Paul’s sermon had a positive effect on many of his hearers. As he and Barnabas departed from the synagogue in Acts 13:42, the people begged these men of God to hear them explain their message more fully the following Sabbath. When the assembly gathered at the synagogue was dismissed, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism who had been present followed after the 2 men. Paul and Barnabas ministered to these people, urging them to continue in the grace of God. A new community of believers was ready to blossom here in Antioch!
On the next Sabbath, nearly the entire population of Antioch at Pisidia gathered to hear the word of the Lord from the mouth of Paul. But when some of the Jews saw such sizeable crowds, they became consumed with jealous resentment and began to directly and openly speak out against what Paul was proclaiming, provoked by their zeal for the law of God. Besides openly contradicting Paul’s message, they also reviled him, slandering the message of God. How would Paul and Barnabas respond to vitriolic hatred?
Paul and Barnabas, filled with boldness through the Holy Spirit, cried out over the tumult of the multitude, declaring that it was necessary (as a priority: good and proper) for them to first declare the gospel to the Jews. But since they indignantly demonstrated loathing and contempt for God’s Word, they must consider themselves to be unworthy or unfit for eternal life. Thus, in a dramatic pivot, Paul and Barnabas proclaimed that they would now turn to the Gentiles. Their basis for such a turning was found in the command of the Lord for them to be light bearers (or gospel bearers) for the Gentiles (a citation from Isaiah 49:6).
When the Gentiles heard such dramatic revelation of the will of God and Christ’s command that the gospel should also be preached to them, they were filled with gladness, rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord. This was the exact opposite response of the Jews. In a significant theological statement by Luke about God’s sovereignty in salvation and specifically about the doctrine of predestination, as many of the Gentiles who were appointed by God in eternity past to eternal life believed the gospel, trusting in Christ, all to His glory.
This favorable response brought a vicious persecution as the zealous Jews incited the people of influence in the city to expel Paul and Barnabas from the city. The missionaries are banished, but the gospel has taken root in Antioch and cannot be extinguished. In response (and in accordance with Jesus’ instructions on how to respond to gospel-rejecting communities), Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust from their feet against these hostile Jews: a spiritually symbolic act that signified their holy condemnation of their rebellion against God. The Antioch converts were not left depleted or defeated by the departure of the missionaries. Instead, they were filled with joy … a manifestation of the indwelling Holy Spirit and an acknowledgement of the continuing growth of Christ’s kingdom.
You can listen to this teaching on Acts 13:42-52 by clicking on the following link: A Light For The Gentiles
