a seal on it, and men with drawn swords guarded it. Look what the world did. Fear put that seal. Fear of what? That He should come out. Do you not want to meet Christ? You have got to meet Him; be sure of that. The one that loves Him delights in the idea of it. If you do not know Him it is a serious thing. Listen: ―
“God raised Him from the dead.”
Fear might seal that stone, hoping He might never come out, but He has come out, and although the devil paid large “hush-money,” that the keepers should say His disciples came by night and stole His body, he was but deceiving men. Christ is risen. Man put Him to death; God raised Him. We are confronted with this glorious fact, that the Man the world would not have, and sealed in a tomb, is alive―God has raised Him from the dead.
“And He was seen many days of them which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people” (vs. 31).
These things are not fables. Have you been listening to the nonsense talked nowadays? Have you been listening to men saying He was not raised. Why, the great glorious facts of the gospel are first, the incarnation, then the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul can tell of hundreds, who have seen Him. (1 Cor. 15:66After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:6).) And
IF HE IS RISEN, WHERE IS HE?
He is not in this world; He has gone out of it. He is at God’s right hand―the same Jesus still, the Saviour.
“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath, raised up Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee” (vers. 32, 33).
This is incarnation. The fulfillment of the promise was in the Person of Jesus. All Scripture is fulfilled in. Him. He is the Yea and Amen of all the purposes and promises of God, and now He is in resurrection. These two verses tell us of Christ’s incarnation, not His resurrection. God has brought into this world a Man whom He owns as His Son. It is not a question of the eternal Sonship, but the fact that as coming into this world He assumed manhood. God not only said He should come, but, when He was come, He acknowledged Him as His Son.
If He were not God He could not reveal God to man; if He were not man He could not bring man to God. He has gone back to God, as man, and has brought manhood, in His own Person, into glory, in God’s presence.
The point here, then, is the incarnation, which is the revelation to us of what God is. He is made known in the life of a man, and that man’s life has been so absolutely pleasing to God, that when man put Him out of the world, because
THE LIGHT WAS TOO BRIGHT,
and His holiness was too much for them to stand, God took Him out of the grave and put Him into glory. He exalts Him, and anew gives Him the name of Jesus-Jehovah the Saviour.
“And as concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David” (vs. 34).
Here you have resurrection. Do you want life, light, refreshment? Then says God, “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (Isa. 4:33And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: (Isaiah 4:3)). What is that? A risen, triumphant Christ, calling to needy, hungry sinners. If you want peace, pardon, eternal life, food, come to Him, “buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
“Wherefore, He saith also in another Psalm, Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption” (vs. 35).
“The sure mercies of David” is everything established in resurrection. Psalms 16. says, “For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell [hades]; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption” (vs. 10). If He go into the grave He will come out of it. There was no seed of death in Him, and death had no claim on Him. In voluntary grace He went into death, because
DEATH LAY UPON MAN,
and He has borne “the sins of many,” and for them tasted death, and annulled it. He has come up out of death.
Christ has fulfilled the prophecy― “O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction” (Hos. 13:1414I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. (Hosea 13:14)). He is a risen, triumphant Christ, He has broken the power of death, and robbed the grave of its victory; He has absolutely glorified God and defeated Satan. He has gone into death that He might bear those sins which we had committed, and now He is out of death, and God says everything is in Him.
“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.”
Christianity begins with a risen Christ. That means victory-the defeat of Satan, the annulling of death, the removal of sin, from before God’s eye, for everyone that trusts that risen Man.
You say, That is good news. If you have the burden of sin on you, an aching heart, a guilty conscience, listen: ―
“He whom God raised again, saw no corruption” (vs. 37).
There has been a victory, a triumph on the part of this Man, but you are welcome to share the triumph and participate in the victory.
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (vs. 38).
They had never heard this before. Now forgiveness is “preached,” not promised.
GOD SENDS YOU A MESSAGE
on the ground of the death and resurrection of His blessed Son. Listen, unpardoned one, you are either going to have your sins blotted out by faith in Christ, or die and be damned for eternity in your unbelief.
Be it known―not hoped, nor prayed for, not sought after― “be it known.” Some say, I will do my best to get it. No, that will not do. It is something you are to take just now.
“And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (vs. 39).
The law could never clear you, but the gospel clears all your sins away, and justifies you before God. Christ shed His precious blood to blot them out from before the eye of God, and now the one that believes in Him is associated with Him. The claims of death have been met, and what do you get now? Justification. Good news is this for “all that believe,” not for all that pray or work.
Now mark Paul’s warning word in closing.
“Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you” (vers. 40, 41).
Perhaps Paul saw that some, instead of their hearts being touched and softened by this wonderful message, were beginning to criticize. You who have heard the gospel again and again, beware lest that come upon you which God predicted to those who make light of the gospel. You are either
A BELIEVER OR A DESPISER
―you do not care to take what God sends you. You say you will think about it. You are dangerously near being a despiser. You say, I will turn it over in my mind; you are a despiser. No middle ground does Scripture give you.
If you put it off you are ranked by God among those who have made light of His gospel, and are thus despisers. You say it is very wonderful. Stop; wonderful though it be, you may spend eternity with the lost, because you do not believe what God says. Be warned. “Kiss the Son” now, lest ye perish.
God would have you blessed and saved, and I urge you to turn and trust that Saviour now. Believe in Him now, and you will taste the joy of being forgiven and justified.
Now what are you going to do—go on with the world, or identify yourself with the Lord’s people? If the latter I will imitate Paul and Barnabas, who “persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Similarly I urge you. The Lord has triumphed gloriously, and He is worthy of every heart. Acknowledge His greatness, and delight to spread the glory of His name.
“Many are choosing Christ today,
Turning from all their sins away;
Heaven shall their blessed portion be―
Where will you spend Eternity?
Eternity, Eternity,
Where will you spend Eternity?
“Turn and believe this very hour,
Trust in the Saviour’s love and power;
Then shall your joyous answer be―
Saved through a long Eternity!
Eternity, Eternity,
Saved through a long Eternity.”