Verse 16 When someone wanted to speak in public, he waved his hand first. That was the custom. (Look also at Acts 12:17; 19:23; 21:40; 26:1.) The person probably did that to get people’s attention.
Paul greeted both the Jews and the ‘God-fearers’ that were in the synagogue. (Look at the note about Acts 10:1-2.)
Verses 17-25 Like Stephen (Acts chapter 7), Paul reminded the Jews about their history. He reminded them that God had chosen them. God had protected them and he had looked after them. He had given to their ancestors the country that he had promised. He had given to them judges, who would guide them. God had warned the people that it would be bad for them to have a king (1 Samuel 8). He had warned them by means of Samuel. But when they demanded to have a king, God chose Saul for them.
But King Saul did not obey God. So, God rejected him (1 Samuel 15). God chose David instead. David became Israel’s most famous king. Although David had done some very bad things, he pleased God. David always loved God and he wanted to serve God. That was why he pleased God. David was sorry for the bad things that he had done.
Paul showed how God had always helped the Jews. God had helped them for hundreds (100s) of years. He had always looked after them. He chose their leaders. He controlled everything. He had given to them the country that he had promised. He had also promised to give them a Saviour.
Here, Paul introduced Jesus. Paul mentioned John the Baptist first. But John did not want people to think that he was important. He only wanted to show to them that Jesus would come. This was what Paul wanted to do, too. He wanted to do it because Jesus was the most important.
Verse 16 When someone wanted to speak in public, he waved his hand first. That was the custom. (Look also at Acts 12:17; 19:23; 21:40; 26:1.) The person probably did that to get people’s attention.
Paul greeted both the Jews and the ‘God-fearers’ that were in the synagogue. (Look at the note about Acts 10:1-2.)
Verses 17-25 Like Stephen (Acts chapter 7), Paul reminded the Jews about their history. He reminded them that God had chosen them. God had protected them and he had looked after them. He had given to their ancestors the country that he had promised. He had given to them judges, who would guide them. God had warned the people that it would be bad for them to have a king (1 Samuel 8). He had warned them by means of Samuel. But when they demanded to have a king, God chose Saul for them.
But King Saul did not obey God. So, God rejected him (1 Samuel 15). God chose David instead. David became Israel’s most famous king. Although David had done some very bad things, he pleased God. David always loved God and he wanted to serve God. That was why he pleased God. David was sorry for the bad things that he had done.
Paul showed how God had always helped the Jews. God had helped them for hundreds (100s) of years. He had always looked after them. He chose their leaders. He controlled everything. He had given to them the country that he had promised. He had also promised to give them a Saviour.
Here, Paul introduced Jesus. Paul mentioned John the Baptist first. But John did not want people to think that he was important. He only wanted to show to them that Jesus would come. This was what Paul wanted to do, too. He wanted to do it because Jesus was the most important.