Expressions of Faith. Rejected!
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 a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
Acts 13:46-49
Most of Chapter 13 describes events in Pisidion Antioch, a city at least 450 miles by boat and on foot from Syrian Antioch.
A bit of backstory: verse 9 reports Saul was “also known as Paul.” Luke uses Paul for the rest of Acts.
Paul and Barnabas arrive in Pisidion Antioch and go directly to the synagogue.
When asked to offer a “message of encouragement” [verse 15], Paul leads his listeners through Old Testament Scripture pointing to Jesus as the Messiah.
Members of the synagogue invite Paul and Barnabas back the next Sabbath when the service ends.
- Things go sour on that second Sabbath.
- Almost the whole town shows up to hear the Word of God.
- Jews become jealous and angry and begin abusive heckling.
- Paul and Barnabas respond by condemning the Jews’ reaction of Scripture.
Ultimately,
The Gentiles present rejoice and honor God’s Word.
But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. [Verse 50]
Paul and Barnabas shake the dust off their sandals in condemnation of the Jews and continue their first missionary journey.
The new disciples are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
If you’re not filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, there’s no time like the present to fix that!
The next Expressions of Faith is Comparing Views on Two Foundational Doctrines in the Protestant Church
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