Earlier, we studied Peter’s promised blessing of salvation in Acts chapter two. Peter used Psalms 16:10 and 110:1 to prove that Jesus was the promised seed of David who was raised from the dead and exalted to God’s right hand.
Now, we want to examine Paul’s sermon in Acts chapter 13 and see that he taught the same thing that Peter did in Acts chapter two. Paul uses three Old Testament Scriptures to prove that Jesus is now King.
Paul went into the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia and preached to the Jews. (Acts 13:14-16) Paul, mentioning David, said, “Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.” (13:23) Paul said, “… To you is the word of this salvation sent.” (13:26) Paul, like Peter, said the Jews killed Jesus. (Acts 13:27-29; 2:23) But, Paul quickly says that God raised Jesus from the dead. (13:30)
The apostles were witnesses of Christ’s resurrection and proclaimed “how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again…” (Acts 13:31-33)
The first Old Testament passage Paul used to show Christ is presently King was Psalms 2:7. “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” The phrase, “… This day have I begotten thee” refers to Christ’s resurrection from the dead. “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. ” (Acts 13:33)
The context of Psalms 2:7 makes it plain that Jesus is God’s anointed King. We are told in Psalms 2:1-2 that the heathen rage against the LORD’s anointed. This same passage is used in Acts 4:25-28 to show how Herod, Pontus Pilate and the Gentiles raged against God’s anointed one, Jesus Christ. Psalms 2:6 says, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”
The context further states, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance … Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalms 2:8-9) Christ’s kingdom began defeating those who opposed God’s plan starting with the Jewish nation and then the Roman Empire. (cf. Revelation 19:15-16)
The second Old Testament passage Paul uses in Acts 13 comes from Isaiah 55:3. The ESV, NASB, and ASV help to better understand Paul’s point. “And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, I will give you ‘the holy and sure blessings of David’.” (Acts 13:33 ESV) The sure blessings of David are connected to the fact of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The blessings here referred to include the spiritual blessing of the forgiveness of sins.
The third Old Testament proof passage that Paul used was from Psalms 16:10. (See Acts 13:35) Peter had used this same passage in Acts 2:27. David’s body saw corruption. But, Jesus’ body did not because He was resurrected. (Acts 13:36-37)
Paul said, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins…” (Acts 13:38-39) Also, Paul warned unbelieving Jews in 13:40-41. “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets…” and then quoted Habakkuk 1:5.