'Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel [the] prophet. Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet (Acts 13:16-25).’'’
By the first century AD, Sabbath services were established in Synagogues. The services were comprised of Scripture readings, prayer and preaching. The president of the synagogue (presider) would ask anyone to do the readings but there was no one specifically designated as the leader of the service. Paul gave a general outline of salvation history to believers in Antioch which showed that Jesus is the Messiah they were waiting for. Everything that went before brought us to Jesus the Christ who brought to an end the Mosaic Law as the instrument of reconciliation with God. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (Jn. 14:6)." Jesus led mankind out from under slavery to the law to freedom of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2).
The assembly that Paul was addressing was comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, so it represented the whole people of God. The ‘God-fearing’ were the Gentiles who attended the Synagogue but who were not circumcised or committed to the Mosaic Law. The seven nations in the land of Canaan were the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (Deut. 7:1). There was a period of approximately 430 years between when the Hebrews first entered Egypt and the Exodus (Ex. 12:40). The Israelites asked for a king (1 Sam. 8) and God gave them Saul (1 Sam. 9:1 to 10:1). Saul did not follow God’s commands and God appointed David as ruler (1 Sam. 13:13-14). God spoke these words to Nathan the prophet about David, "Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever (2 Sam. 7:16)." It is from David’s offspring that the savior, Jesus, would come (Lk. 1:30-33). John the Baptist heralded the coming of the Messiah (Jn. 1:19-28) who from the Christian perspective marked the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Mt. 5:17).
Almighty God, a thousand years in your eyes are but a day gone by and we, like the dust, and are blown away but hope in your Word which is everlasting. Gather your loving children, O Lord, so that when we are called none will be banished from your presence. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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