Bringing Salvation to the End of the Earth

Acts 13:42-52

Blessing and Conflict at Antioch

42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:

I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul had pointed out the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ by the Jews to whom Jesus had been sent and then they left the synagogue where he preached the truth of the gospel to them all.  Then the Gentiles stayed behind and begged to hear more on the following Sabbath day because their hunger for the Lord and His words of truth and life had been stirred in them.  After the gathering at the synagogue broke up even the Jews who had heard followed after Paul and Barnabas and confidently persuaded them to continue preaching these words the following week which had been hard to hear in their conviction of the truth.  They asked them to continue in this grace of God and tell them more, both Jew and converted proselytes to Judaism.  Then many more came to hear the gospel preached on the following Sabbath.  There were so many interested to hear after listening to what others told them that the number was described as “almost the whole city” who gathered to hear the word of God.  But the devout and stiff-necked Jews among them stirred up trouble and dissension with arguments against the truth and even blasphemy against God’s word out of their envy that the people listened to this new explanation of the scriptures and threatened their traditional beliefs which were their own in according to their added requirements and personal interpretations (2 Peter 1:20).  Paul and Barnabas spoke with boldness as they held back nothing in confronting these lies in direct and true apologetic fashion.  They told the devout Jews who rejected the Messiah and deemed themselves unworthy of the gift of eternal life that they would no longer preach the good news to them but only to the nations (Isaiah 42:6-7, 49:6) promised to and through Abraham (Romans 4:13, 16, Galatians 3:14, 18) and through the channel of redemption which had been Israel according to the Davidic line of the Christ who was Jesus as they preached.  This Jesus Christ was the light of the world to save those of all nations, as many as God calls.  This was evidenced by those Gentiles who heard and as many as had been appointed (predestined) by God to be saved believed and received Jesus for eternal life prepared for them before time began as they gave Him the glory and not their own reason or power to choose salvation.  Then the word of God spread like a flame burning through the countryside by those who heard and told others in their witness to the truth of God’s word and work (John 6:29) which they had believed and had given them assurance of their eternal destination.  The stalwart Jews of tradition who rejected the Lord’s Anointed and the gospel of grace which exposed their controlling system requiring works to earn that salvation turned the influential people against Barnabas and Paul and had them run out of town to stop them.  These faithful servants were not downtrodden but encouraged by God’s Spirit with joy in suffering (Acts 5:41, 1 Peter 4:14) for His name.  They merely brushed off the dust of the disbelief (Matthew 10:14-15) and opposition to the truth and took the gospel to Iconium to continue preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God in Christ.  We should likewise not be dismayed or discouraged by opposition to the gospel which we speak to others, knowing the narrow way is opened to those whom God has appointed to eternal life and they will certainly obtain it through our faithful continuance in the truth we speak and live out to all who are able to hear.  We also go to bring this good news of salvation to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8) in confident obedience with joy no matter how few hear and how many oppose Him and the gospel and we who bear witness of Him to them.