Preview: Acts 13:13-52
As we travel through the book of Acts together, we now come this Sunday to chapter 13, verses 13-52. In order to understand Luke’s inclusion of Paul’s sermon in this account, we find wonderful guidance in a literary framing of the passage (a literary framing device is when the text itself contains verbal clues as to the beginning of the thought and the conclusion of what is stated). Notice the way 26 verses (from verse 15 through 41) are enclosed by a single thought:
(verse 15) After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” …
…(verses 40-41) Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’
They read that Law and the Prophets and ask for Paul to give encouragement from it. Paul’s point is to say that though they are reading it…they have missed the entire point of it! Paul is proclaiming that they ought to see that Jesus is the Davidic Messiah, as promised through the Law and the Prophets, but as the prophets warned: many may still not believe.
Let us look forward to our time together this Sunday as we look to see the promise of the Messiah fulfilled in Jesus.
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