DAY #202: Acts 13:42-14:7

Declaring boldly the death and resurrection of Christ and the forgiveness that is possible only through Him, Paul and Barnabas drew huge crowds on their second Sabbath in Antioch of Pisidia. Among those gathered were a number of jealous Jewish leaders. Despite efforts by these leaders to discredit Paul and his message, the assembled Gentiles eagerly embraced the gospel. This further enraged the Jewish leaders, who were eventually able to stir up a mob that ran Paul and Barnabas out of town.

In one short week, the news had spread through the city of Antioch so that almost the entire city turned out to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say. This huge and unusual turnout was likely due to a Gentile influx rather than a Jewish one, since the Jewish attendance at the synagogue probably was fairly constant. The Jewish leaders in attendance were jealous and so they slandered Paul and argued with him, although it must have been difficult taking on this brilliant rabbi in a debate.

In answer to this jealous and abusive response from the Jews, Paul and Barnabas explained that it was necessary for them to go first to the Jews. God planned that through the Jewish nation, all the world would come to know him. They, of all people, should have been the most ready for the fulfillment that had come in Christ. Paul quoted Isaiah 49:6. God had made the Jew to be a light to the Gentiles. He wanted them to be the privileged announcers of salvation. But it was not to be. They rejected the Good News, thereby judging themselves unworthy of eternal life.

The evangelistic thrust was thus turned to Gentiles. God had planned for Israel to be the light (Isaiah 49:6). But Israel had forsaken that task, so it was given to the church to carry out.
Contrast this Gentile response to that of the Jews. They were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message. In a strong statement about the sovereign hand of God, Luke wrote: and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers.

Thus was set the pattern that would surface again and again—the Jews reject, the Gentiles respond in great numbers, and, in turn, the Jews become belligerent and often physically violent against the Christians. But still the Lord’s message spread.

In contrast with the paranoid, politicking Jews working hard to rid themselves of the gospel messengers, the believers, most of whom were Gentiles, were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Like the coming of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem at Pentecost , in Samaria at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, and in Caesarea during Peter’s preaching, the believers here were “filled with joy”—the kind of inexplicable and overflowing joy of one freshly filled with the loving, forgiving Spirit of God.

A mob of Gentiles and Jews from Iconium decided to attack the apostles and stone them. Fortunately, the apostles heard of the plan and fled for their lives. The opposition did not stop their message. Paul and Barnabas went to the region of Lycaonia.


At Lystra, the missionaries healed a man crippled from birth. The pagan Gentiles of the area saw this miracle and concluded that Paul and Barnabas must be Greek gods. Despite an immediate rejection of this foolish notion and loud explanations to the contrary, the apostles could barely convince them. Then the fickle mob turned murderous, prodded by some angry Jews from nearby Antioch and Iconium. Together they stoned Paul, dragged him out of Lystra, and left him for dead. Then, in one of most amazing moments of New Testament history, the bloody apostle got up and went back into the city. His joyful perseverance in the face of extreme persecution is testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

As I read today's passage, I am reminded of what 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV) has to say;

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Jesus forewarned us in the Gospel of Matthew - “Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me." Matthew 24:9 (GW)

Lord, build into us a courage to step up to the plate for you. Build into us a boldness to be Your men and women. Build into us a desire to follow and obey - whatever the cost. Build into us a fearlessness that comes from having our eyes set upon you.

Lord, watch over the kids and workers at VBS this week. Lord, make this a week that changes the destiny of many young people as they give their lives to you.