Acts 13:23 From this man's seed, God, according to promise, brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, (24) After John had proclaimed, prior to His public entrance, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Here [Acts 13:24] Paul points out that before Christ's coming, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance. Repentance is to change the mind, and baptism is to bury the repentant ones, terminating them, so that the Savior may germinate them by regeneration (John 3:3, 5-6). As Paul went on to speak concerning "the word of this salvation," he emphasized Christ's crucifixion. He pointed out that the people of Israel had Him put to death. In verse 27 he says, "For those dwelling in Jerusalem and their rulers, being ignorant of this One and of the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by judging Him." They judged the Lord Jesus by sentencing Him to death (Luke 24:20). "And when they had accomplished all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb." Beginning with verse 30, Paul went on to speak of Christ's resurrection: "But God raised Him from among the dead." We have seen that Acts tells us both that God raised up Jesus (2:24, 32) and that He rose from the dead (10:40-41). Regarding the Lord as a man, the New Testament says that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 8:11). But considering Him as God, it tells us that He Himself rose from the dead (Rom. 14:9). (c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Acts, pp. 317-318. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
To unsubscribe from the mailing list, either: Send an email to: [email protected] (No subject or message needed; a blank email will work) or visit www.emanna.com and fill out the unsubscribe form there.
