Acts 13:13-25 Paul’s Bridge-building in a Synagogue
13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphyl′ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem; 14 but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid′ia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:
“Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years. 20 And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
Leaving Cyprus, Paul, Barnabas and their companions sailed for Asia Minor and traveled inland to Antioch in the province of Pisidia (to be distinguished from “Syrian” Antioch—modern Antakya in Turkey—where “the disciples were first called Christians.”) Here word of Paul as troublemaker hadn’t yet reached the synagogue, so he and his entourage were welcomed as learned visitors and invited to preach the sermon on the Sabbath. For some time there would be a fluid relationship between Judaism and Christianity, with no definitive break until after 90AD, so Paul’s reception varied from place to place.
Paul’s preaching in the synagogue is just what might be expected from a good missionary. He begins by building a bridge, reassuring his hearers of their common ground as faithful servants of the God of Israel. Note too that the community includes “God-fearers,” Gentiles who attended the synagogue but had not taken the formal step of conversion (circumcision for men.) We think of Judaism as exclusive and non-missionary, but in fact Jewish monotheism in the first century was vigorous and attractive. Pagan worship of many gods continued of course, but more and more people were philosophical monotheists. This, plus the Jewish reputation for high moral standards and keeping to tradition made Judaism attractive to Gentiles.
Paul ends his recap of Old Testament history by referring to John the Baptist. This might be surprising, but John was well known in Jewish circles in Judea and in the diaspora. Indeed, the Jewish-Roman writer Flavius Josephus wrote about him in his Jewish Antiquities, published in 93AD.
In Antiquities, 18.5.2, Josephus discusses the ministry of John the Baptist and his execution by Herod.
“Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God’s displeasure to him.”
Paul will build on Saint John the Baptist’s message to introduce the congregation to Jesus, the one to whom Saint John pointed as the one who is coming, “the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.”
Metropolitan Tikhon’s 11th Anniversary of Consecration as a Bishop
The Metropolitan Council meeting ended successfully yesterday after a very full week of spirited deliberations. As His Beatitude noted at the conclusion, this diverse group is the most widely representative body in our Church—besides the All-American Council. Meeting with the bishops (members of the Lesser Synod) it demonstrates one of the hallmarks of our OCA life: the collaboration of hiearchical and conciliar in the Body of Christ.
Tomorrow, February 14th, marks eleven years since Metropolitan Tikhon was consecrated a bishop. Eis polla eti Despota! Many years!