Did Isaiah prophesy that Paul will be a light to the gentiles? ~ Cross reference of Acts 13:46 to Isaiah 49:6


Paul asserts that he is an apostle of Jesus. He never met Jesus but he insists that both god and Jesus talk to him and they have appointed him to be a light to the gentiles. What intrigues me is how did he manage to find a prophecy for himself in Isaiah.

Let us see if his claim is right.


All Images are links to Google Images. Copyright violations not intended.
All Greek Text references are from NIV and Tanakh references are from Chabad.

This post is not intended to offend anyone's faith but for those people who are Seeking the truth of THE ONE TRUE G-D of the universe to who we owe all our love, gratitude & devotion.

My encouragement to you is that you read the whole chapter of Tanakh that the Greek text quotes so you get the context and understand what G-d actually said.

G-d Bless and Seek THE Truth.

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you[f] a light for the Gentiles, that you[g] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[h]”

Isaiah 49:6 And He said, "It is too light for you to be My servant, to establish the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the besieged of Israel, but I will make you a light of nations, so that My salvation shall be until the end of the earth."

  • In Isaiah 49, Isaiah is talking about how G-d had planned to use him as a prophet who bring the word of G-d to Israel. Isaiah had very harsh prophecies for Israel and he did not fear the people to speak up.
    • Isaiah 49:1 Hearken, you islands, to me, and listen closely, you nations, from afar; the Lord called me from the womb, from the innards of my mother He mentioned my name.
    • Isaiah 49:5 And now, the Lord, Who formed me from the womb as a servant to Him, said to bring Jacob back to Him, and Israel shall be gathered to Him, and I will be honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God was my strength.
  • Tell me if you read the below verse, does it indicate that it is talking about Paul going to the nations and teaching the gospel that Jesus died for mankind's sins and those who believe in him will be saved?
    • Isaiah 49:6 And He said, "It is too light for you to be My servant, to establish the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the besieged of Israel, but I will make you a light of nations, so that My salvation shall be until the end of the earth."
  • On the contrary, to place himself in this passage, Paul removes the first half that says "It is too light for you to be My servant, to establish the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the besieged of Israel,"
  • So you see that Isaiah is saying G-d has asked him to be the prophet that will bring back tribes of Jacob to G-d not not Jesus or the cross. If you read verse 7 you will see this passage is about Israel and not about Paul or Jesus.
    • Isaiah 49:7 So said the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, about him who is despised of men, about him whom the nation abhors, about a slave of rulers, "Kings shall see and rise, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, for the sake of the Lord Who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, and He chose you."
    • Isaiah 49:13 Sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, and mountains burst out in song, for the Lord has consoled His people, and He shall have mercy on His poor.
    • Isaiah 49:15 Shall a woman forget her sucking child, from having mercy on the child of her womb? These too shall forget, but I will not forget you.
    • Isaiah 49:22 So said the Lord God, "Behold I will raise My hand to the nations, and to the peoples will I raise My standard, and they shall bring your sons in their armpits, and your daughters shall be borne on their shoulder[s]. 23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers and their princesses your wet nurses; they shall prostrate themselves to you with their face on the ground, and they shall lick the dust of your feet, and you shall know that I am the Lord, for those who wait for Me shall not be ashamed.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Is the law not based on Faith? ~ Cross reference of Galatians 3:12 to Leviticus 18:5

Was Jesus the cornerstone that David wrote about? ~ Cross reference of Luke 20:17 to Psalm 118:22

Is Jesus the precious stone G-d laid in Zion? ~ Cross reference of Romans 10:11 to Isaiah 28:16