Paul’s+Word+of+Exhortation

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=**Acts 13:13-52 **=

Why did Paul preach this sermon in Antioch as opposed to somewhere else?
It says in Acts 13:14 that he left Perga and traveled to Antioch. It is likely that he was ill, and had to travel to higher ground in Antioch to help with his symptoms. Several commentaries suggest that he was suffering from malaria. Other sources say that Antioch was strategic for reaching the interior of Asia Minor; this is consistent with bringing the Gospel to the Jews and then the Gentiles. [|[1]] Paul crafted this sermon very strategically. He was a respected man who knew the Hebrew texts, and could speak with authority. He went to the synagogue to preach first because it was his first destination on most journeys. The synagogue was a place where he was certain to have an audience, and Paul took advantage of this in his word of exhortation. [|[2]] He speaks about someone his audience respects-The God of Israel. He doesn’t mention Christ until verse 23. Paul shows that he can relate to the group he is speaking with without compromising the truth. If he had just jumped right into presenting Jesus Christ off the bat, his audience may not have been so attentive.

Paul uses the trajectory of history to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The sermon is about how God presents Jesus Christ as the culmination of all history. This is the Gospel. Yet Paul uses familiar and relevant texts in order to do this. Paul preached the gospel through Jewish history and a proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Israel’s history must be viewed as a series of interventions by God. God saves. God shows mercy. God redeems. God judges. The pinnacle of these interventions is in giving Israel a king-David. God raises him up to point to the ultimate intervention-Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The entirety of Paul’s theology here is built upon God’s constant intervention with Israel, the chief of which was him sending Christ. It is then clear to his audience that God fulfills all his promises to Israel in the person of Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel. The implications of this are massive. Because of Christ forgiveness is now possible. Justification is now possible where the law could not provide it. This is a beautiful thing to a law driven Jewish person in Paul’s audience. This is Paul constant message of justification apart from the law; Paul mentions this in every epistle he writes. This word of exhortation is no different. He preaches that justification is now possible through the work of Jesus Christ. This unites Jew and Gentile. You no longer have to be a Jew in order to be justified. Salvation is extended to all peoples. This is part of God using Paul’s message to unite Jew and Gentile in the Church. This is probably why Paul mentions justification by faith so often in his letters. When you abolish the law you break down the barrier of elite Jewish status.

Paul’s Sermon Preparation for Christ The Grace of God in all of Israel’s history reaches its culmination in the coming of Jesus Christ The history of Israel Fulfillment in Christ This is the most difficult sell for the audience Paul is preaching to. Although it was not all Jewish, it is still a hard sell to say that Jesus is the culmination of all of history. Paul proves his point through continued answers to prophesy in the man of Jesus Christ.
 * 1) a. God’s dealings with Israel
 * 2) b. Israel’s response
 * 3) c. Kings
 * 4) d. Prophets
 * 5) e. Judges

Jesus Christ The Gospel A Call to Faith in Christ Jesus is greater than Moses Freedom from the law Jesus fulfills the requirements of the law Jesus provides forgiveness of sins from the entire requirement of the law Take heed, that you do not suffer what the prophets spoke of God’s judgment is coming to all sinners Repent and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ
 * 1) a. Messiah
 * 2) b. King
 * 3) c. Answer to countless prophesies
 * 4) d. Son of David
 * 5) e. Anointed with the Holy Spirit
 * 1) Jesus: an answer to prophesy
 * 2) Jesus: a man
 * 3) Jesus: God’s son
 * 4) Jesus: Betrayed
 * 5) Jesus: Died on a cross
 * 6) Jesus: laid in a tomb
 * 7) Jesus: Raised on the third day
 * 8) Jesus: witnessed by over 500 people
 * 9) Jesus: Our hope and salvation for Jew and Gentile

God also uses Paul’s word of exhortation as a defense and model for exegetical preaching. [|[3]] The effect of true exegetical preaching is found in verse 44 “The next Sabbath day almost the entire city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” Throughout history revival within the Church has happened as a result of exegetical preaching.

[|[1]] Johnson, Dennis E.. //Let's Study Acts//. (Glasgow: Banner of Truth, 2003.) 161.

[|[2]] MacArthur, John. //Acts 13-28//. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996.) 17.

[|[3]] MacArthur, John. //Acts 13-28//. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996) 16.

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