The speech Paul made in Antioch of Pisidia is important because it is a Christian understanding of the history of salvation for all men. The history of ancient Israel was only part of a bigger picture. Of course, Jews might not agree with St. Paul.
It is a beneficial exercise to contrast the speech Stephen made before the Jewish Council (Acts 7:2-53) and the speech Paul made here in Pisidia (Acts 13:16-41). Of course their audiences were different and the speakers had adjusted the contents to cater for them. Today, I would like to focus on the different promises made by God.
In the speech of Stephen, we find the promise which God made to Abraham in Genesis. God would give Abraham land and children though at that time, Abraham had none of these.
Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans, and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living;
yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him in possession and to his posterity after him, though he had no child(Acts 7:4-5, Genesis 12:7).
God had fulfilled His promise. God gave him Isaac when Abraham was 100. In time, Jacob was born and moved to Egypt with his children. After 400 years, the Israelites had multiplied and, led by Moses, left Egypt to conquer Canaan. Then Stephen fast-forwarded to David and Solomon to bring up the Temple issue for which he was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60). All the Jews were familiar with this part of their history.
Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans, and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living;
yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him in possession and to his posterity after him, though he had no child(Acts 7:4-5, Genesis 12:7).
God had fulfilled His promise. God gave him Isaac when Abraham was 100. In time, Jacob was born and moved to Egypt with his children. After 400 years, the Israelites had multiplied and, led by Moses, left Egypt to conquer Canaan. Then Stephen fast-forwarded to David and Solomon to bring up the Temple issue for which he was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60). All the Jews were familiar with this part of their history.
In his speech, Paul quickly repeated a similar history. When he came to David, Paul slowed down a bit and mentioned a different promise.
And when he had removed him (King Saul), he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised (Acts 13:22-23).
Paul had a different perspective. Instead of a promise of land and children, Paul had God promised a Saviour from the posterity of David. But when and where did God make such a promise?
We need to look for this promise outside the Torah and among the prophets.
It all began with the famous Nathan Oracle. When David expressed his wish to build God a Temple, God promised that David's dynasty would never end. This is the Nathan Oracle.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever (2 Samuel 7:12-13).
And when he had removed him (King Saul), he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised (Acts 13:22-23).
Paul had a different perspective. Instead of a promise of land and children, Paul had God promised a Saviour from the posterity of David. But when and where did God make such a promise?
We need to look for this promise outside the Torah and among the prophets.
It all began with the famous Nathan Oracle. When David expressed his wish to build God a Temple, God promised that David's dynasty would never end. This is the Nathan Oracle.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever (2 Samuel 7:12-13).
God's promise did not work out as expected. Israel and Judah were conquered by the Assyrians and Babylonians respectively. The Israelites had no more land on their own. They were ruled by the Gentiles. Then came the prophets to console them. The prophets gave the Israelites a promise of a Messiah. Jews pinned their hope on this Messiah who would restore their independence. This Messianic hope was sustained by the prophets. Isaiah had made several prophecies about the Messiah. For example, the Messiah would be born of a virgin.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good (Isaiah 7:14-15).
Isaiah further foretold the "origin" of this Messiah and his charisma.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear (Isaiah 11:1-3) etc.
Jews have been waiting for this Messiah for ages. They rejected Jesus because he did not fit their expectations. After Jesus, in the span of 60 years, the Jews had followed two different self-proclaimed Messiahs and suffered great casualties. Christians have a different interpretation of the concept of Messiah and pin their hopes on the resurrection of Jesus. Since he had come back to life, Jesus was the Messiah in the belief of Christians who saw themselves the new Israel, replacing the old one.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good (Isaiah 7:14-15).
Isaiah further foretold the "origin" of this Messiah and his charisma.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear (Isaiah 11:1-3) etc.
Jews have been waiting for this Messiah for ages. They rejected Jesus because he did not fit their expectations. After Jesus, in the span of 60 years, the Jews had followed two different self-proclaimed Messiahs and suffered great casualties. Christians have a different interpretation of the concept of Messiah and pin their hopes on the resurrection of Jesus. Since he had come back to life, Jesus was the Messiah in the belief of Christians who saw themselves the new Israel, replacing the old one.
Dear Lord, Your way is not our way. Help us know Your will better. Amen.
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