July 23rd, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Bible In a Minute!

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, reign in my heart. Open my eyes, quiet anger, dispel worry, and spread Your light in my spirit.

Read Acts 13:13-25

[13] From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. [14] From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. [15] After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” [16] Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! [17] The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; [18] for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; [19] and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. [20] All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. [21] Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. [22] After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ [23] “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. [24] Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. [25] As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“The Bible offers to us a way of understanding the world in a fresh perspective, a perspective that leads to life, joy, and wholeness” (Walter Brueggemann).

Think Further

Luke has only given us notes of what Paul says. The Old Testament is raced through in a few paragraphs as a people are called, rescued, given a king and then provided with a Savior. Yet his outline fits perfectly with earlier sermons: Peter’s focus on the Davidic King in Acts 2 and Stephen’s more extensive Old Testament overview in Acts 7. There is little evidence that Paul was a latecomer rewriting the Christ story. It is still the very same Gospel!

It is God’s story that we read. Notice how all the initiative lies with him. He chose … led out … endured … overthrew … gave. A people are formed and protected, and their leadership comes from God, too: “he gave them Saul … he made David their king” (21,22). We must keep learning and remembering the centrality of what God has done. The constant temptation is to put ourselves back in the center. What is more, it is the story of what God has done in spite of both enemies and the people themselves.

It is ultimately Jesus’ story. Prophets give way to kings and finally to the Christ in this whistle-stop tour of leaders of God’s people. “People of Israel” (16) … “the God of the people of Israel” (17) … “has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised” (23). Israel’s Scriptures are designed to lead us to Jesus. John the Baptist insists, too, that I must not stop my journey short of Jesus himself (25). We need to remember that the Old Testament, as much as the New, is the Christian’s story. The Messiah did not appear without warning or promise. Do I know my Scriptures? Could I start by studying some characters in the Old Testament and arrive at Jesus?

Apply

“If you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak” (Acts 13:15). What an invitation! How are you ready to do just that for someone?

Closing prayer

Spirit of God, sensitize me to faith-sharing opportunities. Embolden me to point others to Christ when You give me the opportunity. Use me for Your glory.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store