David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 13:13-25

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, ¹⁴ but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” ¹⁶ So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and you who 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 put up with them in the wilderness. ¹⁹ And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years. 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 offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. ²⁴ Before his coming, John had proclaimed 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 behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

I can’t blame her for my poor performance in school – third grade through 2 years of college. But the comment of my third teacher in particular sticks with me even today. My uncle had given me a book club membership. I would receive books on a regular basis. I wasn’t the greatest reader, and I didn’t think so much of the gift. I would rather have a toy truck or an erector set. But I dutifully read the books as they came in.

At the end of each book there was a check list. I would check off, “I have read this book. I enjoyed the book. I will tell my teacher about this book.” So I did. And when I told my teacher that I had read the book, she said, “What am I supposed to do about it?” I didn’t know what to say. Or if I did, my upbringing about respecting my elders and teachers prevented me from saying, “Well I thought you might encourage me to read more.” Or perhaps she could have said, “Good! Tell me about it. What was your favorite part?” But, no. Her response was not encouraging at all.

The Synagogue leaders asked Paul and his companions if they had any word of encouragement for the people. The word encouragement is a translation of the Greek, “παρακλήσεως” (paraklēseōs). It comes from the same root as Jesus’ promise of “another helper” (paraklēt), the Holy Spirit. It’s the same root as John uses in 1 John 2:1, an “advocate” who intercedes for us before the Father. John 14:26 makes it crystal clear, recording Jesus’ words, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” 

The Synagogue ruler is asking if this group has any Holy Spirit words to share with the people there. And Paul certainly does. Just as the book of Acts is called, The Gospel of the Holy Spirit, so now the Holy Spirit is invited to speak. And he will speak of Jesus. This is Jesus’ promise to his disciples coming to life,  “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27) Jesus had said of the work of the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14) Paul will glorify Jesus and the word of the Lord will grow. 

That growth has occurred down through the centuries as people have shared words about Jesus from generation to generation. That is a great encouragement to me. I hope it is to you as well.