Scripture Reading : Acts 13:13-43
Theme : Preaching Jesus Christ
- Jesus is the promised Messiah. The Jews practised what was known as the “freedom of the synagogue”, a Jewish custom that permitted recognized visiting teachers to preach in the synagogue, using the Old Testament, by invitation of the synagogue leaders (v15). Paul, beginning from the Exodus from Egypt, proved that Jesus is the Messiah that was promised, a descendant of King David.
- Jesus is the prophesied Messiah. Quoting from the Old Testament, Paul showed further that Jesus is not only the Messiah who is a descendant of David – Jesus is also the Son of God, the Holy One, according to Old Testament prophecy.
- Jesus is the proclaimed Messiah. Jesus did not come to earth and lived a perfect life silently, died silently, and save sinners silently. He preached publicly the message of repentance, died a public death on the cross, and commanded His followers to proclaim Him to sinners. Paul was obeying the command and preached that “through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed” (v38).
Praying the Scripture
- Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Jesus is the Messiah according to God’s promise, and God does not have a Plan B. Let us thank God for showing the way clearly, so that sinners are not left to find the way on their own.
- The Jews knew that the promised Messiah would be a descendant of David, but they failed to understand the Old Testament prophesies that He will be the Son of God. Let us thank God for sending His beloved Son, who is perfectly sinless, and not any man. Only because of His holiness (He is the Holy One) is He able to take away our sins.
- Romans 10:14, 17 – “And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? … So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Pray that we will be faithful to proclaim Jesus as the only God and Savior of all mankind.
经文：使徒行传13:13-43
主题：传耶稣基督
- 耶稣是被应许的弥赛亚。犹太人有一个习俗，称“会堂的自由”，即在会堂领袖的邀请下，犹太人容许探访的知名教师在会堂使用旧约传道（15节）。保罗从以色列出埃及后的历史证明耶稣就是旧约所应许的弥赛亚；祂就是大卫的后裔。
- 耶稣是所预言的弥赛亚。保罗还引用旧约，进一步显示耶稣不但是属大卫后裔的弥赛亚，更是旧约所言的神之子，是圣子。
- 耶稣是所传讲的弥赛亚。耶稣来世并非悄悄地活出完全的生活，悄悄地牺牲，又悄悄地搭救罪人。祂公开地传悔改的道，公开地死在十字架上，并命令祂的门徒要向罪人传祂的名。保罗顺服了这道吩咐，传“赦罪的道是由这人传给你们的”（38节）。
用经文祷告
- 使徒行传4:12：“除他以外，别无拯救，因为在天下人间，没有赐下别的名我们可以靠着得救。”耶稣是神所应许的弥赛亚，而祂没有第二个计划。让我们感谢神清楚地指引道路，叫罪人不被遗弃，自寻生路。
- 犹太人晓得神所应许的弥赛亚将是大卫的后嗣，可他们却无法明白旧约也预言祂亦是神的圣子。让我们感谢神差派祂完美无疵，毫无罪孽的爱子，而不是任何一个人。因着祂的圣洁，我们的罪才得以除去。
- 罗马书10:14, 17：“未曾听见他，怎能信他呢？没有传道的，怎能听见呢？……可见信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。”祈求我们能忠心传讲耶稣是人类唯一之神与救主。
