Acts 13:23

Behold Barnabas giving place to Paul, how should it be otherwise? to him whom he brought from Tarsus; just as we find John on all occasions giving way to Peter: and yet Barnabas was more looked up to than Paul: true, but they had an eye only to the common advantage. “Then Paul stood up,” it says; this was a custom of the Jews, “and beckoned with his hand.” And see how he prepares the way beforehand for his discourse: having first praised them, and showed his great regard for them in the words, “ye that fear God,” he so begins his discourse. And he says not, Ye proselytes, since it was a term of disadvantage. “The God of this people chose our fathers: and the people”, See, he calls God Himself their God peculiarly, Who is the common God of men; and shows how great from the first were His benefits, just as Stephen does. …

( a ) Observe how he twines (the thread of) his discourse (alternately) from things present, from the prophets. Thus, “from (this man’s) seed according to the promise”, ( v. 23 ): ( c ) the name of David was dear to them; well then, is it not (a thing to be desired) that a son of his, he says, should be their king? ( b ) then he adduces John: then again the prophets, where he says, “By condemning they fulfilled,” and again, “All that was written:” then the Apostles as witnesses of the Resurrection: then David bearing witness. For neither the Old Testament proofs seemed so cogent when taken by themselves as they are in this way, nor yet the latter testimonies apart from the former: wherefore he makes them mutually confirm each other. “Men and brethren,” etc. ( v. …

But let us look over again what has been said. “Ye men of Israel,” etc. ( v. 16-21 .) The Promise then, he says, the fathers received; ye, the reality. ( j ) And observe, he nowhere mentions right deeds of theirs, but (only) benefits on God’s part: “He chose: Exalted: Suffered their manners:” these are no matters of praise to them: “They asked, He gave.” But David he does praise (and him) only, because from him the Christ was to come. “I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfil all My will.” ( v. 22 .) ( i ) Observe also; it is with praise (that he says of him), “David after that he had served the will of God:” just as Peter, seeing it was then the beginning of the Gospel, making mention of him, said, “Let it be permitted me to speak freely of the patriarch David.” ( ch. ii. 29 .) Also, he does not say, Died, but, “was added to his fathers. …

Orth. The great Peter alone was sufficient to testify to the truth, for the Lord after receiving the confession of the truth given by Peter alone confirmed it by a memorable approval. But since you are anxious to hear others proclaiming this same thing, hear Paul and Barnabas preaching in Antioch in Pisidia; for they, when they had made mention of David, continued “Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus,” and so on. …