The first documented sermon by the apostle Paul on his missionary journeys (indeed the first one documented at all) was given at the request of the Jewish leaders of the synagogue under the call for words of encouragement for the people (Acts 13.15). During the sermon itself, Paul indicates that what he was preaching was the message of salvation (13.26). It seems important then to consider these words, as they were provided for us by God’s servant, St. Luke. Consider the following outline of Paul’s message of salvation.
16 Paul stands and motioning with his hand addresses Jew and Gentile alike.
Paul then proceeds to recounts the history of Israel highlighting particular points about the nature of the people, God’s work amongst them, and his fulfilling of promises.
17 God’s election of the people of Israel and the Exodus
18 God’s patience with rebellious Israel in the wilderness wanderings.
19 -20a God giving victory in His people’s conquest of the promised land of Canaan.
20b God gave Judges until Samuel.
21 When Israel asked for a king, God gave them Saul for another period of forty years.
22 Mentioning that God removed Saul, Paul speaks of God raising up David, a man after his heart, who will do his will.
23 Speaking of David’s offspring, Paul connects Jesus as the promised Savior of Israel, in the Davidic covenant.24 He then jumps ahead in history to John the Baptist who called Israel to repentance before the coming of Jesus, possibly invoking the Elijah imagery of Malachi.
26 Paul now moves back to to the patriarch Abraham, calling Jew and Gentile alike to recognize that the message being proclaimed to them was salvation.
27 – 37 Because of their inability to recognize and understand the very one they read about every Sabbath, the people of Jerusalem condemned Jesus, an innocent man, to death by the hands of the Roman official, Pilate, thus fulfilling what was written about their savior, specifically that he was executed on a tree, laid in a tomb, and raised by God from the dead. This was attested by many witnesses and is the good news that was promised by God. This promise of God that God’s own Son, the offspring of David, would rise from the dead, was given to our fathers but was fulfilled by God to us his children.
38 – 39 This message of salvation is proclaimed as the forgiveness of sins, true freedom (dikaiothenai), that everyone who believes may be found right, in a way that Moses’ Law could not accomplish.
40 – 41 He concludes his sermon with a warning from the Prophets to not reject this message.
42 – 52 When Paul and Barnabas are urged to speak again on the following Sabbath, while almost the whole city was there to listen, the jealousy of the Jews attempted to undermine and contradict Paul’s proclamation. At this, Paul declares that he is turning to the Gentiles with his message of salvation and eternal life. Rejoicing and glorifying ensued, as did persecution, joy and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
What are we to make of all of this? Well, one observation might be that when proclaiming to Jew and Gentile audiences, Paul brings his audience back to the beginning of the story of Israel, retelling the story in such a fashion that God is lifted up by His faithful working amongst rebellious people and the fulfilling of His word even through those who claim to believe it and yet killed their salvation. Also, this message of God’s faithfulness to His promises includes the call for those who believe to receive forgiveness of sins, indeed salvation. Here is the evangelical gospel. Taking from Luke’s commentary on this incident, we could include the elements of eternal life, joy, and the filling of the Holy Spirit along with the forgiveness of sins as composing what salvation means to Paul (at least as articulated in this sermon and scenario).
