November 18, 2024 Bible Study — Using the Old Testament to Preach the Gospel

Today, I am reading and commenting on Acts 17-18.

I am not sure why I keep feeling like I need to write about teaching the Gospel from the Old Testament, but that is where I am again today.  Today’s chapter begins with Luke saying that it was Paul’s custom to go into the synagogue in every new city he visited and reason from Scripture (which at that time meant the Old Testament) that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead.  We see he did that in Thessalonica.  Then in Berea Luke tells us that the Jews examined the Scripture to see if what Paul said was true.  Then towards the end of today’s passage we have the account of Apollos in Ephesus.  Luke tells us that Apollos had thorough knowledge of the Scripture and taught about Jesus accurately, even though he only knew of the baptism of John.  After receiving some instruction from Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos went to Achaia and publicly debated Jews there, proving from Scripture that Jesus was the Messiah.  Having written all of that, I think I realized why I am feeling the need to write about teaching the Gospel from the Old Testament.  I do not believe that I could do what Paul or Apollos did, proving that Jesus was the Messiah from the Old Testament.  However, reading Acts this year, I am coming to believe that I should be able to do so.  I believe that we should study the Old Testament in order to show how it presents the Gospel and predicts what happened to Jesus.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.