Acts 13:13-26 (NRSV)
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Verse 13Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem;
Verse 14but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. Verse 15After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it." Verse 16So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: "You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. Verse 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. Verse 18For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. Verse 19After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance Verse 20for about four hundred fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. Verse 21Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. Verse 22When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, 'I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.' Verse 23Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised; Verse 24before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Verse 25And as John was finishing his work, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet." Verse 26"My brothers, you descendants of Abraham's family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.
Devotion
In our time, we need prophets. We don’t need those who use the Bible to predict political events and wars. We don’t need those who promise prosperity to the devout. We need real prophets. We need prophets like John who call the powerful and prestigious to repentance. We need prophets who convict us of our false gods and our indifference to doing justice and loving mercy.
Most of all, we need prophets like John who point to the Coming One who has come. True, like John recognized for himself, we aren’t worthy to untie this One’s shoelaces. But, by grace he comes to us. By grace he takes on our unworthiness and gives us his worth. And by grace he sends us to be prophets, to bring good news of him. Truly, we need such prophets today.
Prayer
Just and loving God, make us prophets who cry out for justice and witness to Christ, who has come for all. Amen.