44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
The previous Sabbath, the people had begged Paul to come back and continue teaching them and now almost the whole city had gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But the Jewish leaders were filled with jealousy at the site of the crowds listening to Paul so they began to contradict what he taught and insulted him. Paul and Barnabas spoke against them. They had come to the Jews first but because they had rejected the message and made their own choice to forsake eternal life, they would now reach the Gentiles just as God had said Messiah would back in Isaiah 49:6. At this, the Gentiles began rejoicing and honoured God’s word (perhaps specifically a reaction to this prophecy in Isaiah). They praised God because the salvation of Jesus extended beyond the Jews to them. Those that were appointed to eternal life, the Gentiles to whom the gospel had been made available, believed. In this passage, we see the coexistence of God’s sovereign will and human freedom. The gospel was made available to both Jew and Gentile. The Jews rejected it and the Gentles accepted it and believed. The word of God spread throughout the region but the Jewish leaders incited persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the district. Paul and Barnabas didn’t try to force belief on anyone. Instead, they shook the dust off their feet (Luke 9:5; 10:11) as a sign of leaving them with their own responsibility for their choices and then went to Iconium. But those [Gentiles] who had believed were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
While God has sent a Saviour in Jesus and made a way for everyone to be reconciled to Him, we are all responsible for our own choice whether to believe or reject Him. As believers who share the gospel with others, we must remember that we cannot argue or force anyone into the kingdom. We can only present God’s message clearly (Col 4:4) and then it is their choice.
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Prayer for Spiritual Insight: Ephesians 1-2