Acts 13: 42-52

(Acts 13: 42-52)

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.  Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published through outall the region.  But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.  But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.  And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Those who heard the gospel preached by Paul and his companions at Antioch in Pisidia asked Paul and his companions to deliver the same word on the next Sabbath after the sermon. After the assembly of the synagogue was scattered, many Jews and devout people who had entered Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. The two apostles spoke together and urged them to always be in the grace of God. They were native Jews and godly Gentiles who entered Judaism.

The sermons that were delivered in the synagogue at that time were full of sermons interpreted humanly by mixing some of the Old Testament contents and traditions. The spirit and meaning of the God-given law was lost, and he was more sensitive only to human actions and regulations. No one could be free in front of such a sermon, so it was only painful to listen to them. They couldn't be sure even if they kept the word. However, Paul's sermons have been heard differently to those gathered in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia. He said that God, the ruler and savior of history, established Jesus Christ as the focus of his salvation history, and that Jesus Christ carried the cross to achieve the peak of salvation.

By the way, the Jews say that Jesus crucified and killed the Lord without knowing that He was doing the work of God. It means that those entrusted with the word of God did not recognize the Son of God, but rather killed the Son. But this too, says Paul, was a response to the prophetic words of the Bible, and God raised Jesus Christ, who died on the cross. And he declared that Paul and his companions were witnesses in all this. Now, to all who have not been justified by the Mosaic Law, a new interpretation of the law that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will be justified was told in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia.

Through Paul's preaching, many people who heard righteousness through faith were naturally shocked. Because of those who were thrilled with the Gospel, the next Sabbath came, the synagogue in Antioch in Visidia was crowded. Some of them were uncomfortable with the proclamation of the gospel. The result of preaching the Gospel was so clear. However, there were people who were jealous when they saw people gathering with Paul's company. They are Jews who did not show a favorable attitude toward Paul and his companions. Paul and Barnabas responded to the deliberate and condemned Jews: ``Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 』

Eventually, Paul and Barnabas could no longer stay in Pisidian Antioch. This is because the persecution of the Jews became more intense. It is also because we know that the preaching of the gospel is also the last command of the Lord and the providence of God. Although the Jews persecute even stronger, the door of the Gospel is not closed by it. In spite of the suffering and persecution that were inflicted on the body beyond words, Paul and Barnabas did not lose their peace of mind. The reason was that he knew that all these circumstances were God's providence. Paul and his party went to Iconium, about 125 km southeast.

 

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