Witnessing Turns to the Gentiles

Witnessing Turns to the Gentiles

(Acts 13:38-52)

INTRODUCTION: It is amazing the responses to the preaching of Jesus Christ. Everyone hears the same message and some rejoice at the preaching and others are offended by the same sermon. God’s Word always produces a response and that response depends on the spiritual condition of the heart of the listener. There comes a point in time when someone rejects everlasting life enough, you must turn to others who will gladly receive forgiveness of sins. As we watch people turn their backs on the Lord and away from His house, we must in turn get busy taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.

I. Witnessing self-judgment of unworthiness of eternal life.

A. The preaching of Jesus Christ can lead to forgiveness of sins.

Acts 13:38-39 – Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Paul used the Word of God in his preaching in the synagogue. Preaching the Word of God is the most effective way to reach the lost for Jesus Christ. He quoted Isaiah 55:3, Psalm 16:10, Habakkuk 1:5, and from 1 Samuel.

B. The preaching of Jesus Christ is not always believed.

Acts 13:40-41 – Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

The Jews saw the great miracles of Jesus Christ and even witnessed his resurrection but failed to believe. Some of you have seen the great and miraculous things God has done for this church yet you fail to believe in Him!

1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

C. The preaching of Jesus Christ is not always rejected.

Acts 13:42-44 – And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

The Word of God preached should precipitate the desire to hear the Word preached again! If you are indifferent about the preaching of God’s Word, you are indifferent about your relationship with Jesus Christ!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if almost the whole city of Kinston came together to hear the Word of God preached!

D. The preaching of Jesus Christ is rejected by some.

Acts 13:45-46 – But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

A person who convinces himself that he does not need forgiveness from the Holy One has already condemned himself.[1]

If one will not, another will. If those that were first invited to the wedding-feast will not come, we must invite out of the highways and hedges those that will, for the wedding must be furnished with guests. [2]

II. Witnessing self-examination and belief unto eternal life.

A. The preaching of Jesus Christ is for everyone.

Acts 13:47 – For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

The thought of preaching to the Gentiles did not begin in the New Testament!

Isaiah 49:6 – And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

The Apostle Paul was particularly called to take the gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 9:15 – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles . . .

B. The preaching of Jesus Christ is for everywhere.

Acts 13:48-49 – And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Men are damned by their own choice and not by any act of God. If all mankind received what is its just due, then all would be lost. But God in grace stoops down and saves some.[3]

The sovereignty of God is absolute; yet it is never exercised in condemning men who ought to be saved, but rather has resulted in the salvation of men who deserved to be lost. [4]

Oh, that we would be so burdened for the cause of Christ and the lost of our communities that we would take the gospel of Jesus Christ to our whole region!

C. The preaching of Jesus Christ is confrontational.

Acts 13:50-51 – But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

The Jews’ antagonism toward Gentiles extended to their unwillingness to even bring Gentile dust into Israel. The symbolism of Paul and Barnabas’ act is clear that they considered the Jews at Antioch no better than heathen. There could have been no stronger condemnation.[5]

Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ will stir up women and men who are comfortable in their religion. A comfortable and easy life in religion will never take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world!

D. The preaching of Jesus Christ is joyous.

Acts 13:52 – And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Do not let those who will not enjoy receiving and living the gospel of Jesus Christ steal your joy in serving the Lord!

Final Application: How are you responding to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Does it offend you? Does it bless you? If you are easily offended by the Word of God, you more than likely need to be saved! If the preaching of the Word of God is a blessing to you, then commit yourself to be faithful to hear every message and always bring others who want to hear! God’s Word is precious and powerful to the believer!

[1]Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. Ac 13:46-50 [2]Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Ac 13:42 [3]MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Ac 13:48 56 (13:48) Charles R. Erdman, The Epistle of Paul to the Romans p. 109. [4]MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Ac 13:48 [5]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 13:51