Those who oppose us
Acts 13:44 to 14:7
How do we look at opposing forces? There are those who oppose the Christian message of Salvation through Jesus Christ alone. There are those who willfully and some not so willfully subvert the message. How do we stand against them? Do we stand in fear? Do we cower in the corner? Do we shut the door, sometimes in fear or sometimes because we cannot be bothered at that time? Remember the words of Elisha to his servant as he saw the multitude of soldiers coming (2 Kings 6:15-17) When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.16 "Don’t be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Those that are with us are more than those who are with them. When we face confrontation over matters of faith, remember those words. In this passage we are also going to see some miraculous things as well. Lets go to the passage and see what the Holy Spirit has for us this day.
AC 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
Luke talks of the excitement in the city over the message of Paul and Barnabas. In verse 43 we read 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
It is no stretch of the imagination that Paul and Barnabas spent that week teaching the people. It is said by J.W. McGarvey Paul’s characteristic zeal, which afterward would cause some sober men to style him a babbler, would not permit him to remain silent for a week, when the tide of public opinion was running so strongly in his favor. The public opinion of Paul and Barnabas must have been high; the town comes out to meet him. This is similar to Samaria with the woman at the well, the whole town comes to meet Him and hear His message. The same is true with Paul and Barnabas, no miracles, but a strong pertinent message. It would be difficult for the almost the whole town to gather in the Synagogue, they were not made to accommodate such large crowds. Why? Were the Jews not very evangelistic? Probably. They were though very high on segregation. Not expecting a high turnover from the Gentiles, they kept the Synagogues in size to the Jewish population. It is possible that they did not meet at the Synagogue because of this, but not likely. This would go against the style and position of Paul and Barnabas. The news of the message of Paul and Barnabas spread throughout Antioch of Pisidia. It is possible that the Jews, the converts to Judaism and the God-fearers sat inside the Synagogue, while the other Gentiles gathered outside. Paul then would have preached from the doorway. The seating arrangement was not like that of chapels today. There were little by way of benches. Most would have sat on mats or laid on the floor, it would be easy then to turn and face the doorway.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
The word used for Jealousy is actually the word used for zeal, it denotes wrath, indignation showing they rejected the message. Why? The Gospel is good news to both Jew and Gentile. Yet it threatens the Jews. Why? Paul’s message showed that Jesus is the Only Way. His message threatens the Law, matter of fact that is what James tells Paul when he returns to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey. Why would the Jews see Paul’s message as threatening to the Jewish faith? Paul said in verse 38-39 Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
What the Law was unable to do, Jesus did. When the whole identity of the Jewish religion is in the Law of Moses, this is threatening. Paul spoke about how the Law could not save us and how Jesus did. Paul’s letter to the Romans speaks about the Law and how it was a schoolmaster. In Romans 8 Paul tells us the Law was powerless because of the sin nature. This threatens the “identity” of the Jewish people.
The Synagogue would not have held such a crowd. It is possible that Paul stood in the doorway speaking both to the Jews and converts to Judaism as well as the God-fearers inside, and the Gentiles outside. The Jews inside spoke against the message of Paul, not the person of Paul. I would liken it to getting up and saying things like “No good respecting Jew should listen to this babbler, the Law was given to us by God and only those who follow it will see God.” This problem will come up in Jerusalem later.
AC 13:46 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.
They stiffened with courage; spoke plainly and boldly, answering their critics. Much like a courtroom debate, Paul and Barnabas now address the accusers not the crowd. Speaking to the Jews first is a priority to Paul, but we should not think that we have the gospel because the Jews rejected it; the Gospel would have come to the Gentiles regardless. When the angels announced the birth of Christ, they said it was Good news for all men. The Great commissions, Mark 16:16ff, Matt 28:19-20, Acts 1:8 tell of the good news first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. All the rejection did at this point was to expedite the gospel coming 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.’ "
Paul quotes Isaiah. The prophecy is considered to be Messianic. But it would be one of those prophecies that have fulfillment in the Messiah, and greater fulfillment in the Church. Bring the Israelites back to God, as Ezra did after reading the scroll on the steps after the exiles came back to Jerusalem, as Jesus did, as the church does. Not saying we are to seek out Jews first, but everyone. Paul sees the point in preaching to these Jews as fruitless. There is a time when we stop preaching. But never a time we stop loving and praying for others. Paul constantly yearned for his fellow Jews to come to Christ. Romans 9 he says he wished he could be cursed for their sakes. There is a time to stop teaching and trying to reach someone. But we should never stop praying for them. Maybe we aren’t the ones to reach them, it is then time to move away from the situation and let God put someone else in there. Paul let it known that it was his hearts desire to see all of Israel be saved (Romans 10:1) and it should be ours as well for the whole world.
AC 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
This verse raises some controversial issues. But if we read it slowly we shall see the whole picture. First, speaking of the Gentiles, they were glad and Honored the Word of God. The term Honored would apply to obedience, they obeyed the Word of God. The Greek word is doxazo, which would mean to give glory and honor, in other words, obedience. So they obeyed the Word of God, and because they obeyed the Word of God they were then “appointed” for eternal life. Not a predestinational appointment, but one now gives because of their obedience to the Word of God.
AC 13:49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
Whether by good publicity or bad, the word spread. Paul said “What does it matter, whether from good motives or bad, all that matters is that Christ is preached.” The important thing is the word is getting out. It is then up to us to harvest the fruit from that publicity for the Lord.
50 But the Jews 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.
The Jews used the Gentiles who had not gone after Paul to come against him. Probably citing him as a threat to the Pax Romana. Any threat to the Peace of Rome had to be dealt with or the Romans would take away their high position and appoint someone else. So possibly the Jews used this to get these prominent Gentiles to expel Paul and Barnabas from the area.
51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
Two actions occur here, one Paul and Barnabas will not stay where they are not wanted and two they “shake the dust” from their clothing. This is symbolism. Mark 6 and Luke 10 talk about this. Jesus said, “they who reject you, reject me, and they who reject me, reject the one who sent me.” The shaking of the dust is symbolic; the dust is what will be left of those who reject the Gospel. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, Tyre and Sidon than those who reject the Gospel.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
This is in reference to the disciples now made by the preaching of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia. Filled with the Holy Spirit and Honored the Word of God is reference to complete obedience to the Gospel message, they believed and was baptized. There is no other way to neither Honor the Word of God nor receive the Holy Spirit.
