13 Now after Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch. And on the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said,
“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and lifted up the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18 And for a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19 And when He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about 450 years. 20 After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And after He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, about whom He also said, bearing witness, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 From the seed of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24 after John had preached before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was fulfilling his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me of whom I am not worthy to untie the sandals of His feet.’ Acts 13: 13-25 LSB
Acts 13: 13-25
Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them - It is said historically that the area was known for pirates, and the way by land for robbers. He notes John, who is John Mark, leaving them here, and it doesn't tell us why he left but we know later that Paul was certainly not pleased. The missionary work is getting harder, the way is more treacherous and tedious as they go further abroad.
Put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia (see map above) - They traveled about 160 miles from Paphos to the southern coast. Since Perga is not on the coast, they most likely arrived at the seaport town of Attalia and journeyed by land about 25 miles northwest to Perga (alternatively if they disembarked at the southern coast [which had no named seaport] they would have had to travel about 13 miles overland to Perga). Perga was the capital of Pamphylia and was located on the River Cestrus (modern name Asku), about 7 miles from the sea and 9 miles east of the seaport at Attalia. Today Perga is a large site of archaeological finds and thus is a tourist attraction, commonly called Eski Kalessi. It is notable that there was a temple to Artemis (aka Diana, the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals and chastity - that last designation is difficult to believe considering her horrid multi-breasted statue!) stood on a hill outside Perga. On Paul's Third Missionary Journey (lasting from Acts 18:23 through Acts 21:26), he would visit Ephesus, the main center of worship of Artemis and the famous Temple of Artemis (cf Acts 19:24-28, 34-38+). - PA
35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. 36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “ Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.…
…38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.… Acts 15: 35-40
V. 14 They went into the synagogue and sat down - It tells us that they are in Pisidian Antioch now, but it doesn't detail the journey, the hours on foot, the mountains, danger of robbers, how they got their food and so on. I think to follow in Paul's footsteps today, the way he did it, you would have to train your body to be up to it. Wherever there was a sizable Jewish population they would have a synagogue, if allowed, and this is where they would read from the books of Moses (Law) and the rest of the OT (the prophets). They would also have discussions amongst the Rabbi, Scribes and students.
Longnecker has an informative note - Pisidian Antioch was in reality not in Pisidia but in Phrygia near Pisidia (cf. Strabo, Geogr. 12.577). To distinguish it from the other Antioch in Phrygia, however, the city was popularly called “Antioch of Pisidia.” It was founded by Seleucus I Nicator about 281 BC as one of the sixteen cities he named in honor of either his father or his son, both of whom bore the name Antiochus. It was situated 100 miles north of Perga on a lake-studded plateau, some 3,600 feet above sea level. The foothills between Perga and Pisidian Antioch largely ruled out any extensive east-west traffic until one reached the plateau area, though following the river valleys one could move northward from the area of Pamphylia. On the plateau Antioch stood astride the Via Sebaste (PICTURE Greek word "Sebaste" = Latin "Augustus"), the Roman road from Ephesus to the Euphrates. The city had been incorporated into the expanded Roman province of Galatia in 25 BC by Augustus, who imported into it some three thousand army veterans and their families from Italy and bestowed on it the title “Colonia Caesarea.” Antioch was the most important city of southern Galatia and included within its population a rich amalgam of Greek, Roman, Oriental, and Phrygian traditions. Acts tells us that it also had a sizable Jewish population. (EBC) - PA
Vs. 15-16 Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it - Wow, Paul continues his pattern of going to the Jewish synagogue in each town first, but what an opening, "say it". That is as wide an open door for the gospel as any. I find it hard to have a comparison in the church, maybe being invited to a Roman Catholic Church and then being allowed to speak on Justification by faith alone and the preeminence of Scripture over tradition. Judaism in itself was not wrong, but it had strayed so far away as to add what didn't belong, and to even miss the Messiah it had so long been waiting for, yet this was predicted by the prophets as well. Paul was probably going to proclaim Christ anyway, but we should pray for such invitations.
V. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers - The patriarchs were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). He moves on to Israel's stay in Egypt, where they went from being sojourners/guests to captive slaves over a period of some 400 years. But during this time the twelve tribes grew into a nation within a nation. God brought them out with His own power.
1Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. 2I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”… Genesis 12: 1-3
…6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. 7I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”… Genesis 17: 6-8
V. 18 He put up with them in the wilderness - Despite freeing them from Egypt, physically, like Christ breaking the bonds of sin, some wanted to go back. He fed them with minimal work on their behalf. Manna fell from heaven and they collected it in the morning, yet they murmured about the Manna, and always reverted quickly to unbelief. Under the Mosaic covenant they promised to follow God's law, but they broke it straight away and worshiped idols.
…21“Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD, 22 not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness— yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— 23not one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it.… Numbers 14: 21-23
Steven Ger - God had sovereignly chosen the Jewish patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, confirming with them an unconditional covenant (Gen. 12:1-7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-12; 26:3-5; 18:13-15). In fulfillment of promises He had made to the Jewish patriarchs, God miraculously delivered their children, the Israelites, from Egyptian bondage (Deut. 7:7-8; Ex. 6:6). However, continually scornful of their miraculous deliverance from Egypt and ungrateful for God's provision in the wilderness, the Israelites, through divine judgment, were condemned to wander for an additional forty years prior to entering the promised land, until the disdainful generation had died (Num. 14:34). Paul notes that God graciously demonstrated mercy by His "putting up" with them, tropophoreō, "to patiently bear with one's ill manners and foul moods" for forty years. - PA
V. 19 He destroyed seven nations in the land - So all sin is against God, and everyone has sinned. He didn't drive the Canaanites from the land because the Jews were not sinners, but because the people groups in Canaan were receiving the wages for their sin. The Jewish people were entering the land solely on the covenant of grace which God had established with Abraham and reaffirmed in Isaac and Jacob (Israel).
…10but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand. 11After this, you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The people of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I delivered them into your hand. 12I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you, but not by your own sword or bow.… Joshua 24: 10-12
…6For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth. 7The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.… Deuteronomy 7: 6-8
All of which took about four hundred and fifty years - There is some disagreement on the best explanation of this time period, but most commentators divide the 450 into 3 aliquots (1) Israel’s 400 years in Egypt (cf Acts 7:6) (2) Israel's 40 years of wilderness wandering (3) About 10 years to conquer and settle the Promised Land (Approximate dates - 1845-1395 BC) - PA
V. 20 After these things He gave them Judges - You can read about these in the OT, including Samson, Deborah and Gideon.
16Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them. 17Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.… Judges 2: 16-17
…24And at that time, each of the Israelites returned from there to his own tribe and clan, each to his own inheritance. 25In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21: 24-25
V. 21 Then they asked for a king - This was also predicted by Moses. Every king that Israel ever had from the worst to the greatest was a testament to the superiority of Christ, the Righteous Branch Who would come from the line of King David.
14When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers. 16But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’…
…17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold. 18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes.…
20Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel. Deuteronomy 17: 14-20
…16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.… Numbers 24: 16-18
1Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. 3And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,… Isaiah 11: 1-3
…6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9: 6-7
V. 22 I have found David the Son of Jesse - Paul continues through their shared heritage, moving on to David, the King that replaced Saul. David was a sinner like all of us, but instead of making excuses and settling on the honor of men, like Saul, David had a repentant heart.
V. 23 God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus - Everything is leading up to here. Job realized the need for a mediator, one was promised as the Seed of the woman, all the way back to the fall. He is the Ram in the thicket, Shiloh, the Branch of David, the Scarlet hanging from Rahab's window, the suffering Servant of Isaiah. Paul is making known to them that the Messiah which was promised had come.
…5Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. 6In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. 7So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’… Jeremiah 23: 5-7
V. 24 After John had preached before His coming a baptism of repentance - John the Baptist was also a fulfillment of the messenger that comes to prepare the way before Christ, the herald comes before the King.
…2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” 3A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.… Isaiah 40: 2-4
V. 25 I am not He - The true herald does not point to himself but to Christ. Anyone who calls themselves a pastor or teacher that points to themselves is not worthy of the title. Anyone who defends himself and his notions or feelings rather than the Word of God is punching at the wind. Anyone who desires to be considered right in his own eyes, in the eyes of men, who only wants to win an argument, will be bound to his error, ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.
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