We continue with our theme on Satan, Sin and the Church from Acts 13. Beginning with verse 14 we see how Satan continued to prevent the understanding of the gospel as it was preached among the Jews.

Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbath day (the 7th day of the week, our Saturday) and were given an opportunity to speak to a mixed assembly of Jews and Gentile proselytes (converts). Paul took the opportunity to summarize the national history of the Jews as recorded in the law of Moses and the Old Testament prophets from the time they were in slavery in Egypt until the time of King David. He then pointed out that God had promised a Savior who would come from the descendants of David and that descendent was Jesus (v. 23).

To them Paul says in verse 26, “to you the word of this salvation has been sent.” The message was in the words they were hearing. They could hear, understand, believe, accept and obey the message of salvation. There is nothing here or elsewhere in the scriptures properly understood that teaches God must enable one who hears the message to believe by sending the Holy Spirit personally to work in their hearts. The message is the message of the Holy Spirit.

He tells them in verses 27, 28 that as a result of those living in Jerusalem and their rulers not recognizing the scriptures identifying Jesus as the Messiah they asked Pilate to crucify their Savior. Paul then told them that God had raised Jesus from the dead and that He was seen by many witnesses for many days and that the promise made to their fathers was fulfilled in Jesus (v. 30-33).

Paul then appeals to Psalm 2, explaining to them that it spoke of Jesus, not David, and through Jesus those who believed in Him would be justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. Paul may have sensed a negative reaction in the audience at this point (vs. 38, 39) as he abruptly issues a warning to them not to be like their ancestors who failed to see the operation of God in their lives due to their own preconceived ideas (Jackson, Acts, 159).

As the Jews left the synagogue many of them along with devout Gentile proselytes begged to hear more on the next Sabbath. On that day, the Jews seeing the multitudes who came to hear, allowed Satan to enter their hearts, which were filled with envy, causing them to contradict, blaspheme and oppose what Paul preached. Satan still hinders multitudes who hear the message of salvation today in the same manner and so hinders the enlargement of Christ’s church. Further, he uses those who do not understand the scriptures but preach a false gospel that deceives. Paul speaks of these as ministers of Satan who transform themselves into ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). John tells us in 1 John 4:1 that we are not to believe all we hear but test it against the scriptures. We cannot do that unless we know or study the scriptures comparing them with what we hear. Don’t let Satan have his way with you.