Acts 13:15 (NIV1984)

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

From Background Notes [BN] for June 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Judging from Paul's remarks, those texts might have come from Deuteronomy, as well as from Joshua, Judges and Samuel. When Paul began to develop his Gospel themes ― those concerning Jesus ― he drew from the Psalms (Tehelim), Isaiah and Habakkuk in support of his explanations.

Were these part of the original Parashot (Scripture "portions" for Shabbat), or rather did Paul expand his interpretation by reference to them? One thing we do know: the rabbis frowned on the use of portions from the Writings (Kethubim), the third section of the Hebrew Bible, on the Sabbath day, and the Psalms belonged to that third division. This suggests innovation on the part of Paul, and may reveal his desire to enlarge the perspective of his audience beyond the limits of traditional liturgy. That said, we must marvel that Paul arrives in Antioch-Pisidia for a Sabbath service, listens to the assigned readings, and then proceeds to preach the Gospel based on whatever texts had been read! This is possible because "in all the [Hebrew] Scriptures, Torah, Prophets and Psalms" Jesus can be found. Luke records Jesus' own words to this effect in his own Gospel (Luke 24:27, 44). We must bear in mind that when the early Christian missionaries preached the word of God, it was the Old Testament which they used, interpreted by the Holy Spirit as fulfilled in Jesus, Israel's Messiah and Lord of the world.   [BN, 11]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm