Commentary on Acts 13:26-33

Paul continues his discourse on salvation history and on how Jesus was handed over by the leaders of his people into the hands of the Romans and executed.  He addresses his words both to the Jews in his audience (“children of the family of Abraham”) and the Gentile converts (“you who are God-fearing”).

Paul makes it clear that the Jerusalem leaders and the people in the city failed to recognise the true identity of Jesus as the expected Messiah.  However, he does not in any way implicate his hearers.

In doing what they did, Jerusalem was only fulfilling the well-known words of the Old Testament prophets – prophets whose readings were heard every Sabbath in the synagogue, and hence with which his hearers would be familiar.  And, by handing over an innocent man unjustly into the hands of Pilate, they were simply accomplishing everything about Jesus that had been written in those same ancient readings.

But it was not the end, for God raised Jesus up and the apostles are the witnesses to this fact over a period of several days (40 days according to Luke’s account). Paul and his companions now are proclaiming this good news of what God has done for his people through Jesus Christ.  He emphasises that it is all the expected fulfilment of everything that was prophesied.

Jesus is no upstart.  He is the expected climax to the history of God’s people.  Paul quotes from the Psalm,

You are my son; this day I have begotten you.

The words clearly are pointing to Jesus as God’s Son. By his resurrection Christ was enthroned as Messiah, and from then on his human nature enjoyed all the privileges of the Son of God.  Paul’s words are an unambiguous invitation to the Jews of Antioch to become believers and disciples.

Let us, too, renew our commitment to following with all our heart and soul in the steps of the dying and rising Jesus.