Context No. 3686 of 4322 · Acts

Acts 13:26-33: in context

26“Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you. 27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. 29When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead, 31and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33that God has fulfilled this to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’

Preaching in the synagogue, Paul tells the story of salvation: though the rulers of Jerusalem condemned Jesus, not recognizing him nor the prophets they read every Sabbath, they actually fulfilled those very prophecies by condemning him. Even human opposition unknowingly served God's plan.

And then the good news at the center: but God raised him from the dead, and he appeared for many days to those who are now his witnesses. Paul declares that the promise God made to the fathers has been fulfilled for their children in the resurrection of Jesus. This is the heart of the apostolic preaching: God has kept his ancient promise, and the proof is the empty tomb and the risen Christ, seen by many. The long story of God's promises, running through all the Scriptures, comes to its fulfillment in Jesus, raised from the dead. What God promised long ago, he has now done, and this good news is sent to us, to be received by faith.

Do I receive the good news that God has fulfilled his ancient promise in raising Jesus from the dead, resting my hope on the risen Christ whom many witnessed?

Sources

Acts 13:30: "But God raised him from the dead."
Acts 13:32-33: "We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus."
Acts 13:27: "Because they didn't know him, nor the voices of the prophets... [they] fulfilled them by condemning him."