The synagogue first

 

Sunday our Pastor gave a good word from Acts 17. As I’m wont to do, I kinda wandered through the chapter (as I was listening to him!). I really like chapter 17 and thought I would share a few of the highlights I find in the chapter. Today: the synagogue first.

Acts 17:1-2 …they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them… According to Paul’s practice, when he visited a city, he went to the synagogue first. In Romans 1:16 he explains, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The New Testament is founded on and springs out of the Old Testament, which makes Israel an important part of the Gospel, the New Testament, and the Church. The word Jews occurs 71 times in the Book of Acts, 21 times in the first 16 chapters. They’re central to the story. Jesus said, salvation is of the Jews (John 4.22), which means, “The Messiah was to spring from the Jews - from them, the preaching of the Gospel, and the knowledge of the truth, were to go to all the nations of the world. It was to the Jews that the promises were made; and it was in their prophetic Scriptures that Jesus Christ was proclaimed and described.” (Adam Clarke) The Church is now majority Gentile, and it saddens me to think that we have forgotten our Jewish heritage and how indebted we are to Israel, and the law, and the prophets.

So, when did the practice of preaching the gospel to the Jews first end? In spreading out to the Gentiles, the Gospel has outpaced the synagogue. A Google search tells me there are 19 synagogues near me (one of them a Messianic synagogue!), all of them in Cincinnati and Dayton. In other words, we don’t encounter Jews very often. 

Also, I am persuaded the end of the book of Acts holds the key. When Paul was in jail in Rome, he called the chief of the Jews together and explained that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. They were interested, and when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed. (Acts 28:17-25) Because they proved to be stubborn and inflexible, like so many others in their nation, Paul announced to them, (28:28) Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and they will hear it. I believe this signals the end of the practice of going to the synagogue first. Of course, the gospel invitation in Revelation 22:17 still stands:

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come

And let him that heareth say, Come

And let him that is athirst come

And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely