Acts - Week 43

Week 43 Acts 13 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 13:17-20 

17 “The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. 18 He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. 19 Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. 

Paul began his message to the Jewish people by reminding them of their history. Some God-fearing Gentiles were also listening. He mentions how God cared for the nation of Israel during difficult times. Once they were in the Promised Land, God helped them to be victorious over other nations. In these few statements, Paul took them from the book of Exodus to the book of 1 Samuel.  

REFLECT 

Does this remind you of the need to know the Old Testament so you are aware of the background of the New Testament? Old Testament stories are not just for children; adults need to know them also.  

RESPOND 

With your disciple compare the beginning and end for what Paul told about in these verses. Compare Exodus 1:10-14 and 1 Samuel 1:19-20. Samuel would be the prophet who would anoint the first king.  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 13:21-22 

21 Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 22 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ 

God did not want the people to have a king, but they begged for one so He allowed it. Saul was removed from the kingship for disobeying God and David was anointed as his successor. In spite of David’s weaknesses, clearly revealed in 2 Samuel 11, God considered him “a man after my own heart.” No one is sinless but is redeemable. God could count on David to do “everything I want him to do.” 

REFLECT 

Is this a testimony God could have of you? Are you willing to do whatever you think God wants you to do? 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about none being without sin, as Romans 3:23 says, but can be used by God as trust is put in Jesus for salvation. Discuss whether it could be said of both of you what God said about David in this passage.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 13:23-25 

23 “And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! 24 Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. 25 As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’ 

Having referred to David, Paul now quickly moves to His descendant “Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel.” Paul tells of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. John the Baptist had a high privilege of introducing the Savior. On the other hand, John made it clear he was not that Savior. John expressed how unworthy he was in comparison to Jesus, the descendant of David.  

REFLECT 

The more you think of the majesty and wonder of God, do you feel more and more unworthy? All are unworthy of what Jesus has done for them. Live a life that shows thankfulness to Him.  

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 10:31-32 to see that everything should be done to glorify God. Talk with your disciple about the importance of this. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 13:26-28 

26 “Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! 27 The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. 28 They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway. 

Paul now begins to apply his message directly to his listeners as they met on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. By condemning Jesus they fulfilled the predictions of the prophets “read every Sabbath.” These religious leaders could find no legal accusation, yet they asked Pilate to kill Him. This reveals the hatred that religionists can have toward Jesus. Religion is mankind’s attempt to reach God, which always fails; Christianity is God’s attempt to reach mankind, which succeeded through the death of Jesus. 

REFLECT 

Think about the difference between having a religion and having a relationship with Jesus. Only the relationship prepares one to enter eternity. 

RESPOND 

For verses about a relationship with Jesus, read John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24: 6:37. Each has to do with the need to come to Jesus and trust in Him. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 13:29-31 

29 “When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead! 31 And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel. 

Paul now tells of what Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus did after Jesus was crucified. Paul never omits the greatest truth: “God raised him from the dead!” Jesus then appeared to others for 40 days, convincing them of His resurrection. Paul said these to whom Jesus appeared are witnesses to His resurrection. He is presenting an eyewitness report to the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue.  

REFLECT 

Think if you would have been in the crowd that day as Paul preached to those in the synagogue. Would you have wanted to hear more from the eyewitnesses?  

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-9. This passage defines the gospel and tells of the eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. Most of the 500 eyewitnesses were still living when Paul wrote this in A.D. 55. A doubter could have gone to one of them to ask questions. Now we have the Bible that records the eyewitness reports.