Reception, Rejection, and Results of the Gospel - Acts 13:42-52

The Preaching of the Gospel caused a hunger for the Word

Acts 13:42 “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”

After Paul had preached his sermon about Jesus being the promised Messiah, as he and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the Gentiles were moved to such a degree that they begged that the words about Jesus might be preached to them again the next Sabbath.

I have great joy when I see people who are excited and hunger for more of the Word of God from week to week.

As a believer you should desire the Word of God in your life. Listen to what Peter says 1 Peter 2:2–3 “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

Those who have tasted the Lord gracious sacrifice on the cross for your sins, the sweet taste of his mercy and grace, you will have a desire for the word of God.

Becoming a follower of Jesus demands continued faithfulness

Acts 13:43 “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.”

As the congregation began to leave the synagogue, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. Underline the word followed, this word in the Greek akoloutheō - ak-ol-oo-theh’-o which means disciple. Many of the Jews and devout converts believed the message about Jesus and became disciples. Paul and Barnabas knowing that the true essence of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is remaining faithful, while they were talking to new disciples they urged them to continue in the faith.

Far too often people who come to the faith don’t continue in the faith. They are like are like the parable of the soils that Jesus taught.

Luke 8:13–14 “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

Those who have come to the faith are encouraged to continue in the faith. Acts 11:23; Colossians 1:21–23; 1John 2:19. Those who have true saving faith will remain John 8:31; and those who don’t will perish John 15:1–6 ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

The word of God will cause a positive and negative reaction

Acts 13:44 “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. There is no doubt that many who had first heard Paul’s explaining from the OT Scriptures that Jesus is the promised Messiah and forgiveness of sins is through Jesus, and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses, they were excited and went and shared the word of God with others, and almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God.

I highlight this positive reaction to the Word of God because when you hear the Word of God each week it should cause excitement within you to want to share the Word of God with others.

The Word of God also has a negative reaction. The text says in v. 45 “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.”

When Paul had preached in the synagogue proving from the OT Scriptures that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, that those who were in Jerusalem, and their rulers, didn’t recognize, nor even the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Jesus. Paul told them that once Jesus was buried that God raised him from the dead, and that through Jesus is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. And Paul warned from the OT prophet Hab 1:5 that the judgment that came upon Judah because of their sinful rejection of God the same judgment would come upon them if they rejected Jesus. Not once did the leaders in that synagogue contradict, blaspheme, and oppose Paul. But when the Jews saw that the multitudes of people (most likely they were filled with envy. Why were the Jews envious? They were prejudice; they were provoked with envy because the offer of salvation was being extended to both Jew and Gentile.

Rom 10:19; 11:11, 14; 1Thess 2:16

Remain bold when the Word of God is rejected

Acts 13:46 “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.”

The Jews rejection of the Word of God didn’t weaken Paul, no it made him more bold. Paul informed them that is was necessary that the Word of God be given to them first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, we turn to the Gentiles. Paul wrote in Rom 10:1 that his heart desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. He also knew that it was God’s plan that the gospel be preached to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.

Acts 3:26 “To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.””

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Because the Holy Spirit enabled Paul to speak boldly he didn’t sugar coat the fact that because they have rejected the Word of God they have judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life.

John 3:18 ““He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 8:24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.””

This is freighting statement when you think about it. Because today people who reject the Word of God have judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life and opportunity for everlasting life will be taken away. They have condemned themselves already because they refused to believe in Jesus Christ. When they die in their sins they will be sent to hell, and they will have no one to blame but themselves.

Rejection of the Word of God caused the gospel to reach the Gentiles

Acts 13:47 “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.’ ””

Because these Jews had rejected the Word of God. Therefore when Paul tells them that they were turning to the Gentiles as the Lord had commanded them. He quotes Isa 49:6, as the basis of his decision and his heart is set on sharing salvation through faith in Jesus to the ends of the earth.

Jesus has commanded all of us to share the gospel to be light to world. Matthew 5:14 ““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

The reaction of the Gentiles

Acts 13:48–49 “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.”

When the Gentiles heard the Word of God that salvation has come to them they were glad, Greek chairō it means rejoice, and they were rejoicing, both verb are in the imperfect tense meaning that they were continuously rejoicing and glorifying the Word of Lord. Knowing that salvation has come to you ought to cause you continuously rejoice and glorify the Word of the Lord.

Again I want you to look at the last clause 48 b. “And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

The word appointed “tasso” in the Greek means to “appoint” or “assign” to something. What Luke is describing is God’s sovereign work of salvation, where God in eternity past has assigned those to eternal life.

It is also important to note that the verb appointed “tasso” is in the passive voice and it indicates that God alone does the assigning. God alone grants repentance and saving faith for eternal life.

John 6:65 “And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.””

Acts 11:18 “When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.””

Ephesians 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”

God alone elects those to obtain salvation.

2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

2 Timothy 2:25 “in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,”

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

The results of the Gospel

Acts 13:49 “And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.”

The Gentiles reaction to the Word of the Lord and their salvation didn’t cause them to sit idle, but it motivated them to spread the gospel throughout all the region. Church when you truly grasp the magnitude of your salvation from the Word of the Lord it will motivate you to spread the gospel with others.

The rejection of the Gospel

Acts 13:50–51 “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. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.”

The Jewish leaders incited a mob of devout women and leading men of the city, and stirred up trouble against Paul and Barnabas, and forced them out of the area. Paul and Barnabas didn’t waste any more words with them. They shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.

By shaking the dust from their feet against them, it portrays leaving defilement behind and moving on. It is a symbolic act against these men and women that no trace of their presence is left on their feet.

And if you think this being judgmental just know that shaking the dust off your feet at those who reject you was taught by Jesus as a sign of Judgment.

Matthew 10:14–15 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

Luke 9:5 “And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.””

This is why when I share the gospel with someone and they continue to argue and blaspheme God, I don’t waste time with them. I’ve given them the truth of God’s Word and I leave at that, I’ve said all that I could say to them, and I shake the dust off my feet and will let God deal with them.

The results of the Gospel

Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Despite the rejection and persecution by the Jews, devout women and city leaders who forced Paul and Barnabas to leave the area. There were disciples who were filled, the verb filled is imperfect tense, that represents ongoing joy and being filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

God didn’t leave the city of Antioch Pisidia without disciples to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. The Word of Lord prevailed to do what it has intended, the gospel is the power of God for salvation, those who hear the Word and believe God will save them, they will become disciples with ongoing joy and filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. If God has granted you salvation, you should act accordingly, be Jesus’ disciple, stay in the Word of God, share the gospel with others, have ongoing joy be filled with and be controlled by the Holy Spirit.