Acts 13:13-25
A Savior from David's Line
13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
14And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.
15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.
18He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.
19And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.
20All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
21Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
22After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’
23From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.
24Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But there is One coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
Berean Standard Bible
John Mark leaves the group in Perga, while Paul and Barnabas continue to Pisidian Antioch. In the synagogue, the leaders invite a word of encouragement. Paul begins with Israel's story: God chose the fathers, brought the people out of Egypt, gave them the land, and raised up David as king.
From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.
Paul does not treat Jesus as an isolated idea. He shows how the long story of God's faithfulness reaches its promised center in Jesus. John the Baptist also understood his own role: he prepared the way and refused to take the place of the One who was coming after him.
Paul and his companions leave Paphos by sea and arrive at Perga in Pamphylia, where John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem. From Perga they continue to Pisidian Antioch and enter the synagogue on the Sabbath. The synagogue leaders invite them to speak, so Paul stands and begins with Israel's history.
The sermon moves through the exodus, the wilderness, the judges, Samuel, Saul, David, and God's promise to bring a Savior from David's descendants. John the Baptist appears as the final preparatory witness, refusing to take the place of the one who comes after him. Paul is showing that Jesus is not an unexpected detour from Israel's story; he is the promised arrival toward which the story has been moving.
The departure of John Mark is mentioned without explanation here, but it will matter later when Paul and Barnabas disagree about taking him. Even a mission that is clearly directed by God includes changes in personnel, long travel, and unfinished tensions. The message remains the center as the team continues.
Questions
1 Where did Paul and Barnabas go after Perga?
AnswerThey traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch.
2 What did the synagogue leaders invite Paul to give?
AnswerThey invited him to speak a word of encouragement.
3 Whom did God raise up as king?
AnswerGod raised up David as king.
4 What did John say about the One coming after him?
AnswerHe said he was not worthy to untie that One's sandals.
What This Means for Us
Jesus is not a disconnected rescue from an unrelated God. He is the Savior God promised through Israel's story. Remembering the larger story gives patience to our faith and keeps our hope anchored in God's character.
Prayer
Faithful God, help us see Jesus within the story of your promises. Keep us from seeking attention for ourselves when we are called to point toward him. Amen.