Daily Scripture Reading Acts 13:32-52
There is an ongoing debate within Christianity as to whether people are chosen by God to be saved or whether man has free will to choose or reject salvation. Some Christians completely reject election and the idea that man does not have free will.
We are going to read the second half of Acts 13 today and see a clear statement regarding people being appointed to eternal life.
After Paul and his companions left Cyprus, they traveled to Asia Minor, an area known today as the country of Turkey, and entered a city called Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue and were invited to say a word of exhortation. Paul began with a brief review of the history of Israel. Then he told them about Jesus being crucified and rising from the dead; thus fulfilling the Scriptures that had been written about Him. Then Paul continued in verse 32.
Acts 13:32 And we proclaim to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,
Acts 13:33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’
Note the word “fulfilled”. Sometimes the word “fulfilled” means there was an event in the Old Testament and then something happened in the life of Jesus that was very similar. That is the meaning in this verse.
Paul quoted from Psalm 2. In this Psalm, the Psalmist wrote about Yahweh Who established His anointed as king upon Mount Zion. Then the Psalmist wrote in the first person, that Yahweh said to him, “You are My son.” This indicates the Psalmist was the king and the anointed.
While the original meaning of the Psalm was about a human king from the Old Testament time period, Yahweh’s statement to the king also applied to the ultimate anointed king, King Jesus.
Acts 13:34 But that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and FAITHFUL lovingkindnesses OF DAVID.’
This is a reference to Isaiah 55:3. Isaiah 55 was a promise given to the Israelites that Yahweh would make an everlasting covenant with Israel via a descendant of David. Jesus is the descendant of David Who fulfilled that promise.
Acts 13:35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT GIVE YOUR HOLY ONE OVER TO SEE CORRUPTION.’
This is a quote from Psalm 16:10. Psalm 16 was written by David. In the first half of Psalm 16:10 David used the pronoun “my” to refer to himself as not being forsaken to Sheol. Then David wrote the line quoted by Paul which we see in Acts 13:35. David referred to “your Holy One” which could have applied to David since David was anointed as king, but it can also apply to Jesus since Jesus is The Holy One.
Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid among his fathers and saw corruption;
Acts 13:37 but He whom God raised did not see corruption.
The words “seeing corruption” refer to the decay that usually happens after death.
While David died and decayed, Jesus died and rose again, meaning he did not decay or see corruption.
Acts 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
Acts 13:39 and that in Him, everyone who believes is justified from all things which you could not be justified from through the Law of Moses.
Paul drew a contrast here between Jesus and the Law of Moses. The Law can not justify people, but Jesus can.
Take note of the word “believes”. It is necessary to believe in Jesus in order to be justified. Justified means to be declared righteous. No human is righteous. Only through Jesus can people be justified or declared righteous.
Many people today claim there are many paths to heaven and that all religions are equal. However, this is one of many verses in the Bible which states that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Acts 13:40 Therefore watch out, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
Acts 13:41 ‘LOOK, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH;
FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS,
A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD RECOUNT IT TO YOU.’”
Verse 41 is a quotation from Habakkuk 1:5 Habakkuk had asked Yahweh why He tolerated the sin of Israel. Yahweh responded with the words quoted in this verse, and then said He was bringing the Chaldeans to punish Israel.
Notice Paul did not use the word “fulfill”. He was not saying Habakkuk was a prophecy about Antioch. Paul was simply warning the Jews in Antioch that if they rejected Jesus, then they were putting themselves at risk of the same fate that befell the Israelites in the days of Habakkuk.
Acts 13:42 ¶ And as Paul and Barnabas were leaving, the people kept pleading that these words might be spoken to them the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.
We see two groups of people referenced in this verse. There were the Jews and the God-fearing proselytes. A proselyte is a convert. This tells us there were non-Jews who converted to Judaism and attended the synagogue services.
Look at the word “followed”. Paul’s message was successful in that some of the people in the synagogue believed his message about Jesus.
Acts 13:44 ¶ And the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord.
Think about the phrase “the whole city assembled”. This reveals the amount of attention Paul’s message garnered. Paul attracted this attention by speaking the truth, not by providing entertainment.
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, blaspheming.
Look at the word “jealousy”. Don’t miss the fact that it was the Jews who were jealous. Jealousy is a strong motivator. If you know someone who is resisting the truth, ask if the person might be jealous.
Acts 13:46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
Since the Jews were God’s chosen people, they should have been first to accept the message, but since they rejected it, Paul took it to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:47 For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’”
In this verse Paul quoted Isaiah 49:6 in which Yahweh said it was too small for His servant to merely rescue Jacob, He also needed to be a light to all the nations. Jesus is the ultimate Servant, so the truth about Him needs to be proclaimed throughout the whole world.
Acts 13:48 ¶ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Notice the phrase “appointed to eternal life”. There is an ongoing debate within Christianity as to whether people are chosen by God to be saved or whether man has free will to choose or reject salvation. Some Christians completely reject election and the idea that man does not have free will.
This verse indicates some of the people in Antioch were appointed to eternal life. This is a strong argument in favor of election. This verse does not say it is impossible to be saved without being appointed to eternal life, it merely indicates there are people who are appointed to eternal life.
Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.
Acts 13:50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
Acts 13:51 But having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, they went to Iconium.
It was about 75 miles / 120 km from Antioch to Iconium. It would have taken at least three days to walk from one to the other. Notice the terrain between Antioch and Iconium. The white areas are the highest elevations. Paul and his companions had to navigate through some mountains to get from one city to the other.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The 48th verse of Acts 13 clearly states that some people in Antioch were appointed to eternal life.
How should this verse change your beliefs regarding the debate between election and man’s free will?
How should this verse change your church’s belief on this topic?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”