Acts 13:26-41
The Promise Fulfilled in Jesus
26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
28And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
29When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30But God raised Him from the dead,
31and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.
32And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
33He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’
34In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’
36For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.
37But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
39Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:
41‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Paul now speaks directly about Jesus. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, yet their actions fulfilled what the prophets had said. Jesus was killed, placed in a tomb, and raised by God. The witnesses who saw him alive carried that testimony to the people.
But God raised Him from the dead,
Paul announces forgiveness and justification through Jesus. The law of Moses could not accomplish what Jesus accomplishes for everyone who believes. This is good news, but Paul also warns his listeners not to dismiss the work God is doing. Grace invites a response; it is not merely an interesting report.
Paul tells the synagogue that the message of salvation has been sent to them. The people in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus or understand the words of the prophets read every Sabbath, yet they fulfilled those words by condemning him. Pilate had him executed, but God raised him from the dead. The resurrection is not an afterthought in Paul's sermon; it is the reason the promise to the fathers can now be announced as good news.
Paul distinguishes the law of Moses from what God now gives through Jesus. Everyone who believes is justified from things the law could not justify. This is not permission to treat sin lightly. It is an announcement that forgiveness and a right standing with God are received through the risen Christ rather than earned by a record of performance.
Paul closes with a warning from the prophets. His hearers must not look at God's work and respond with the disbelief that leads to ruin. The sermon asks them to make a decision about Jesus, but it does so by walking carefully through the Scriptures and the public witness to his death and resurrection.
Questions
1 What did the rulers fail to recognize?
AnswerThey failed to recognize Jesus.
2 What did God do after Jesus was placed in a tomb?
AnswerGod raised Jesus from the dead.
3 What is proclaimed through Jesus?
AnswerForgiveness of sins and justification are proclaimed through Jesus.
4 What warning did Paul give?
AnswerHe warned them not to become scoffers who refuse to believe God's work.
What This Means for Us
The resurrection is the center of the message, not a footnote. Because God raised Jesus, forgiveness is offered and our standing before God rests on Christ rather than on our ability to make ourselves acceptable.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the forgiveness and new standing you give. Keep us from treating your resurrection as a small idea, and help us respond with faith. Amen.