Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba’s First Missionary Journey ~ Part 4

We pick up the ongoing story of Sha’ul in Acts 13:42.

Sha’ul’s Sermon in Pisidian Antioch ~ Part 3

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Sha’ul’s Sermon Was Well Received

⁴² As they left, the people invited Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba to tell them more about these matters the following Shabbat. ⁴³ When the synagogue meeting broke up, many of the born Jews and devout proselytes followed Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba, who spoke with them and urged them to keep holding fast to the love and kindness of God.

The initial effect of Sha’ul’s sermon was to arouse interest, not opposition. He did not alienate his Jewish hearers by denouncing them as opposing God or following artificial religion, as some zealous but mistaken Christian evangelists do today; instead, he urged those who in the past had held fast to the love and kindness of God to continue doing so. Doing so, of course, then and now, implied accepting the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah.

Jealousy & Opposition Erupt

⁴⁴ The next Shabbat, nearly the whole city gathered together to hear the message about the Lord; ⁴⁵ but when the Jews who had not believed saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and spoke up against what Sha’ul was saying and insulted him.

Keen interest sprang up over the Gospel message everywhere Sha’ul, and Bar-Nabba went, whether for or against. Yeshua foretold the evangelists’ opposition (Mark 13:13). But what upset the unbelieving Jews? The vast crowds of Gentiles, nearly the whole city. The opposition was initially not to the content of the Gospel but to the fact that outsiders were attracted to it.

⁴⁶ However, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba answered boldly: “It was necessary that God’s word be spoken first to you. But since you are rejecting it and are judging yourselves as unworthy of eternal life—why, we’re turning to the Goyim!

The Brit Hadashah consistently says the Gospel message came first to the Jews (e.g., Mark 7:27), though the Gentiles were anticipated as eventual recipients. The Book of Acts shows the same pattern. Early in their mission’s work, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba recognized their duty to bring the Good News to the Jews first. But Jewish rejection of this message warranted their taking it to the Gentiles.

⁴⁷ For that is what Adonai has ordered us to do:

‘I have set you as a light for the Goyim,
to be for deliverance to the ends of the earth.'”

Isaiah 49:6, quoted here, is, essentially, the Great Commission, as given to the Jewish people. The phrase light for the Goyim (also found in Isaiah 42:6) recalls Isaiah 60:1–3: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Adonai has risen upon you …. And Goyim will walk in your light ….”

The light who has come is Yeshua, the light of the world (Yochanan 8:12). Only when the Jewish people shine forth this light can we be the light for the Goyim that we are supposed to be.

Gentiles Believe

⁴⁸ The Gentiles were very happy to hear this. They honored the message about the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life came to trust. ⁴⁹ And the message about the Lord was carried throughout the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the women ‘God-fearers’ of high social standing and the leading men of the city, and they organized persecution against Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba and expelled them from their district. ⁵¹ However, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba shook off the dust of their feet against them and went on to Iconium; ⁵² and the talmidim were filled with joy and with Ruach HaKodesh. ^[1]

That a minority co-opts influential members of the majority to accomplish its purpose is neither unusual nor the point. Instead, we observe that divisions fade when unbelievers unite to persecute God’s people (v. 50). Fortunately, persecution produces no lasting effects. The Gospel continues to spread (v. 51). The Believers are filled with joy and with the Ruach HaKodesh (v. 52). This is not surprising since even the gates of Sh’ol cannot overcome the Messianic Community (Mattityahu 16:18). History shows that persecution strengthens Believers’ resolve and increases their joy in the Ruach.

 

 

 

In our next post, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba continue their First Missionary Journey.

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^[1] Acts 13:42–52.