Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." Acts 17:2-3

How were Jewish people saved in the Old Testament? By keeping the Law? Heavens no! No one has ever or can ever be saved by keeping the law (Romans 3:20). The Law was given to condemn, not to save sinners (Romans 3:19-20), showing us how dreadfully we all fall short of the glory of God. When a person understands that he stands condemned by God’s law for being less than holy as God is holy (Leviticus 21:8, Exodus 19:6), if he cares, he cries out to God for mercy.

Since Christ came, saved people cry out for grace, trusting in Jesus to do for them what they cannot do for themselves. In the Old Testament (before Christ came) people cried out for grace, trusting God to do for them what they could not do for themselves. Old Testament believers were trusting in Christ, though they did not know who He was, as New Testament believers do.

What has that to do with Acts 17:2-3? The message of a “suffering Messiah” was a tremendous stumbling block to religious Jews who were looking for a conquering messiah—more like David or Solomon—than for a suffering Messiah like Jesus. The concept of a suffering Messiah was abhorrent to religious Jews—but that is who the Messiah is, and it is by His suffering that He saves His people from their sins!