From the Old Testament, Paul describes Jesus and His resurrection.

Acts 17:1-3

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“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.” Acts 17:1

Paul and his companions had just been at Philippi, as described in Acts 16:11-40 [circled in red on the map below]. They went through Amphipolis, Apollonia, and then came to Thessalonica [circled in yellow on the map below]. In Thessalonica, there was a Jewish synagogue, and the events surrounding the hostility towards the preaching of the Good News was connected to the Jewish community there.

“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

The custom of Paul was to visit the Jewish synagogues and to show how Jesus is the Christ, Son of God, and the fulfillment of all of the laws and Prophets of the Old Testament. In the Jewish synagogues, others were allowed to share their insight from the scriptures. The scriptures were only from the Old Testament because the written word of the New Testament had not yet been put together. Faith in Jesus Christ came merely by hearing the testimony of Jesus and believing in the heart and confessing by mouth that He is Lord.

As a 1959 “Baby Boomer”, I attended a Church when I was in my 20^s that allowed for a time of testimonies. Anyone could stand up and share with the congregation about their life with Jesus Christ. This was also a time when people spoke openly about Christ who died on the Cross to atone for sin, was resurrected from the grave after three days, and who gives eternal life to whoever believes. Our testimony was, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 

In the days of Paul, the Old Testament was the entire of word of God [Except Jesus was the word made flesh, and faith came by hearing His testimony]. If Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Scriptures would verify that, so Paul used the Old Testament Scriptures to show how Christ is the fulfillment of all Prophecy. The New Testament is filled with quotes from the Old Testament to prove Jesus is the Christ and Savior of the world. The “scarlet cord” is a phrase referring to the Old Testament Scriptures pointing to Jesus as the Christ. Today, the Old and New Testament has become the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Examples of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Old Testament include Psalms 22 and
Isaiah 53. “But like men they transgressed the covenant; There they dealt treacherously with Me.” Hosea 6:7 The covenant was that God would send his Son Jesus Christ to bring eternal Salvation, but the Jewish leaders conspired to kill Him. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you will come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2 Jesus Christ is the eternal Savior, born in Bethlehem and King of all kings.

Our Lord Jesus spoke of how Moses wrote of Him, Jesus said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” John 5:46 Paul also referred to Christ as been the Rock mentioned in the Old Testament from which the Water of Life sprung forth, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” 1 Corinthians 10:4-5

Philip said, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth…” John 1:45-46

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1