Connect Acts 13:26 with Romans 1:16 on the power of the gospel. Acts 13:26 — A Salvation Message Sent to Us “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.” • Paul is speaking in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, addressing two groups: physical descendants of Abraham and “God-fearing” Gentiles who worship Israel’s God. • The phrase “to us” underscores that the gospel is not distant theory; it is a personal, present offer of rescue. • “Message of salvation” ties directly to Isaiah 45:22 and Luke 2:10–11, fulfilling promise and proclamation. Romans 1:16 — The Gospel’s Power Defined “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.” • “Power” (dýnamis) points to divine ability, not mere persuasion. • Salvation is offered “to everyone who believes,” mirroring the dual audience of Acts 13:26. • Priority to the Jew, then the Greek, reflects covenant continuity while affirming universal reach (cf. John 4:22; Ephesians 2:13-18). How the Two Verses Interlock • Same messenger: Paul delivers the gospel in Acts and summarizes its essence in Romans. • Same recipients: Jews and God-fearing Gentiles/Greeks. • Same core: salvation through Christ, presented as God’s powerful act. • Acts 13:26 shows the gospel sent; Romans 1:16 explains why that sending matters—it carries God’s saving power. The Nature of This Power • Power to justify (Romans 3:24-26) — guilt removed, righteousness credited. • Power to regenerate (Titus 3:5) — dead hearts made alive. • Power to unite (Galatians 3:28) — ethnic, social, and gender walls dismantled. • Power to keep (1 Peter 1:5) — believers shielded by God’s power until final salvation. Old Testament Roots, New Testament Fulfillment • Promise to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). • Prophetic anticipation: “The LORD has bared His holy arm before all nations” (Isaiah 52:10). • Fulfilled in Christ: “In your seed all families of the earth will be blessed” (Acts 3:25-26). Practical Implications for Believers • Confidence: The gospel we share carries God’s own energy to save (1 Corinthians 1:18). • Inclusivity: No background bars anyone from receiving salvation (Revelation 5:9). • Urgency: Since God has sent the message “to us,” we steward it faithfully (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). • Perseverance: The same power that saves sustains through trials (Romans 8:31-39). Conclusion — One Gospel, One Power Acts 13:26 announces that the saving message has arrived for Jew and Gentile; Romans 1:16 reveals that this message is God’s own power unleashed for all who believe. Trust it, share it, live by it. |
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