The Message

 

As I said yesterday, on Sunday our Pastor gave a good word from Acts 17. I really like this chapter and as I was listening to him, I wandered through it, noting what I consider highlights. Yesterday: the synagogue first. Today: The Message

Following his usual practice, Paul went in, and for three Sabbaths he argued with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead. “And the Christ,” he said, “is this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” Acts 17 NCB

Paul went to the synagogue three Sabbaths in a row and preached the gospel. How could he do that? Did he jump up and interrupt the service? No. It seems they had quite an open policy. The Scripture readings and prayers were planned, but after these visitors were asked to or free to speak. Jesus was obviously a special guest and spoke often in the synagogues. He was also asked (at least once) to read the Scripture. In Acts 13:14-15 we see how it worked for Paul: But when they [Barnabas and Paul] departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Men, brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

he argued with them from the Scriptures – What I like about this is it changed my thinking on how they preached the gospel. I always thought they did it like the pastor or evangelist, that is, they did all the speaking. And there are sermons like this in Acts. But I think the Greek word for “argued” (or reasoned) presents it more as a dialogue: he would say something, and they would ask questions; or point and counter point; it was probably a lively discussion. I really don’t think they just sat back and passively listened; they probably even interrupted him! But that’s OK, because now you know they’re listening, they’re engaging with you.

explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead –

“His method seems to have been this:

1st. He collected the scriptures that spoke of the Messiah.

2d. He applied these to Jesus Christ, showing that in him all these scriptures were fulfilled... He showed also that the Christ must suffer - that this was predicted, and was an essential mark of the true Messiah.¹

Preaching in the synagogue was different than preaching in the marketplace - there was a lot more Scripture quoting in the synagogue!

And the Christ, he said, is this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you – I really like this phrase. A strictly literal translation would be, And this is the Christ -- Jesus whom I proclaim to you. There’s nothing wrong with, and this Jesus whom I preach is the Christ, I just like the force of keeping the original word order.

The point being, “he showed that all the things which were spoken of Christ in those Scriptures, were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth; and therefore he must be the Messiah.”²  Amen!

This is the gospel message: Messiah, the promised Savior, has come. He is Jesus of Nazareth, who, in fulfillment of the Scriptures, was crucified, died, and was buried; the third day he rose again from the dead. And why was he crucified? For our sins. Who gave himself a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:6) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:14)

Amen! I believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God, who died for me and rose again. And I have been redeemed by his blood.

 

¹ Adam Clarke

² John Gill