Friday, September 25, 2026
Acts 13:32-41
32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.’
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,
“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’”
This is one of Paul’s earliest sermons, and it is thick.
I would most certainly get in trouble packing this much content into a sermon!
The main point of the sermon is that forgiveness from sin is available in Jesus (v. 38-39). Getting to that point requires Paul, who is speaking to a Jewish audience, to journey all the way through the scriptures to connect the dots from there to Jesus as Messiah.
For many jews living in that day who did not have immediate interaction with the Jesus movement, they were still keyed in on the temple system and awaiting a messiah who looked like King David.
So, the work that Paul must do in these types of conversations is to skillfully show Jesus’ connection, but also superiority. In this case, he reminds the people that David is on the ground and subject to decay. Jesus, however, was raised from the dead, and is not subject to decay.
As a result, Jesus is connected to David, but greater.
That was tough for the first century Jewish audience to swallow, hence the stern warning against scoffing at this good news.
We have the gift of hindsight, knowing who Jesus is through the gift of the Bible and the church. How good is it that many of us have been able to spend our entire lives knowing that Jesus has come to deal with our sins so that we could spend eternity with him? There are still many people who have never heard this good news.
I believe that this passage, which is born out of a deeply evangelical heart, is encouraging us to share this good news with everyone who hasn’t yet heard it. No, you’re not being called to save anyone, that is Jesus work. You are simply here, as Paul was in his ministry, called to share what God has done for you: namely that he has called you child, forgiven your sin, and made a way for you to spend eternity with Him.
That is good news.
Who will you share it with today?
– Pr. Jason
Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you would go to the cross on our behalf. Help me to be mindful of this gift and to share it with all those who have not heard. Amen.
