The Sure Mercies of David

Acts of the Apostles (29)

Introduction

We are here given an outline of the sermon Paul preached in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch. This sermon was preached to Jews and Gentile God-fearers both. Remember that by this point in history, the faith of Israel was mighty attractive to many Gentiles, and they admired it from their seats in the back row. But circumcision and keeping the entire Mosaic law was a real barrier to full entry, and so the message brought by the Christian evangelists was therefore electrifying.   

The Text

“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it . . . (Acts 13:14–41).

Summary of the Text

They left Perga and came to Pisidian Antioch, and went to the synagogue on the sabbath, and sat down (v. 14). After the Scripture reading, the synagogue rulers invited them to speak to the people (v. 15). Paul then stood, motioned with his hand, and addressed both the Jews and the God-fearers (v. 16). The God of Israel chose “our fathers,” Paul said, and exalted them with a high arm by bringing them out of Egypt (v. 17). He then put up with them for the next 40 years in the wilderness (v. 18). After destroying the seven Canaanite nations, He divided the land up for them by lot (v. 19). He gave them judges for 450 years (v. 20), until the time of Samuel the prophet arrived. When they sought a king, He gave them Saul, a Benjamite, for 40 years (v. 21). After He removed Saul, He raised up David in his place. God testified concerning David, that he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14), and that he would fulfill all God’s will (v. 22). From this David’s seed, God fulfilled His promise by raising up a savior for Israel—the Lord Jesus (v. 23). Before He arrived, John had come first, preaching repentance (v. 24). And as John finished his ministry, he denied that he was the one, adding that he was unworthy to untie the shoes of the coming one (v. 25). Paul then came to the invitation. You children of Abraham, and you God-fearers, this word of salvation is for you (v. 26). The residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, or the voices of the prophets that they themselves fulfilled (v. 27). There was no guilt in Him, but they demanded Pilate execute Him anyway (v. 28). And after all of that was fulfilled, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a sepulcher (v. 29), and then God raised Him from the dead (v. 30). He was seen over the course of many days by many Galileans, who can bear witness to the fact (v. 31). Notice that the witnesses are described as Galileans.

And so Paul speaks to them about the promise God made to the fathers (v. 32). God fulfilled that promise by raising Jesus, as was promised in the second psalm (v. 33). Once raised, Christ was placed beyond the reach of corruption, receiving the sure mercies of David (v. 34). He also promised in yet another psalm that the Holy One would not see corruption (v. 35). But David himself did see corruption (v. 36). But the one raised did not see corruption (v. 37). They should therefore know that through this new man there is forgiveness of sins (v. 38). Those who believe are justified from all things, things the law of Moses could not touch (v. 39). But the prophets who predicted all this also issued a warning (v. 40). Despisers are called to be astonished by this gospel, and then to die—because God was going to do something that they would in no way believe, even if it were to be spelled out to them (v. 41).    

Untouched by Decay

Paul walks through a history of Israel, doing so in order to highlight David, the one through whom all the promises would be fulfilled. He comes to David in v. 22, the one through whom everything would come together. But even though God had been extraordinarily kind to David, it was nevertheless true that David died and decomposed (v. 36). This means that the promise that had been made in David’s psalm (Ps. 16:10)—that the Holy One would never see decay—had to be talking about someone else. That someone was the Son of David, the Lord Jesus.

Firstborn from Among the Dead

A glorious declaration is made in Psalm 2— “I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee” (Psalm 2:7). Someone who held to the heretical belief that the Son is a created being might point to this and say, “See? Today I have begotten you.” Yesterday he was not.

But it is not talking about anything that happened in the ancient past. Paul tells us in our text that this was fulfilled when Christ was raised from the dead. “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Acts 13:33). This is not saying that Jesus is the first created being. It is saying that He was the first one to be raised from the dead. He was the first begotten from the grave. We are told this elsewhere also.

The Sure Mercies of David

The phrase “sure mercies of David” (v. 34) comes from Isaiah (55:3), and we are told that this is also about the resurrection. This is about the resurrection, but what is the resurrection about? It is about the forgiveness of sins (v. 38). It is about a free and complete and unalterable justification (v. 39). Just as the body of Christ can never decay, so also is it impossible for your justification ever to decay. That justification is perfect forever. And what does that justification encompass? It encompasses everything that you have done. Everything, Reckon yourselves perfect in Christ therefore.